NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Perry Street Software, a New York-based gay mobile software developer and the parent company of SCRUFF, has acquired Jack’d, one of the first and most diverse gay, bi, trans, and queer social networking and dating apps for iOS and Android. Jack’d will continue to operate as a stand-alone app to ensure that it remains a distinct and supportive space for the millions of GBTQ+ people who use it weekly.
“For years, we have admired the diverse and global community on Jack’d. Since its launch in 2010, Jack’d has grown to more than 5 million members worldwide,” said Eric Silverberg, CEO of Perry Street Software. “This acquisition will provide Jack’d members with the same combination of technology and active moderation we have developed at SCRUFF, so that the Jack’d community members will be protected against harassment, spam bots, scammers, and risks while traveling.”
“Perry Street will invest significant resources to upgrade the technology and reliability of the Jack’d app,” Silverberg said. In the coming months, Jack’d members can expect to see the removal of all programmatic advertising, enhanced controls over privacy and security, and new features such as improved messaging, redesigned Match, richer search, and the ability to include video as part of member private albums or in chat.
“Perry Street Software will work with Jack’d members to create a platform that enables them to create authentic connections on their own terms, whether they are looking for friends, dates, a hookup, or more,” Silverberg said.
“We recognize that the growth Jack’d experienced in building its app created some technical and logistical growing pains, and we are eager through this acquisition to provide Jack’d members with a much improved software experience,” Silverberg said.
As part of Perry Street’s commitment to feedback, Jack’d members can volunteer to receive early previews of the upcoming version by joining the Jack’d beta program at the all-new website at https://www.jackd.com. Members with additional questions can contact the Jack’d support team at: https://support.jackd.com.
The online dating market is expected to reach $12 billion by 2020. With this acquisition, Perry Street Software expects to become the largest LGBTQ owned-and-operated software company by revenue and members reached. “We are a part of the community that we serve, and thus it is critical to us that we are always able to stand behind our decisions and business practices. It’s why we removed programmatic advertising from SCRUFF in 2018, why we don’t sell member data to shady data brokers, and why we support GDPR and current privacy-focused legislative efforts being considered now in Congress” Silverberg said.
About Perry Street Software
Perry Street Software is the parent company of SCRUFF and Jack’d, two of the world’s largest, bi, trans and queer social dating apps on iOS and Android. Reaching more than 20 million members worldwide, Perry Street Software connects gay, bi, trans and queer members to connect, meet and express themselves on platforms that prioritize security, privacy and stability. Perry Street Software was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in New York.
About SCRUFF
SCRUFF is the top-rated, safest and most reliable app for gay, bi, trans and queer guys to connect. The company connects more than 15M guys worldwide to friends, dating, hookups, events, travel advice and more. The SCRUFF app today includes SCRUFF Match, which lets guys connect with other guys open to dates and relationships, SCRUFF Venture, which lets guys connect before they travel or while on trips, SCRUFF Events, a global gay event calendar, and Hosting, a live queer quiz show integrated into the app. Founded in 2010, SCRUFF is owned and operated by Perry Street Software, gay mobile software developer headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit https://www.scruff.com
About Jack’d
Jack’d, founded in 2010, is the most diverse location-based mobile app for gay, bisexual, and curious guys to meet other guys anywhere, anytime. Guys can look for other guys to find friendship, dates, long-term relationships and one-time intimate encounters. Today, the app is a global network of 5 million guys spanning 2,000 cities in 180 countries. For more information, visit https://www.jackd.com
