In today’s digital, instant gratification age, there are more ways than ever for humans to find a hookup or fling. But what about love? Peru’s Mi Media Manzana app aimed to bring the possibility of everlasting romance to millions around Latin America when it launched in 2014.
The app, which has users in Peru, Colombia, Chile, Mexico looked to stray from the usual formula of dating apps, which has couples staying together for a night, or at most a few weeks. It is marketed to people who want to find a serious relationship, and it has succeeded in this regard, being the Latin American leader in relationship apps.
“If you are looking for a serious relationship, you are in the right place: more than 90% of our users are looking for the same,” reads the byline on the app’s webpage. The app guarantees a compatible match within 30 days, or users get their money back. According to statistics of Mi Media Manzana, the majority of their users form a long-term relationship within 4 – 8 months.
The relationship app has just received an investment from Axon Partners Group. They hope to expand the app to more than 30 Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, as well as Brazil. “The market of Mi Media Manzana is one that is growing and its team is one of the most experimental in the region which is why we are pleased to join the project and help convert it into historical success,” said D. Alfonso De León, CEO of Axon Partners Group.
On the other side of the coin, there is also a market for users who want something a little more short-term. A new app, called Motel Now, released just before Valentine’s Day, aims to connect couples with a motel for the night. It is the first app of its kind, and provides the users with all the relevant information on the hourly motel, with ratings, pictures, and reviews.
After huge success in Chile, it is now available in Bogotá for prospective couples looking for a private space for the evening. It will soon be available in Cali and Medellin.
Whether you are looking for a serious relationship, or a quick fling, the internet is there to help. Whereas twenty years ago, online-dating was considered taboo, it is now widely socially acceptable. Mi Media Manzana and Motel Now are two companies that are filling in niches in the online dating world. For now, they are here to stay.