Ask HN: Dating Site API

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1829906

by zxcvb • 16 years ago

2 5 16 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Are there are dating websites or databases out there with a public API? This would help a new dating website startup bypass the chicken and the egg problem.

smartprojector• 16 years ago

Hi, i don't have a database. But i have been stuck with a business model that could make you stand out in the online dating industry. I am not going to go ahead and pursue it, so i could share it with you if you would like... please contact me at smartprojector@gmail.com

zxcvb2• 16 years ago

Please note I'm not talking about a database. I'm talking about an api to an existing sites database or a service where multiple sites use and update the same database.

zachster• 16 years ago

It seems to me there was a dating-site boom back in the early 2000's. At that time there were a few sites that offered nice white-label packages. Spring Street Networks seemed like the best to me (powering the often lauded Nerve.com site). I worked with a company called Vintacom who had an API. They ran their own site called DreamMates, I think.

But I haven't seen anything similar in recent years. It seems like the market for premium dating sites has somewhat dried up. Sites like OkCupid and PlentyOfFish (free) seem to be doing alright though.

My recommendation would be to look into the Facebook API. While you can't poll the whole userbase, many new dating sites start by listing all the friends of anyone who authorizes their app. I think this is a small dance around ToS, but maybe if you don't use PII it's allowed? Regardless it can be used to give the impression of having an egg before you've got a chicken.

rlivsey• 16 years ago

White Label Dating [1] is one (aptly named) white-label package that I know of.

[1] http://www.whitelabeldating.com/

zxcvb2• 16 years ago

They force you to use their hosted service rather than allowing you remote access to an API though.

Ask HN: Dating Site API

Related Stories