Internet dating giant Match Group acquires Egyptian startup that is dating to expand into Muslim-majority markets

Match Group, the internet giant that is dating a market limit of over $20 billion that owns different dating sites and apps including Tinder, OkCupid, PlentyOfFish, and Match.com has obtained Egyptian internet dating startup Harmonica, the Dallas-headquartered business announced today in a declaration to MENAbytes, without disclosing monetary information on the deal.

Created at the beginning of 2017 by Sameh Saleh, Tamer Saleh, Shaymaa Aly & Aly Khaled, Harmonica’s app that’s carefully created for Muslims helps users find a life partner that is potential. The software, as being a declaration by Match Group records, approaches mobile matchmaking with respect to regional traditions and cultures.

You are able to find out more information regarding the way the application works in this piece we’d written year that is last.

“Sameh founded Harmonica after witnessing their sibling along with other family relations try to meet possible husbands through the arranged marriage process. He thought technology could facilitate relationships that are meaningful empower singles to meet up their future life lovers, but there have been no items serving their community or handling more conservative social norms,” the business explained in a declaration.

Match Group is acquiring the Egyptian startup to provide 33 nations in Asia and MENA which have a big Muslim population. Harmonica’s little group of 12 full-time workers (such as the founders) is joining the US business within the purchase and certainly will evidently focus on an English app in addition to Harmonica presently has an app that is arabic-only. Harmonica, per declaration, will remain headquartered in Cairo, with Sameh Saleh continuing as CEO. It is Match Group’s very first workplace in the center East.

The American business using this purchase will likely be dealing with different (fairly smaller) players which were attempting to re re solve the issue of internet dating for Muslims, with YC-backed Muzmatch that recently raised $7 million Series A, being the absolute most one that is prominent.

Sameh Saleh, co-founder and CEO of Harmonica, stated, “Two years ago, we founded Harmonica with your siblings, cousins, and buddies at heart, utilizing the aim of assisting them find a perfect partner. It absolutely was critical that that which we built had been one thing to guard them and express the values which our community cares profoundly about. It had been also essential our moms and dads could be more comfortable with them utilizing our app.”

“We’ve already facilitated a huge selection of marriages simply in Egypt and think that with Match Group’s vast experience, you will find exciting possibilities ahead,” he included.

Mandy Ginsberg, CEO of Match Group, stated, “As we think of worldwide development and expansion, you can find huge populations of young singles — mostly across Asia while the Middle East — which will be to locate their life lovers when you look at the future that is near and therefore aren’t correctly offered by Western services and products”

“The Harmonica group isn’t just smart and revolutionary, but has built a very differentiated and technologically impressive product which, although early-stage, undoubtedly knows the requirements of this tradition. We think we’ve found talent that is great with neighborhood expertise and insights that can help us further succeed in our worldwide expansion strategy,” she included.

Harmonica had been backed 500 Startups (it had been section of their accelerator that is global Flat6Labs Cairo.

Both the investors with this specific purchase have actually completely exited the startup that is egyptian. It’s the very first high-profile exit for Flat6Labs, one of many earliest and leading accelerators associated with area.

Ramez El-Serafy, CEO of Flat6Labs, commenting from the event, said, “From time one we’ve had significant amounts of rely upon Harmonica’s talented group, and their truly innovative wedding matchmaking application; now, we’re delighted that Match Group is sharing the exact same self- self- confidence in going ahead using this deal that is remarkable. This deal marks the initial major Flat6Labs exit with significant comes back on investment in only over one year.”

Harmonica early in the day this had also joined nepali dating site Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center’s incubation program year. The startup had finished from TIEC’s incubator last thirty days.