Spotted
In short: Spotted is a German location-based dating app that connects people who have crossed paths, launched in 2013. It raised a 14.5 million dollar Series A in 2015 and was acquired by Swiss dating group dua AG in October 2022. DII cites the deal as part of European acquirers consolidating Gen Z dating apps.
Key facts
| Type | Dating app |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Germany |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Status | Acquired |
| Website | spotted.de |
| Launch | Spotted launched in 2013 as a location-based app for contacting people one has crossed paths with [TechCrunch, 2013] |
| Funding | Raised a $14.5 million Series A in August 2015, bringing total funding to $15.3 million [TechCrunch, 12 August 2015] |
| Founder | Nik Myftari was CEO and Tung Nguyen a co-founder at the time of the 2015 funding [TechCrunch, 12 August 2015] |
| Acquisition | dua.com (dua AG, Zurich) acquired Spotted.de in October 2022 [Startupticker, 25 October 2022] |
| Users | Spotted had around one million users in 2015, mainly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland [TechCrunch, 12 August 2015] |
About Spotted
Spotted is a dating app, available at spotted.de, that lets members find and message people they have crossed paths with. Its website describes it as an alternative to endless swiping, built around meeting people at favourite places such as cafes, parks and gyms. TechCrunch reported that it launched in 2013, which made it an early app in the crossed-paths category, ahead of Happn.
In August 2015 the German startup raised a 14.5 million dollar Series A, bringing total funding to 15.3 million dollars. Investors included Media Ventures, the investment firm of Cologne media businessman Dirk Ströer, Wolfman Holdings and a Deutsche Balaton affiliate. TechCrunch named Nik Myftari as chief executive and Tung Nguyen as co-founder. At the time the app had about one million users, mainly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In October 2022 the Zurich-based dua.com announced that it had acquired Spotted.de, a deal reported by Startupticker and Global Dating Insights. The spotted.de site now carries a dua AG copyright notice. Dating Industry Insights described the acquisition in February 2026, in a story about dua AG's later purchase of the Vancouver app IRLY, as part of European groups buying North American and European niche dating apps.
Also mentioned in
Questions about Spotted
Who owns Spotted?
Spotted was acquired by Swiss dating group dua AG (dua.com) in October 2022.
How much did Spotted raise?
Spotted raised a 14.5 million dollar Series A in August 2015, bringing total funding to 15.3 million dollars.
What is Spotted?
Spotted is a German location-based dating app that connects people who have crossed paths, launched in 2013. It raised a 14.5 million dollar Series A in 2015 and was acquired by Swiss dating group dua AG in October 2022. DII cites the deal as part of European acquirers consolidating Gen Z dating apps.
Where is Spotted based?
Spotted is based in Germany.
When was Spotted founded?
Spotted was founded in 2013.
Also known as: Spotted Dating App, Spotted.de.