Why Did These Dating App Founders Turn along the Largest provide in ‘Shark Tank’ History?

They nevertheless do not be sorry

The Kang siblings pitch their dating application into the Sharks. (ABC)

Many years ago, siblings Dawoon, Arum and Soo Kang launched Coffee Meets Bagel: a site that is dating acts users a possible match—or “bagel”—every trip to noon. Users have actually a day to choose whether they’ll “like” or “pass” on a match, and that can just begin messaging when they’ve both authorized one another.

The Kang siblings pitched their dating application on Friday night’s bout of Shark Tank, where, after turning along the offer that is largest within the show’s history, they strolled away empty-handed.

Following the Shark Tank episode aired, Betabeat chatted with Dawoon for more information on her sister’s experience.

To begin, just how do you find yourself in the show?

They reached off to us first. In the beginning we had been like, “Oh, I think we’re too large to be in the show.” I enjoy Shark Tank, but typically exactly what you’re familiar with seeing is pretty companies that are small. We had been like, “I don’t think there’s a fit right here.”

[But] as soon as we thought about this more, we now have a tremendous respect for the Sharks. We thought it might be stupid to show this offer down.

Mark Cuban had been out nearly instantly, whenever you declined to show your precise wide range of users. Why wouldn’t you provide them with the precise quantity?

We think competition, by the end associated with the time, does not matter; people utilize multiple relationship apps on a regular basis. So long you promised, they’ll continue to love you and use your service as you can deliver the value.

But at the conclusion of your day, it really is a space that is competitive. Any figures we don’t need certainly to reveal, we simply don’t prefer to. We do understand that’s a vital quantity for just about any kind of investment analysis however, so it again, I would take a different approach if we were to do.

Do you want to expose the true numbers now?

We’re nevertheless likely to ensure that is stays a secret—for investors, demonstrably maybe not, but also for now, perhaps not publicly.

Ms. Kang believes Coffee Meets Bagel escort service Burbank will be bigger than eventually Match. (Coffee Meets Bagel)

Mark came ultimately back and offered $30 million for your entire company—the biggest offer in Shark Tank history. Exactly how did that feel?

We had been actually flattered. It had been a great validation to most of the efforts we put in building Coffee Meets Bagel up to now.

So just why do you reject the offer?!

To own that confirming experience from an investor like Mark Cuban had been a validation that is huge. Nevertheless, during the time that is same my siblings and I also understand the real value of Coffee Meets Bagel. We realize our development potential. We all know how large this thing could be. It’s means bigger than $30 million.

Can you see Coffee matches Bagel as ultimately being larger than, state, Match?

We undoubtedly do.

2014 had been the very first 12 months where there have been more singles into the U.S. than hitched people. This generation’s lifestyles are changing rapidly—who has got the time and energy to head to events and pubs nowadays? There’s also a constantly decreasing stigma around internet dating. Add all of this, along with an industry so ripe for disruption and growth. Coffee matches Bagel is in the exact middle of this.

Why should somebody utilize Coffee suits Bagel over Tinder? On both apps, possible matches being forced to accept one another, but Tinder gives you a lot more matches. Coffee matches Bagel just provides one possible match per time.

We’re exactly about providing you with a significant connection. Other services that are dating like Tinder, are about serving up as numerous pages that you can. It gets tiring. Additionally contributes to extremely behavior that is bad the guys’ part—abusing the working platform. Also [Shark Tank‘s] Barbara Corcoran pointed out it is very nearly insulting for many females to utilize that form of solution.

These are Barbara Corcoran, she laughed when you were learned by her along with your sisters had been each using $100,000 salaries before your business had broken also. How come you might think the Sharks were surprised by that information?

I do believe the good thing about Shark Tank is the fact that there are a number of business owners whom come to pitch the Sharks from many parts of society and several various companies. Away from technology, $100,000 is quite, extremely high. I’m certain it’s a true quantity they’re perhaps not used to seeing.

I wish to stress that within the technology market, our company is extremely, extremely much underpaying ourselves.

Both you and your sisters all remaining jobs that are good have a danger on beginning Coffee Meets Bagel. Will you be nevertheless delighted you have made the option?

It’s really one of the better decisions I’ve ever built in my entire life.

We, as individuals, invest therefore time that is much work nowadays—probably in excess of spent with family and friends. You intend to ensure that the right time you may spend working is on something which is significant for you—something that produces you pleased. Prior to starting Coffee Meets Bagel, i did son’t feel just like that with other jobs I’d.