# Skout

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


**In short:** Skout is a location-based social networking and dating app, founded in 2007 by Christian Wiklund and Niklas Lindstrom. It has been owned by The Meet Group since MeetMe bought it in 2016, and The Meet Group sits within ParshipMeet Group. Skout is listed among the member companies of the Online Dating and Discovery Association (ODDA).

## Key facts

- Type: Dating app
- Headquarters: United States
- Founded: 2007
- Website: skout.com
- Founder: Founded in 2007 as a mobile web social network by Christian Wiklund and Niklas Lindstrom; relaunched in 2009 as a location-based dating application (2007) [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skout)
- Funding: Raised $22 million in venture capital from Andreessen Horowitz in April 2012 (2012-04) [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skout)
- Acquisition: MeetMe (later The Meet Group) acquired Skout for $55 million in cash and stock; the deal closed in October 2016 (2016-10) [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meet_Group)
- Owner: The Meet Group, owner of Skout, was acquired in 2020 by the parent company of eharmony and Parship, and has ParshipMeet Group as its parent (2020-09) [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meet_Group)
- Owner: The Skout website credits The Meet Group, Inc. in its 2026 copyright line and says Skout has been creating human connections since 2007 (2026) [source](https://www.skout.com)
- Fact: Named in ODDA's member list, which also includes Match Group brands, Meetic, OurTime, Feeld, Lovoo, Yubo, The Meet Group, MeetMe and Tagged (2026-10-08) [source](https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/news/odda-launches-consumer-safety-panel-dating-apps)

## About

Skout is a dating and people-discovery app that uses a phone's location to show users others nearby. It began in 2007 as a mobile web social network, founded by Christian Wiklund and Niklas Lindstrom, and was relaunched in 2009 as a dating and people-discovery app after the founders found that most of its users were using it for dating. Its iPhone app launched in 2009 and its Android app in 2010. In April 2012 Skout raised $22 million from Andreessen Horowitz. In October 2016 MeetMe, later renamed The Meet Group, acquired Skout for $55 million in cash and stock. The Meet Group was itself acquired in 2020 by the parent company of eharmony and Parship, and now forms part of ParshipMeet Group. The Skout website credits The Meet Group, Inc. in its 2026 copyright line and says it has been creating human connections since 2007. Skout remains an active product in 2026, offering chat, matching and livestreaming. Dating Industry Insights lists Skout among the companies named on the member list of the Online Dating and Discovery Association (ODDA) in October 2026, and has cited it as an example of the proximity-based model that first became popular with Grindr.



## Questions



**Who owns Skout?** Skout is owned by The Meet Group, which acquired it in 2016 when the company was called MeetMe. The Meet Group is part of ParshipMeet Group.

**Who founded Skout?** Christian Wiklund and Niklas Lindstrom founded Skout in 2007.

**How much did MeetMe pay for Skout?** MeetMe acquired Skout for $55 million in cash and stock in 2016.

**What is Skout?** Skout is a location-based social networking and dating app, founded in 2007 by Christian Wiklund and Niklas Lindstrom. It has been owned by The Meet Group since MeetMe bought it in 2016, and The Meet Group sits within ParshipMeet Group.

**Where is Skout based?** Skout is based in United States.

**When was Skout founded?** Skout was founded in 2007.


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