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From Venture Wire: Indian Online matrimonial service Shaadi.com said “I do” to an $8 million round, finding a suitor in WestBridge Capital Partners. This is the first round of capital for Mumbai-based Shaadi, whose official name is People Interactive Pvt. Ltd., and is yet another leading Internet company joining WestBridge’s portfolio, which already includes Internet portal Times Internet Ltd.
Shaadi already holds about 50% of the online matrimonial market in India, according to Singhal, and will use the new capital to invest in its other Web sites - online dating site Fropper.com and astrology-oriented personals site AstroLife.com - as well as to make acquisitions.
The online service charges subscription fees starting at $42 for a three-month membership, and typically has about half a million members subscribing on average for six to nine months.
It’s not often I come across a dating site that is ISO 9001:2000 certified.
Technorati Tags: shaddi
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
“…$42 for a three-month membership, and typically has about half a million members subscribing on average for six to nine months…”
500,000 subscribers paying $42 for 3 months x 2 = $42,000,000. x 3 = $63,000,000
If they were making that kind of money, why raise any capital? $8M would seem tiny.
Something isn’t right with the figures.
THE FLIGHT TO ENTERTAINMENT.
* 13_to_25_years_old_persons (teenagers) not interested in serious dating, fun == instant
gratification.
THE FLIGHT TO QUALITY.
* 26_and_more_years_old_persons interested in serious dating, will need quality CONTACTS (compatible real persons, confidential treatment of information provided, privacy, code of ethics, background checks, etc) like the contacts provided by OffLine Chains, but at affordable costs (If OffLine charges USD1,500 then OnLine will charge an amount between USD300-USD800)
Also ISO 9001:2000 Quality Norms: external evaluators that will certify the companies complies with Quality norms will be a MUST HAVE.
Kindest Regards,
Fernando Ardenghi.
Buenos Aires.
Argentina.
ardenghifer@gmail.com