Gaydar
In short: Gaydar is a profile-based dating and social networking site for gay and bisexual men launched in November 1999 as a pioneering desktop application, predating subsequent major gay dating apps including Grindr, Hornet, Scruff, and Jack'd by several years.
Key facts
| Type | Dating platform |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | UK |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Website | gaydar.net |
About Gaydar
Gaydar is one of the world's longest-running LGBTQ+ dating platforms, founded in 1999 by South Africans Gary Frisch and Henry Badenhorst in London. At its peak in the mid-2000s, the platform attracted over 5 million members worldwide and was a cultural landmark in the gay community.
The platform has changed ownership several times. It was acquired by QSoft Consulting, then by Charlie Parsons in 2009, and subsequently by CPL Online. In 2022, Steve Pammenter, co-founder of Venntro Media Group, acquired the brand and has been working to modernise the platform while preserving its heritage.
Gaydar remains an important historical brand in the LGBTQ+ dating space, representing one of the earliest successful digital platforms for the community, predating the smartphone era and the swipe-based apps that dominate today.
People
- Rob Curtis, Former Managing Director
- Steve Pammenter, Owner & Managing Director
Stories about Gaydar
- Gaydar's White-Label Shift: A Survival Move or Identity Crisis?
Gaydar has migrated to HubPeople's white-label infrastructure, and says it ended six-figure annual tech costs and gained 4× return on ad spend. - Gaydar's Event-Driven Revival: A Blueprint for Legacy Platforms?
Gaydar reported a 15% year-on-year revenue increase in late 2024 after adding in-person events with KK Homme, with profile views up 25%. - Gaydar's Sex Party Pivot: A Desperate Bid for Revenue Diversification
Gaydar is co-launching KK Homme, a male-only sex party with KK Group, on 19 October. Tickets start at £150, a revenue move beyond subscriptions.
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Questions about Gaydar
What does Gaydar do?
Gaydar is a profile-based dating and social networking site for gay and bisexual men launched in November 1999 as a pioneering desktop application, predating subsequent major gay dating apps including Grindr, Hornet, Scruff, and Jack'd by several years.
Where is Gaydar based?
Gaydar is based in UK.
When was Gaydar founded?
Gaydar was founded in 1999.