Software:Muzz (formerly Muzmatch)
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| Original author(s) | Shahzad Younas (Founder, CEO) |
|---|---|
| Initial release | March 4, 2015 |
| Operating system | iOS, Android |
| Available in | Arabic, Bengali, Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Malay, Persian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu languages |
| Type | Online dating application |
| Website | muzz |
Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) is a Muslim dating app founded by Shahzad Younas and launched in 2015. Its tagline is 'Where Single Muslims Meet' and 'Where Muslims meet' and emphasises marriage as opposed to casual dating.[1]
History
Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) was first launched as a matrimonial website platform in 2011 by Shahzad Younas.[2] The site employed a novel pay as you go mechanism for its members. It allowed complete anonymity to all of its members – with all profile pictures being initially blurred, allowing only those 'seriously' looking to find a bride or groom to pay a small amount to access a full detailed profile description and picture.[2]
In 2014, Shahzad quit his 9-year banking career at Morgan Stanley[3] and taught himself how to code, investing all of his savings in starting up the business.[4] Younas bootstrapped and built the initial app himself, having been unimpressed with the quality of existing Muslim dating websites, which he describes as "ugly and horrible", and having a "terrible reputation".[5]
The website platform was shut down, with the app having a soft launch in 2015.[1]
In the summer of 2017, Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) was accepted into Silicon Valley-based accelerator Y Combinator, who have backed the likes of Airbnb, Dropbox, and Reddit and provide a network of resources and support for startups — as well as investment.[6]
Younas opened his address to the room by saying: "Muslims don't date, we marry."[1]
Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) was the first Muslim-centric startup to ever be backed by Y Combinator.[6]
In 2017, Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) raised a total of $1.75M in their initial seed round, led by Fabrice Grinda's FJ Labs, Y Combinator, and London-based venture firm, Hambro Perks.[3] Muzmatch reported having 200,000 members spread across 160 countries, and over 6000 couples who met on the platform.[5]
In April 2019 Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) was shortlisted for 'App of the Year' at the Evening Standard Business Awards.[7]
Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) was also a 2019 London and the South finalist at The Spectator Business awards.[8]
In July 2019 Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) raised $7M in their Series A round of funding, and reported having over 1.5 million users of its app and over 30,000 successes. The funding was jointly led by U.S. hedge fund Luxor Capital and Y Combinator.[9]
The app is available in 14 languages.[9]
In July 2020, Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) welcomed its three millionth user, marking a period of sustained growth for the brand. According to company data, Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) took four years to get to one million members and another year to reach two million. This latest milestone comes less than six months after the last one was surpassed.[10]
Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) was taken to court by the Match Group in February of 2021 under allegations of unfairly benefiting off the company's reputation and brand by use of the descriptive word 'match' in the brand name muzmatch. This was reportedly after a series of attempts by the Match Group to purchase Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) for as much as $35 million in 2019. In April 2022 London courts sided with Match Group in the legal battle.[11]
Rebrand to Muzz
Following the ruling in Match Group's favour at the UK IPEC Court,[12] muzmatch rebranded to Muzz and launched a completely revamped app in May 2022.[13] Muzz (formerly muzmatch) is the first app to offer Video and Audio profiles in the Muslim dating space.
Operation
Members sign up to the app and complete their profile, where they are asked to complete their profile with photos and information such as sect, ethnicity and other religious information.[6] Members can use the app for free, or choose to upgrade to premium membership extra features, such as unlimited profiles, more advanced search filters and preferences, and being at the front of the queue.[6]
Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) was the first Muslim app to allow members to include a chaperone or Wali who would be able to monitor messages sent to and from their account.[14] Users can also ensure they have no profile picture on their account or details such as their full name, so they can be as private online as possible.[15]
In 2016, the platform introduced selfie verification to ensure everyone on the app is verified. The company has a team in Bangladesh which, alongside its HQ in Aldgate, manually moderates every profile.[15]
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Muzz (formerly Muzmatch) became the first leading religious dating platform to release a free in-app video calling feature[16] following a survey which found that 83% of users said they were struggling to find serious relationships because of lockdowns in their area.
In 2022, following the rebrand and launch of the Muzz app, the app introduced Video and Voice profiles - a first in the Muslim space.
Marketing
The company ran a viral tongue in cheek marketing campaign across the London Underground tube network and the Manchester and Birmingham bus network.[17] The ads incorporated 'halal' inspired puns such as "Halal, is it me you're looking for?".[15]
In 2019, the company launched a Brexit-themed marketing campaign on the London Underground. Ads with the message "Time to Leave the Single Market?" ran just as the UK population began to consider its options ahead of a December general election.[18]
In Jan 2022, Muzz, in collaboration with a UK single Muslim, launched a 2 part set of billboards to 'Find Malik a wife',[19] which ran across London, Birmingham and Manchester. The campaign went viral, being covered across hundreds of news outlets and television programmes. Malik himself communicated and spoke to a number of singles who reached out to him via the website. Over 5000 people completed the application form. The reveal stage showed the link between Malik and Muzz, with the humorous tagline 'We'll say we met at the mosque'.[20]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "'Muslims don't date, we marry'" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2019-03-25. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47567993.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 News, Manchester Evening (2011-07-31). "muzmatch matrimonial website for Muslims" (in en). http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/enterprise/muzmatch-matrimonial-website-for-muslims-866886.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Muslim dating app muzmatch secures £5.8m Series A investment | Business Leader News" (in en-GB). 2019-08-01. https://www.businessleader.co.uk/muslim-dating-app-muzmatch-secures-5-8m-series-a-investment/71442/.
- ↑ "Muslim dating app Muzmatch secures $7m from Silicon Valley" (in en-US). 2019-07-30. https://businesscloud.co.uk/muslim-dating-app-muzmatch-secures-7m-from-silicon-valley/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "YC-backed Muzmatch definitely doesn't want to be Tinder for Muslims" (in en-US). https://social.techcrunch.com/2017/08/03/yc-backed-muzmatch-definitely-doesnt-want-to-be-tinder-for-muslims/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Millington, Alison. "An ex-Morgan Stanley banker and a 25-year-old engineer created the first global matchmaking app for Muslims, and it's about to hit one million users". https://www.businessinsider.com/muzmach-matchmaking-app-for-muslims-about-to-hit-one-million-users-2018-12.
- ↑ Armitage, Jim (2019-06-19). "Evening Standard Business Awards 2019 - the shortlist" (in en). https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-awards/evening-standard-business-awards-2019-the-shortlist-a4130226.html.
- ↑ "2019 finalists – London and the South | the Spectator". https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/2019-finalists-london-and-the-south.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Muzmatch adds $7M to swipe right on Muslim-majority markets" (in en-US). https://social.techcrunch.com/2019/07/26/muzmatch-adds-7m-to-swipe-right-on-muslim-majority-markets/.
- ↑ "muzmatch Surpasses Three Million Members" (in en-GB). 2020-07-06. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/news/muzmatch-surpasses-three-million-members/.
- ↑ Khan, Aina J. (2022-04-21). "A Muslim dating site loses a trademark case against an industry giant." (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/21/business/muzmatch-tinder-match-group.html.
- ↑ "Muzmatch loses trademark battle with dating giant Match". Financial Times. 2022-04-20. https://www.ft.com/content/a6104330-5027-4c13-9ccc-4b854b3a938c.
- ↑ (in en) Say hello to Muzz - formerly muzmatch., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNo1nNHiPcg, retrieved 2022-05-25
- ↑ Al-Heeti, Abrar. "Beyond Tinder: How Muslim millennials are looking for love" (in en). https://www.cnet.com/news/tinder-minder-muzmatch-eshq-how-muslim-millennials-are-looking-for-love/.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Heathman, Amelia (2019-07-25). "Muzmatch: the dating app changing the way Muslims find love" (in en). https://www.standard.co.uk/tech/muzmatch-dating-app-for-muslims-a4198246.html.
- ↑ "muzmatch Introduces In-App Video Calling" (in en-GB). 2020-05-26. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/news/muzmatch-introduces-in-app-video-calling/.
- ↑ Preece, Ashley (2018-09-17). "Why these new Muslim ads are making people laugh in Birmingham" (in en). https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/muzmatch-birmingham-adele-lionel-richie-15154107.
- ↑ "muzmatch Launches Brexit-Themed London Underground Ads" (in en-GB). 2019-11-01. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/news/muzmatch-launches-brexit-themed-london-underground-ads/.
- ↑ "Bachelor uses billboards to find a wife" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2022-01-04. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-59871726.
- ↑ "How a Muslim dating app made UK man’s search for a wife go viral" (in en). 2022-01-21. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jan/21/how-a-muslim-dating-app-made-uk-mans-search-for-a-wife-go-viral.
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