Rendeevoo
closedDate someone while having some drinks.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
| N/A | €0.0 | round | |
| N/A | €0.0 | round | |
| N/A | £57.7k | Seed | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Rendeevoo was a London-based dating application that operated with the intention of facilitating real-world encounters. Founded in 2013 by George Christoforakis and Jorn Vanysacker, the company aimed to bypass the often-prolonged online messaging phase typical of dating apps. The founders, after leaving their previous jobs, embarked on this venture driven by a strong belief in their concept of streamlining the dating process. The company's main offering was an iOS application that allowed users to arrange dates at selected partner venues.
The business model centered on an on-demand, service-based approach rather than the gamification common in the dating app market. Users would browse profiles and, upon finding a potential match, could propose a date by selecting a time and one of Rendeevoo's partner bars or cafes. To confirm the date, both individuals would pre-pay for their first round of drinks through the app. Rendeevoo would then share this revenue with the partner venue, creating a commission-based income stream. This approach was designed to reduce endless chatting and encourage immediate, real-life meetings. The app intentionally limited in-app messaging to logistical arrangements post-confirmation.
Rendeevoo initially gained traction in East London through guerrilla marketing tactics and partnerships with local cocktail bars. The company secured initial funding through a startup loan and later raised capital through six funding rounds, including campaigns on the Seedrs platform. Despite these efforts and launching a redesigned product, the startup faced significant challenges in securing the necessary follow-on funding to sustain and scale its operations. The competitive market, dominated by larger players, made it difficult to validate their business model on a larger scale. After attempts to find a buyer were unsuccessful, Rendeevoo ceased operations in November 2016, and the app was removed from the App Store.
Keywords: mobile dating app, on-demand dating, London startup, offline dating, real-life meetups, dating app business model, commission-based revenue, venue partnerships, iOS dating app, George Christoforakis, Jorn Vanysacker, Seedrs funding, dating service, social discovery, event-based dating, cocktail bar partnership, London tech scene, startup failure, dating innovation, real-world encounters