ReadWrite featured DOWN Dating App and founder Colin Hodge in a deep dive on how the platform has reshaped online dating culture since its launch.
Originally launched in January 2013 as “Bang With Friends,” the app surpassed 1 million users in just three months and ranked higher than Tinder in the App Store shortly after launch. Founder Colin Hodge then raised $1 million led by Tim Draper and Great Oaks Ventures, rebranding the app to DOWN.
What set DOWN apart was its honesty. While other apps danced around the fact that users were looking for romantic or casual connections, DOWN made it simple and stigma-free. Its three-directional swipe (Date, Hookup, or Pass) gave users more control and clarity than any other app on the market.
Since Q4 2019, the percentage of users finding matches on DOWN has grown by 500%, with revenue up 250% and downloads more than doubled.