# Yubo > Source: https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/products/yubo | Publisher: Dating Industry Insights (High Intent Media Inc) | Last checked: 2026-10-20 **In short:** Yubo is a Paris-based social discovery app that combines group livestreams with swipe-based profile discovery. It is operated by Twelve App SAS, a venture-backed private company, and has been open only to users aged 18 and over since November 2025. The company describes it as a friendship app rather than a dating app. It matters to dating because it competes for the same young adult audience and belongs to the trade body ODDA. ## Key facts - Type: Dating app - Headquarters: Paris, France - Founded: 2015 - Status: Active, privately held, venture-backed - Website: yubo.live - LinkedIn: LinkedIn profile - Description: Live social discovery platform for making friends, with group livestreams (2025-11-17) [source](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yubo-transitions-to-18-platform-advancing-its-next-chapter-in-social-discovery-for-gen-z-adults-302616177.html) - Founded: Founded in France in 2015 (2025-11-17) [source](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yubo-transitions-to-18-platform-advancing-its-next-chapter-in-social-discovery-for-gen-z-adults-302616177.html) - Minimum age: Raised minimum user age to 18, effective 1 November 2025; sunsetting of under-18 accounts completed 29 October 2025 (2025-11-17) [source](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yubo-transitions-to-18-platform-advancing-its-next-chapter-in-social-discovery-for-gen-z-adults-302616177.html) - Headquarters: Paris, France (2022-09-14) [source](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yubo-to-become-first-major-social-media-platform-to-age-verify-100-of-its-users-301623752.html) - CEO and co-founder: Sacha Lazimi (2025-11-17) [source](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yubo-transitions-to-18-platform-advancing-its-next-chapter-in-social-discovery-for-gen-z-adults-302616177.html) - Age verification: Said to be the first major social platform to require age assurance for all users in 2022, using facial age estimation with manual ID checks by Safety Specialists (2025-11-17) [source](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yubo-transitions-to-18-platform-advancing-its-next-chapter-in-social-discovery-for-gen-z-adults-302616177.html) - Age verification partner: Yoti facial age estimation technology (2022-09-14) [source](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yubo-to-become-first-major-social-media-platform-to-age-verify-100-of-its-users-301623752.html) - Funding: Series C of $47.5M, led by Idinvest, Iris Capital, Alven and Sweet Capital, with Gaia Capital Partners as a new investor (2020-11-17) [source](https://techcrunch.com/2020/11/17/yubo-could-be-the-next-big-social-app-as-it-raises-47-5-million/) - Operating company: Twelve-App SAS operates Yubo, headquartered in Paris (Preqin; the company's own site was not checked) [source](https://www.preqin.com/data/profile/asset/twelve-app-sas/358002) - Trade body membership: Listed as a member of the Online Dating and Discovery Association (ODDA) (2026-10-20) [source](https://theodda.org/about-us/) - Reach: Company says it serves users in more than 140 countries (2025-11-17) [source](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yubo-transitions-to-18-platform-advancing-its-next-chapter-in-social-discovery-for-gen-z-adults-302616177.html) ## About Yubo is a social discovery app that lets users meet new people through group livestreams and a swipe feature. It was founded in France in 2015 and is based in Paris. Third-party data providers, Preqin and Crunchbase, list the operating company as Twelve-App SAS, and Sacha Lazimi is its co-founder and chief executive. The app is free to download, with in-app purchases and subscriptions. It is available on iOS and Android and the company says it is used in more than 140 countries. Yubo began as a teen-focused service. In 2022 it said it was the first major social platform to verify the age of every user, working with the identity provider Yoti. It then moved to an adults-only model: the company raised its minimum age to 18 from 1 November 2025, after a phased withdrawal of under-18 accounts that began in early 2025 and finished on 29 October. Yubo says it uses facial age estimation at sign-up, backed by manual ID checks by its safety specialists. On funding, the company closed a Series C round of $47.5M in November 2020, led by existing investors Idinvest, Iris Capital, Alven and Sweet Capital, with Gaia Capital Partners joining. Yubo says it is a social discovery platform, not a dating app, and focuses on friendship. Its relevance to the dating industry is that it targets the same young adult audience and is listed as a member of the Online Dating and Discovery Association (ODDA), which covers both dating and social discovery services. ## Questions **Is Yubo a dating app?** Yubo describes itself as a social discovery app focused on making friends, not as a dating app. It uses swipe-based discovery and group livestreams. It is listed as a member of ODDA, which covers dating and social discovery services. **Who owns Yubo?** Preqin lists Twelve-App SAS, based in Paris, as the operator of Yubo. The company is privately held and venture-backed. Sacha Lazimi is co-founder and chief executive. **What is the minimum age for Yubo?** Yubo raised its minimum age to 18 from 1 November 2025. It says it uses facial age estimation at sign-up, with manual ID checks by safety staff where needed. **Where is Yubo based?** Yubo is based in Paris, France. **What is Yubo?** Yubo is a Paris-based social discovery app that combines group livestreams with swipe-based profile discovery. It is operated by Twelve App SAS, a venture-backed private company, and has been open only to users aged 18 and over since November 2025. The company describes it as a friendship app rather than a dating app. **When was Yubo founded?** Yubo was founded in 2015. --- Canonical: https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/products/yubo