Unique dating app Once has secured an additional €1million (£790,000) investment from a French venture capital firm.
Partech, which supports global companies with revolutionary concepts, has provided a second cash injection, taking the total raised from private investors to €5m (£4m).
Once’s unique selling point is that it provides users with just one match a day, in theory leading to more sustainable relationships compared with apps such as Tinder where users can swipe past dozens of potential matches.
The app is close to reaching the two million user milestone, surpassing records set by competing dating platforms.
Once CEO and founder Jean Meyer said: “This is a great achievement in the first year of launching our slow dating concept – we are delighted that Partech Ventures believe in Once and recognise the potential our app has globally to continue reforming the dating scene around the world.”
The money will be used to develop Once’s key markets in Western Europe – the UK, France and Germany – and refine plans to launch in other regions.
“Dating is a really exciting space for us as it attracts massive audiences from all around the world,” said Partech general manager Romain Lavault.
“Once has a unique approach to serious dating which creates a much more lifelike experience for users – more human and much less Tinder-esque!
“We look forward to supporting Jean Meyer and his team in on-boarding many more millions of users for Once globally.”