When considering successful Czech startups, dating apps may not be the first category that comes to mind. However, Cosmic Latte, a Czech technology company, is making significant strides in this space with its dating apps Zoe and Surge, designed for the LGBTQ+ community. Zoe has become the second most-used dating app globally for LGBTQ+ female users, while Surge ranks in the top ten for male users in the competitive field of dating apps.
Cosmic Latte emerged from STRV, a Czech development studio. The company’s name is inspired by the average color of the universe, as determined by astronomers. The journey began when the founders created a dating app prototype for a client that was never utilized. Recognizing its potential, they decided to launch it themselves, which eventually led to its success. According to founder and CEO Milan Kovacic, the market was very receptive to new things at that time, giving them an edge with their LGBTQ+ platform.
The company has achieved notable success through bootstrapping, growing by 21 percent in 2023, with a turnover of $3 million and a profit of $430,000. In June alone, Surge and Zoe were downloaded a combined half a million times, contributing to over 25 million total downloads. With 21 million registered users, Zoe saw a 24 percent year-over-year growth in December 2023, while Surge grew by 44 percent in the same period.
For Cosmic Latte, success isn’t just about achieving top rankings for their apps. It’s also about leading by example, building a strong community, and ensuring the structural integrity of their apps. Kovacic emphasizes the importance of delivering high-quality, scalable code with minimal technical debt, which is a core part of their culture and ethics. The team, predominantly from technical backgrounds, strives to create apps that load quickly, offer excellent user experience, and maintain stability.
In the early days, customer success teams manually reached out to every user to get feedback, demonstrating their commitment to user satisfaction. Today, they continue to focus on building supportive communities. Kovacic, a gay man from Slovakia, understands the importance of connecting LGBTQ+ individuals to fight for their rights and support each other. This mission became even more personal after a tragic terrorist attack against the LGBTQ+ community in Bratislava, where Kovacic is from.
Cosmic Latte’s dedication to privacy and security is evident in their features. Zoe, the top LGBTQ+ dating app for women in regions like Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, prioritizes security through photo verification and private modes. Recognizing the heightened risk in less accepting societies, the company employs in-chat identity verification and AI-driven content moderation to protect users from fake profiles and inappropriate content. They ensure that all users, including transgender and gender-fluid individuals, disclose their gender identity on their profiles for added security.
Instead of creating separate apps for different audiences, Cosmic Latte has focused on developing unique features based on user feedback. For example, the “Attractiveness Score” feature on Surge uses historical data to highlight the most desirable users, increasing engagement by 30 percent. They continue to innovate, exploring dynamic images and features like “dirty drawings,” which comply with app store regulations by using graphic rendering to reveal more profile photos gradually.
In conclusion, Cosmic Latte is revolutionizing the dating app industry for the LGBTQ+ community. By prioritizing user security, building supportive communities, and continuously innovating, the company is making significant strides in an often overlooked area, demonstrating that success can come from unexpected places.