Spark Networks

The company was founded by Joe Y. Shapira in 1997 under the name MatchNet plc.Jdate.com, founded in 1997, was the company's first venture into online dating. The company was also home to Christian Mingle, which was launched in 2001.The company went public on June 27, 2000, on Germany's Neuer Markt.

In January 2005, the company changed its name to Spark Networks because management felt that the new name more sharply distinguished the company in the marketplace.On November 10, 2014, Jdate launched a dating app designed for Jewish singles.On October 14, 2015, Spark Networks announced the acquisition of Smooch Labs, owner of the popular millennial Jewish dating app JSwipe. Spark Networks launched CROSSPATHS, a dating app that helps like-minded Christians find matches, on October 8, 2015.Redesigns of the Jdate and Christian Mingle websites were announced in 2015. In addition to revamped branding, the site makeovers featured technology changes , a re-designed inbox and a new “daily matches” feature. Jdate's redesign went live on November 18, 2015, while Christian Mingle's went live on December 17, 2015.On November 2, 2017, Spark Networks SE announced the completion of the previously announced merger of Spark Networks, Inc. and Affinitas GmbH in a stock-for-stock transaction. The combination created a worldwide online dating platform, with brands including EliteSingles, eDarling, Jdate, Christian Mingle, JSwipe, and Attractive World serving a spectrum of users across 29 countries and 15 languages.On October 3, 2018, Spark was fined $500,000 and ordered to pay $985,000 in restitution in response to complaints that the site was automatically renewing customer accounts without their express consent. The company was sued by the Santa Monica city attorney as well as district attorneys in four counties.On March 21, 2019, Spark entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Zoosk, Inc. The deal was finalized on July 1, 2019, forming North America's second-largest dating company in revenues and increasing Spark's global monthly paying subscribers increase to over 1 million.On February 15, 2022, the company's stocks were transferred from the NYSE American to the Nasdaq Capital Market exchange.