This dating app books your first date for you

This article is a part of Startup Spotlight, a series that features young, up-and-coming startups.

Image credit: Timmy Loen

In Bangkok, a VC friend of Sunny Khurana (now CEO of Spark) struggled to find real connections on dating apps. This underscored a broader issue: dating apps optimize for swipes, not actual dates. Khurana launched Spark to bridge this gap, focusing on curated, bookable experiences.

😟 Problem

Dating apps frequently generate an “outcome gap,” where matches rarely convert into real-world dates. Time-poor professionals, particularly women concerned with safety, experience fatigue from endless chatting and logistical hurdles. Users desire quality relationships but face friction in planning and trust.

💡 Solution

Spark facilitates confirmed dates by integrating booking directly within the app.

• One-tap date invites to curated venues
• Auto-coordination handles availability, reminders, and reservations
• Live inventory from partners (e.g., Hungry Hub, TicketMelon)
• Curated “Best Date List” ensures quality and ease of choice
• Women-first trust features, including photo/ID verification and in-app safety tools
• Intent-based matching emphasizes interests and date types

A screenshot from the Spark app. Image credit: Spark

📊 Market size

Spark targets affluent singles (24–45) in dense urban centers like Singapore and Bangkok. Projections suggest a monthly revenue of approximately US$127,000, totaling around US$1.5 million annually from these two cities. This is derived from booking commissions, optional memberships, and paid features.

🤝 Team

• Michael Cluzel – co-founder and CSO: ex-founder/group CEO, Eatigo
• Viney Hora – advisor, AI/ML: former managing director, Accenture SE Asia
• Gagan Ajmani – finance and compliance advisor: ex-CFO/finance leader at Deliveree
• Sunny Khurana – Founder and CEO: drives product vision and market strategy

🚀 Traction

Spark’s V1 MVP is live on iOS/Android in Singapore and Thailand. It has accumulated approximately 3,500 sign-ups, with peak daily active users reaching 500 during beta. The platform offers roughly 1,500 curated experiences through integrated booking rails.

🏆 Competition

Direct competitors include Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge, along with premium apps like The League. Spark differentiates itself by offering end-to-end “match → book → meet” functionality directly within the app, a vetted community, and concierge-grade curation. Most rivals cease at the chat stage.

💰 Financials

Spark’s revenue model includes booking commissions (8–20% take-rate), a 3–5% user service fee, optional premium memberships (US$15–US$49/month), and à la carte boosts. The company has raised approximately US$340,000 from 13 angel investors.

This piece was written with AI. A human editor reviews it before publishing. All information is provided by the startup.