DOWN
In short: DOWN is a casual dating app launched in January 2013 as Bang With Friends by Colin Hodge and Omri Mor, and renamed DOWN later that year. It was bought by Singapore's Paktor in 2017 and, per Wikipedia, sold back to Hodge and an original team member in 2018. DII covered a 2026 marketing stunt by the app.
Key facts
| Type | Dating app |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Founded by Colin Hodge and Omri Mor, who met at Boost VC in San Mateo, California [Wikipedia, 2013] |
| Launch | Launched on 23 January 2013 as the web app Bang With Friends; mobile apps followed in May 2013 [Wikipedia, 23 January 2013] |
| Fact | Renamed DOWN in 2013 after Zynga claimed rights to the 'With Friends' phrase and the companies settled [Wikipedia, 2013] |
| Acquisition | Acquired by Singapore-based Paktor, with founder and CEO Colin Hodge joining Paktor; price not disclosed [TechCrunch, 20 January 2017] |
| Owner | Later folded into M17 Entertainment; sold by M17 in 2018, returning ownership to Colin Hodge and an original team member [Wikipedia, 2018] |
| Fact | DII described DOWN as a casual dating app, formerly Bang With Friends, that placed fake parking tickets at the University of North Texas [Dating Industry Insights, 25 September 2026] |
About DOWN
DOWN is a casual dating app. It launched on 23 January 2013 as the web app Bang With Friends, built by Colin Hodge and Omri Mor, who met at Boost VC, a technology incubator in San Mateo, California. A mobile app followed in May 2013 on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
DII describes the app's model as mutual reveal, which dates from 2013. Zynga, maker of Words with Friends, claimed rights to the "With Friends" phrase in 2013, and after the companies settled out of court the app was renamed DOWN.
TechCrunch reported on 20 January 2017 that Singapore-based Paktor had acquired Down, with founder and CEO Colin Hodge joining Paktor. The price was not disclosed. According to Wikipedia, DOWN later became part of M17 Entertainment through the merger of Paktor and 17LIVE, and M17 sold it in 2018, returning ownership to Hodge and an original team member.
DII has described DOWN as a casual dating app, formerly Bang With Friends. In September 2026 DII covered a marketing stunt in which the app placed fake parking tickets at the University of North Texas.
Stories about DOWN
- DOWN's Fake Ticket Stunt: A Masterclass in Irresponsible Marketing
Dating app DOWN put fake parking tickets with QR codes on vehicles at University of North Texas without authorisation in September. - DOWN's 400% Revenue Growth: A Wake-Up Call for Dating App Marketing
Dating app DOWN claims 15 million registered users and 400% revenue growth in 2024 with near-zero ad spend, mostly via word of mouth.
Also mentioned in
- Meet Me at The Bar: Can Venue-Based Dating Solve Messaging Fatigue?
- Goldrush's 'Rejection Insurance' App: A Symptom, Not a Solution
- Meet Kinksters' Closure: A Case Study in Niche Dating's iOS Dilemma
- HUD's 18M Users: A Market Failure in Casual Dating
- AI's Efficiency Paradox: Are Dating Apps Undermining Relationship Skills?
Questions about DOWN
Was Down once called Bang With Friends?
Yes. It launched in January 2013 as Bang With Friends and was renamed DOWN later that year.
Who owns Down?
Per Wikipedia, ownership returned to founder Colin Hodge and an original team member when M17 Entertainment sold it in 2018.
Who founded Down?
Colin Hodge and Omri Mor.
What is DOWN?
DOWN is a casual dating app launched in January 2013 as Bang With Friends by Colin Hodge and Omri Mor, and renamed DOWN later that year. It was bought by Singapore's Paktor in 2017 and, per Wikipedia, sold back to Hodge and an original team member in 2018. DII covered a 2026 marketing stunt by the app.
When was DOWN founded?
DOWN was founded in 2013.
Also known as: Bang With Friends, Bang with Friends Inc.