Online dating sites giant fit Group acquires Egyptian internet dating startup Harmonica to grow into Muslim-majority markets

Complement Group, the web based dating monster with an industry cap more than $20 billion that is the owner of different matchmaking internet sites and apps such as Tinder, OkCupid, PlentyOfFish, and Fit keeps obtained Egyptian online dating sites startup Harmonica, the Dallas-headquartered team announced now in an announcement to MENAbytes, without disclosing financial specifics of the transaction.

Founded in early 2017 by Sameh Saleh, Tamer Saleh, Shaymaa Aly & Aly Khaled, Harmonica’s software that’s carefully made for Muslims support users pick a potential life partner. The app, as a statement by fit team notes, strategies mobile matchmaking pertaining to neighborhood customs and countries. Look for additional information how the application works in this piece we had authored just last year.

“Sameh based Harmonica after witnessing his sister and various other family members attempt to fulfill prospective husbands through the arranged relationships techniques. He thought tech could facilitate important interactions and empower singles to meet up her future existence associates, but there are no items helping his society or approaching most old-fashioned cultural norms,” the business revealed in an announcement .

Match people is obtaining the Egyptian business to offer 33 countries in Asia and MENA which have a large Muslim inhabitants. Harmonica’s little team of 12 full time workforce (like the founders) are signing up for the American business within the purchase and can evidently work on an English app including Harmonica at this time have an Arabic-only application. Harmonica, per report, will remain headquartered in Cairo, with Sameh Saleh continuing as President. It would be fit people’s earliest workplace in the centre eastern.

The US company using this exchange might be dealing with different (relatively smaller) people which have been wanting to solve the issue of online dating sites for Muslims, with YC-backed Muzmatch that not too long ago raised $7 million Series one, becoming probably the most prominent one.

Sameh Saleh, co-founder and President of Harmonica, stated, “2 years ago, we based Harmonica with our sisters, cousins, and pals at heart, with the goal of helping all of them look for a perfect companion. It had been important that what we should developed was actually something to protect them and portray the prices which our neighborhood cares seriously over. It actually was also essential which our parents might possibly be more comfortable with them using our app.”

“we have currently facilitated a huge selection of marriages merely in Egypt and think that with Match team’s vast enjoy, you can find interesting opportunities in advance,” the guy extra.

Mandy Ginsberg, President of fit cluster, said, “While we think about intercontinental increases and expansion, you will find huge populations of youthful singles — typically across Asia and also the Middle Eastern Countries — that’ll be interested in her life partners soon, hence aren’t effectively served by american products”

“The Harmonica team isn’t only wise and innovative, but has built an extremely classified and technologically amazing product that, although early-stage, undoubtedly knows the needs of this community. We think we have found great ability, with neighborhood skills and ideas which will help all of us more achieve all of our international expansion method,” she extra.

Harmonica was actually supported 500 Startups (it had been element of her worldwide accelerator) and Flat6Labs Cairo. Both dealers with this particular acquisition has totally exited the Egyptian startup. Simple fact is that very first high-profile leave for Flat6Labs, among the earliest and leading accelerators on the region.

Ramez El-Serafy, President of Flat6Labs, placing comments on the celebration, said, “From day one we’ve had a lot of trust in Harmonica’s gifted professionals, in addition to their truly revolutionary relationship matchmaking application; nowadays, we are excited that Match party is revealing the exact same self-confidence in moving ahead with this particular amazing contract. This bargain signifies 1st significant Flat6Labs escape with significant profits on investments in only over twelve months.”

Harmonica early in the day this current year have additionally joined development invention and Entrepreneurship heart’s incubation regimen. The startup got graduated from TIEC’s incubator final period.

Up-date – Aug 8, 2019 – 11:50 AM GMT: the storyline ended up being updated to mirror that Harmonica have accompanied TIEC’s incubation regimen before in 2010.