Jigsaw (formerly known as JigTalk dating app) is a personality-based online dating application. The face of the user in this application is hidden using a digital jigsaw puzzle and the face reveals piece by piece through profile interactions and message exchanges. The concept was granted a US patent in early 2021.
| Developer(s) | Jigsaw Dating Limited |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 2019 |
| Operating system | Android and iOS |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Online dating |
| License | Proprietary software with Terms of Use |
| Website | https://jigsaw.co/ |
History
editIn 2016, Alex Durrant and Max Adamski released a beta app called JigTalk, which covered and revealed entire user photos based on the word count of the messages sent.[1][2][3] Later, JigTalk became the first British company to enter and graduate from NASDAQ’s Milestone Makers incubator in San Francisco.[4][5] JigTalk officially launched the application in London in 2019. During the COVID-19 lockdown, the company rebranded to Jigsaw covering only the users’ faces and launched in the US in 2021.[6] In February 2021, the application received seed funding of £2.7 million ($3.7 million) from The Relationship Corp., and other angel investors.[7]
It has more than 150,000 registered users in the UK and US, as of November 2021.[8][9] The company headquarters is in Manchester in the United Kingdom with 14 employees.[10]
Overview
editThe application is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems.
The focus of Jigsaw Dating is on conversation rather than on photos. In this application, the users’ faces are covered with a digital jigsaw puzzle made up of 16 pieces. The pieces are removed gradually as the pair mutually exchange messages. The full face is revealed after a pre-set amount of in-app engagement.[11][12][13][14]
Lawsuit Against S’More
editIn November 2022, Jigsaw Dating Limited sued competitor S’More for allegedly infringing its patented feature that gradually reveals profile photos during conversations. The feature, protected under U.S. Patent No. 11,483,276, is central to Jigsaw’s focus on personality-driven dating.
The lawsuit was settled in February 2023 after S’More removed the contested feature. Jigsaw CEO Alex Durrant emphasized the app’s commitment to innovation, stating, “Competition is welcome, but we’ll fiercely protect our intellectual property.”
Jigsaw continues to lead in promoting deeper connections by prioritizing quality conversations over superficial swiping.[15][16]
References
edit- ^ Staff (24 November 2016). "Love is in the air as angels invest £160,000 in Leeds dating entrepreneurs". The Business Desk.
- ^ Winter, Lottie (19 November 2019). "This dating app has banned photo filters, claiming 'catfishing' is out of control". Glamour UK.
- ^ Kane Fulton (23 January 2017). "Love at first type: meet the messaging-led dating app taking on Tinder". TechRadar.
- ^ Gay, Chloe (26 July 2017). "Blind Dating App JigTalk Becomes First British Business Accepted Onto NASDAQ's Startup Programme". Global Dating Insights.
- ^ Staff (October 28, 2020). "New research reveals two thirds of dating app users are sick of being judged only on looks want a better alternative". The Digital Newsroom.
- ^ TV Anchor (November 5, 2020). "UK's Jigsaw Dating App Launches in NYC". Cheddar News.
- ^ Lomas, Natasha (February 15, 2021). "Jigsaw scores $3.7M to slow down your dating swipes". TechCrunch.
- ^ Lomas, Natasha (February 15, 2021). "Jigsaw scores $3.7M to slow down your dating swipes". TechCrunch.
- ^ Iovine, Anna (8 February 2021). "8 Dating Apps That Are Bucking Against Tinder's Model". Mashable India.
- ^ Marzook, Safiya (15 February 2021). "Jigsaw Dating secures £2.7 million Seed investment led by The Relationship Corp". UK Tech Investment News.
- ^ Scholer, Kristen (November 5, 2020). "Jigsaw Dating App Focuses On Conversation Over Selfies". Cheddar News.
- ^ Stodart, Leah (31 January 2022). "The best dating sites for finding a boo before spring". Mashable.
- ^ Pardes, Arielle (June 21, 2021). "A New Wave of Dating Apps Takes Cues From TikTok and Gen Z". Wired.
- ^ Dawes, Jack (November 27, 2020). "Can Jigsaw Make Us Less Superficial? We Sure Hope So". AskMen.
- ^ "Jigsaw® Dating on LinkedIn: Today, we filed a lawsuit against S'more (smoredate.com) for patent…". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
- ^ Nolan, Sean (2023-02-08). "Jigsaw Settles Lawsuit Against S'More - Global Dating Insights". www.globaldatinginsights.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.