Badoo and Bumble entrepreneur invests £3.5m into latest over-50s dating app

Today (September 7), Lumen, the first ever app-only dating platform dedicated to the over-50s, launches in the UK.

Backed by Andrey Andreev - the man behind Badoo, Bumble and Chappy - Lumen builds on insights from existing dating services to provide an age-appropriate dating community for more than 80 million single men and women globally aged over 50.

With 73 per cent of those aged 50 to 59 now having a smartphone, tech entrepreneur Andrey Andreev has invested £3.5m in the new app aimed specifically at the over-50s age group.

Lumen is headed by co-founders, Antoine Argouges and Charly Lester, who both have extensive experience in the dating industry.

Antoine Argouges has spent many years in product development and solution-building for some of the world’s biggest dating apps, while Charly Lester is a dating industry expert; previously dating editor at the Guardian and founder and CEO of The Dating Awards.

Commenting on the investment, Andrey said: “Do a search of the phrase ‘over 50s dating’. The results that come up are embarrassing for the industry.

“The over-50s have been mistreated by the dating sites for years. I’m excited to see the Lumen team launching an app which finally listens to this audience and specifically targets their issues and needs.”

Lumen is a free mobile app, available on iOS and Android, tailored to the needs and habits of the over-50s.

It is designed to make it as easy as possible for this age group to meet genuine, like-minded singles in a safe community.

The safety and security of Lumen’s users are a priority, and the new app ensures 100 per cent of profiles are verified. All members are required to upload a selfie as part of the verification process, and an algorithm authenticates this against the other profile images provided.

Co-Founder and CMO, Charly Lester, added: “Over the years people have often asked me where their single parents should be dating, and I used to genuinely struggle to find an answer.

“In Lumen we have created a space which embodies the values of our over-50s audience, and built the type of community we would happily recommend to our friends’ parents.”