Spotted
Spotted is a German-built mobile dating app that helps singles reconnect with people they have physically crossed paths with at cafes, gyms, and parks, using location tracking rather than algorithmic matching, monetized via a freemium premium subscription distributed globally across ten languages.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersMannheim, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Spotted does
Spotted (legal entity: dua AG) is a location-based mobile dating and social-discovery application founded in 2013 and headquartered in Mannheim, Germany. The product helps users reconnect with people they have physically encountered at shared venues (cafes, parks, gyms, favorite hangouts) by continuously tracking user location and surfacing 'Spotted' matches when two users cross paths. Rather than relying on algorithmic profile matching or swipe mechanics, the app facilitates asynchronous outreach via 'Spotted' messages and 'Spotted Notes,' enabling users to break the ice based on a confirmed real-life encounter. The target user is a single individual seeking romantic or social connections with people already present in their daily environment.
The company operates a freemium business model: the core app is free to download on iOS and Google Play, with a paid Premium Perks tier offering unlimited Spotted messages and profile visibility boosts purchased via in-app transactions. Distribution is exclusively through self-serve mobile app stores and is supported by an unusually heavy earned-media footprint — features in Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Elle, HuffPost, The Sun, Bored Panda, wikiHow, and others — alongside organic social channels (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube). The product is localized into 10 languages across at least 10 countries spanning Western Europe, MENA, and Latin America.
Spotted has raised approximately $14.5M in disclosed equity funding across two rounds (2014, 2015), with Deutsche Balaton, Media Ventures, and WOLFMAN.ONE as known investors. It remains private, operates with a small team (11–50 employees), and discloses no acquired subsidiaries, partnerships, patents, or AI/ML capabilities. Operating status is active as of recent site content.
Spotted firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Spotted
- Legal name
- dua AG
- Website
- https://joinspotted.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Spotted is a German-built mobile dating app that helps singles reconnect with people they have physically crossed paths with at cafes, gyms, and parks, using location tracking rather than algorithmic matching, monetized via a freemium premium subscription distributed globally across ten languages.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Spotted industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Dating Apps
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Topic/Interest-Based Content Discovery Apps (MPACAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Local & City Guide Content Aggregators (MPACAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Spotted is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mannheim
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Spotted business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Premium Subscription: Freemium model with basic free access to core features and a premium paid tier offering unlimited Spotted messages and profile boosts. Revenue generated through in-app purchases on iOS and Android platforms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free tier with basic encounter discovery and limited messaging |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Spotted product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spotted is a location-based mobile dating and social discovery app that helps users reconnect with people they have already encountered in real life at physical venues such as cafes, parks, and gyms. The app uses real-time location tracking to surface people users have crossed paths with and allows them to send "Spotted" messages or leave Spotted Notes to initiate conversations. A free tier provides core encounter discovery, while a paid Premium tier offers unlimited messages and profile boosts.
Product overview
Spotted offers a single unified mobile application focused on facilitating real-life connections between people who have crossed paths. Unlike traditional dating apps that rely on swiping through profiles, Spotted uses location-based technology to help users discover and connect with people they have already encountered in person. The core offering includes the Spotted App with free features for discovering nearby users and sending Spotted messages, as well as optional Premium Perks add-on for unlimited messages and profile boosts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Spotted App A location-based mobile dating and social discovery app that helps users reconnect with people they have crossed paths with in real life at venues like cafes, parks, and gyms. Users keep their location active to discover others they have encountered, send Spotted messages to initiate conversations, leave Spotted Notes for people they found interesting, and meet up at shared favorite locations. The free tier includes basic encounter discovery and limited messaging, while the premium tier adds unlimited messages and profile boosts.
Quantifiable outcome
- Transform missed real-life moments into new connection opportunities
Companies that use Spotted
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Spotted technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Spotted partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Spotted competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Once: Once is a dating app that delivers only one curated match per day, emphasizing quality over volume. It addresses the same user fatigue with swipe-based dating that Spotted targets, but through a different (curation-led) mechanic.
- Inner Circle: Inner Circle is a curated dating app focused on ambitious, relationship-minded singles in major cities. It overlaps with Spotted's user persona in European urban markets and competes for dating-app users seeking non-swipe experiences.
- BLK: BLK is a niche dating app focused on Black singles, part of the Match Group portfolio of community apps. It is comparable as a focused, single-purpose dating app competing for differentiated user segments rather than mass-market generic dating.
- Fruitz: Fruitz is a European dating app that lets users signal intent (casual, serious, friendship) via fruit icons. It is a comparable smaller European player targeting the same singles market Spotted serves in Europe.
- Coffee Meets Bagel: Coffee Meets Bagel is a curated dating app that delivers limited daily matches, particularly strong with women. It competes with Spotted for singles seeking a more deliberate alternative to swipe apps.
Broad incumbents
- Bumble: Bumble is a major publicly listed dating and connection app where women make the first move. It serves the same singles market as Spotted with a broader portfolio (Bumble Date, BFF, Bizz) and substantially larger marketing and product budgets.
- Hinge: Hinge is a Match Group dating app positioned around relationships and detailed profile prompts. It targets relationship-minded singles — overlapping significantly with Spotted's primary customer persona — and benefits from Match Group's distribution and data advantages.
- Tinder: Tinder is the global category leader in mobile dating, owned by Match Group, and operates a swipe-based algorithmic matching model. It dominates the same consumer singles segment Spotted targets and represents the incumbent threat Spotted must differentiate against.
- Badoo: Badoo is one of the largest international dating apps, particularly strong across Europe and LatAm — exactly the geographies Spotted serves. It overlaps with Spotted's audience and competes for the same freemium mobile singles.
Direct peers
- Happn: Happn is the closest direct peer — a mobile dating app that matches users based on people they have crossed paths with in real life. It operates the same location-based encounter-discovery mechanic as Spotted and competes for the same singles segment across European and global cities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Spotted social profiles
Digital presenceSpotted financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Spotted leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Spotted funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Spotted M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Spotted
What does Spotted do?
Spotted is a location-based mobile dating and social discovery app that helps users reconnect with people they have already encountered in real life at physical venues such as cafes, parks, and gyms. The app uses real-time location tracking to surface people users have crossed paths with and allows them to send "Spotted" messages or leave Spotted Notes to initiate conversations. A free tier provides core encounter discovery, while a paid Premium tier offers unlimited messages and profile boosts.
Is Spotted a public or private company?
Spotted is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Spotted founded?
Spotted was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Spotted based?
Spotted is headquartered in Mannheim, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Spotted make money?
One revenue line is on record: premium Subscription.
Who are Spotted's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Once, Inner Circle, BLK, Fruitz and Coffee Meets Bagel. Broad incumbents are Bumble, Hinge, Tinder and Badoo. Happn is listed as a direct peer.
Does Spotted have an API?
No public API is recorded for Spotted.
What industry is Spotted in?
Spotted's product category is Mobile Dating Apps. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAKAB, Topic/Interest-Based Content Discovery Apps, with a secondary code of MPACAKAJ, Local & City Guide Content Aggregators. Its SIC code is 7990.