
Thursday is an independent privately owned dating events company founded in 2018 by George Rawlings and Matthew McNeill Love. Headquartered in London, England, United Kingdom, the company operates as a private entity without public trading. Thursday has raised $3.6 million in funding and hosts singles events in over 150 cities worldwide, with 1.5 million users globally.
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Thursday | Wholly owned |
Thursday was founded in 2018 by George Rawlings and Matthew McNeill Love, initially launching as Honeypot Dating. The original concept was a dating app where users could check into venues and see who else was around. The founders recognized that users were frustrated with endless swiping and digital messaging without real-life connections.
The company rebranded as Thursday and developed its signature approach: hosting weekly singles-only events. These events were designed to be relaxed, pressure-free environments without speed dating or apps, taking place at bars and venues filled with like-minded singles. The name "Thursday" came from the original concept of hosting events only on Thursdays, creating scarcity and intentionality.
Thursday expanded rapidly from its London base. By 2022, the company was operating in over 75 cities and had raised a $3.5 million seed round from a combination of angel investors and venture capital firms. The round included participation from Ascension Ventures, Best Nights VC, and Connect Ventures. Thursday began a Series A raise of $20 million to fund US expansion, with goals to be in 20 major US cities by the end of 2022.
The company diversified its event offerings beyond bars to include running clubs, gym classes, dance studios, art galleries, and sports games. This diversification helped Thursday reach singles who might not enjoy traditional bar-based socializing. By 2024, the company had expanded to San Francisco and other major US cities.
In January 2025, Thursday made a strategic pivot. The company shifted from its dating app model to focus exclusively on real-life singles events. The app component was phased out in favor of a community-driven events platform. This pivot reflected the founders' belief that in-person connections produced better dating outcomes than digital matching.
By 2026, Thursday had grown to host events in over 150 cities worldwide, with approximately 1.5 million users. The company expanded into Asia, launching in Bangkok, Mumbai, and Tokyo. Thursday also partnered with Yacht Week to create singles-only sailing trips in the Greek Islands in August 2026, and collaborated with FTLO Travel on singles-only group trips to Barcelona and the South of France departing September 2026.
The workforce grew to 70 to 80 employees, a 70 percent year-over-year increase, distributed across 19 countries. The company launched its new global platform at Thursday.com and established a formal C-suite structure to manage its expanding operations.
Who owns Thursday?
Thursday is an independent privately owned company founded by George Rawlings and Matthew McNeill Love in 2018. The company has not been acquired by any larger dating or technology company. It has raised $3.62 million in funding from investors including Connect Ventures and M-Venture, and is currently raising a new Series A round open to both institutional and community investors.
Is Thursday publicly traded?
No, Thursday is not publicly traded. The company operates as a private limited company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with no stock exchange listing.
What happened to the Thursday dating app?
Thursday shut down its dating app in January 2025. Co-founder Matthew McNeill Love announced the closure on LinkedIn, citing "rapidly declining consumer interest" in dating apps. The app had served 2 million users over its lifetime and was responsible for over 100 marriages and 29 babies, according to the company. Thursday now focuses exclusively on in-person singles events.
When was Thursday founded?
Thursday was founded in 2018 by George Rawlings and Matthew McNeill Love in London, United Kingdom. The company initially launched as Honeypot Dating before rebranding as Thursday and launching its dating app in May 2021.
Who created Thursday?
Thursday was created by George Rawlings and Matthew McNeill Love. Rawlings serves as CEO and McNeill Love is co-founder and strategic leader. The founders recognized the need for real-life dating alternatives to traditional apps and developed the events-based concept.
What is Thursday's revenue?
Thursday has projected 2026 revenue of $20 million with 108 percent year-over-year growth, according to the company's investment platform. The company does not publicly disclose detailed financial statements as a private entity.
How many cities does Thursday operate in?
Thursday operates in over 180 cities worldwide with 1.5 million-plus events running globally. The company has particularly strong presence in London, New York, and other major English-speaking cities.
What is the Thursday IRL Creator Economy?
The IRL Creator Economy is Thursday's model for allowing community members, social butterflies, and hobby enthusiasts to earn income by hosting events in their cities. Co-founder Matthew McNeill Love announced this initiative in February 2026 as part of the company's Series A fundraising efforts.
Thursday does not hold independent sustainability certifications such as B Corp status or carbon-neutral certification. The company's sustainability profile is tied to its events-based business model, which uses existing venues rather than requiring dedicated facilities.
Thursday partners with established bars, restaurants, gyms, and cultural venues that already operate within their own sustainability frameworks. This shared-resource model reduces the environmental impact compared to building dedicated event spaces. The company's events emphasize local venues to minimize transportation emissions.
The company maintains community guidelines and safety protocols for its events, including venue safety assessments and codes of conduct. Thursday implements background checks for hosts and provides training on inclusive event management. The company has not faced public regulatory actions or significant compliance issues related to user safety.
Thursday's focus on in-person connections addresses mental health concerns associated with dating app fatigue. The company's model reduces screen time by design, though this is a byproduct of the business model rather than a formally measured health outcome.
Thursday has received media recognition for its innovative approach to dating. TechCrunch covered the company multiple times, including a 2021 article on its $3.5 million seed funding round and a 2024 article on its San Francisco expansion. Global Dating Insights published an interview with founders George Rawlings and Matthew McNeill Love.
The company secured backing from notable angel investors and venture capital firms, including Tom Blomfield (Monzo founder), Matt Robinson (GoCardless founder), and Ian Hogarth (Songkick founder). Institutional investors include Ascension Ventures, Best Nights VC, and Connect Ventures. This investor recognition validates the company's approach to dating technology.
Eventbrite reported a 42 percent increase in attendance at dating and singles events from 2022 to 2023, a trend that Thursday has benefited from. The company has been cited in industry analyses as a disruptive force in the dating market, specifically addressing "swiping fatigue" among users of traditional dating apps.
Thursday has not received formal industry awards from independent awarding bodies. Its recognition comes primarily from media coverage and investor validation rather than independent accolade programs.
Thursday has maintained a relatively clean public record without major product recalls, regulatory actions, or significant controversies since its founding in 2018. The company's focus on real-life events has helped it avoid many of the safety and privacy issues that affect traditional dating platforms.
The company operates in a competitive market dominated by established players like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge, which have significantly larger user bases and marketing budgets. Thursday faces ongoing challenges in user acquisition and retention against these platforms. However, this competitive pressure is a market condition rather than a controversy.
Some industry observers have questioned the sustainability of an events-only business model that requires physical attendance in specific cities. Scaling physical events across multiple continents presents logistical challenges that digital platforms do not face. Thursday has addressed this through its host program, which delegates event organization to local operators.
As a dating and social events platform, Thursday must comply with data protection regulations, user privacy requirements, and consumer protection laws across multiple jurisdictions. The company has not faced public regulatory actions or significant compliance issues as of 2026.
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Thursdayoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
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