# Matchpool

> Source: https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/products/matchpool | Publisher: Dating Industry Insights (High Intent Media Inc) | Last checked: 2026-10-20


**In short:** Matchpool is a blockchain-based matchmaking platform on which anyone can open a dating pool and matchmakers earn Guppy tokens for successful matches. It was founded by Yonatan Ben Shimon and Max Richardson and raised $6 million in a 2017 crowdfunding campaign. DII describes it as a failed social matching app.

## Key facts

- Type: Dating app
- Founder: Founded by Yonatan Ben Shimon and Max Richardson, who were introduced at a Coinscrum meetup in London (2017-05-18) [source](https://www.marketingweek.com/disruptive-brands/matchpool/)
- Chief executive: Yonatan Ben Shimon was chief executive officer (2017-01-24) [source](https://siliconangle.com/?p=318857)
- Funding: Raised $6 million (4.6 million pounds) from 2,370 contributors in a crowdfunding campaign lasting 33 hours (2017-05-18) [source](https://www.marketingweek.com/disruptive-brands/matchpool/)
- Fact: Blockchain platform where anyone can open a dating pool; matchmakers earn Guppy (GUP) tokens on Ethereum smart contracts for successful matches (2017-01-24) [source](https://siliconangle.com/?p=318857)
- Fact: JDate founder Joe Shapira is a backer (2017-01-24) [source](https://siliconangle.com/?p=318857)
- Fact: Described by DII as a failed social matching dating app (2026-09-24) [source](https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/news/former-tinder-executive-launches-rivet-app)

## About

Matchpool is a blockchain-powered matchmaking platform. It was founded by Yonatan Ben Shimon, who was chief executive in 2017, and Max Richardson, who were introduced at a Coinscrum meetup in London. The company described the idea as Slack meets Tinder: users open pools, similar to Slack channels, to connect friends or niche communities. The platform rewarded matchmakers with a digital token called Guppy (GUP), which ran on Ethereum smart contracts. Matchmakers earned tokens for successful matches and members earned them for taking part. The company argued that this ties income to making matches rather than to subscriptions, which it said can reward keeping users on a site for as long as possible. JDate founder Joe Shapira was named as a backer, and the advisory board included Ned Scott, Julian Zawistowski and Jake Brukman. In 2017 Marketing Week reported that Matchpool had raised $6 million (about 4.6 million pounds) from 2,370 contributors in a crowdfunding campaign that lasted 33 hours. Dating Industry Insights (DII) described Matchpool in September 2026 as a failed social matching dating app. Its current operating status has not been independently confirmed.



## Questions



**What is Matchpool?** Matchpool is a blockchain-based matchmaking platform where anyone can open a dating pool and matchmakers earn Guppy tokens for successful matches.

**Who founded Matchpool?** Yonatan Ben Shimon and Max Richardson founded Matchpool.

**How much did Matchpool raise?** Marketing Week reported in 2017 that it raised $6 million from 2,370 contributors in a 33-hour crowdfunding campaign.


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Canonical: https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/products/matchpool