owns and operates more than 30 niche focused online properties . this includes more than 20 special interest online personals sites such as christianmingle.com and jdate.com along with apps like crosspaths . 1 contents 1 websites 1.1 christianmingle 1.2 jdate 1.3 other websites 2 history 3 operations 4 references 5 external links websites edit most of spark networks websites are considered special interest online personals sites . former ceo adam berger has referred to these services as niche dating . 2 exceptions include dailybibleverse.com faith.com and christiancards.net which cater to other christian interests and spark.com a general interest online personals site . today christianmingle and jdate are spark networks most popular dating sites . christianmingle edit main article christianmingle initially launched in 2001 christianmingle.com is the largest and fastest growing online community of christian singles . the site serves singles who are looking to date and marry within the christian faith . today christianmingle has more than 9 million registered members . 3 in addition to bringing together christian singles this site also fosters an online community where members can share their faith and values in a like minded environment . the site partners with other spark networks properties including dailybibleverse.com to enhance the faith based offerings for the online community . christianmingle s statement of faith is as follows the basis for our faith is jesus christ the son of god lord and savior of the world and god s written word the bible . we believe that embracing what god said allows us to live in freedom joy and purpose . 3 the plot of the film christian mingle features the website . jdate edit launched in 1997 jdate.com is a niche dating site that caters to jewish singles . it has more than 750 000 members worldwide . 4 in addition to the u.s. site there are also jdate websites with unique domain names for israel the united kingdom and france jdate.co.il jdate.co.uk and jdate.fr . researchnow an independent research company found that jdate is responsible for 52 percent of jewish marriages that started online . this makes jdate responsible for more jewish marriages than all other online dating sites combined . 4 other websites edit in addition to christianmingle and jdate the following properties are included in spark networks portfolio 5 bbwcouple.com largecouple.com plusizedating.com crosspaths jswipe believe.com dailybibleverse.com faith.com christiancards.net blacksingles.com silversingles.com ldssingles.com ldsmingle.com bbwpersonalsplus.com spark.com catholicmingle.com cupid.co.il adventistsinglesconnection.com matchnet.com deafsinglesconnection.com militarysinglesconnection.com history edit the company was founded by joe y. shapira in 1997 under the name matchnet plc. 6 jdate.com founded in 1997 was the company s first venture into online dating . the other key web property christianmingle.com was introduced in 2004 . 7 in january 2005 the company changed its name to spark networks because management felt that the new name more sharply distinguished the company in the marketplace . 8 on november 10 2014 jdate launched a dating app designed for jewish singles . 9 on october 14 2015 spark networks announced the acquisition of smooch labs owner of the popular millennial jewish dating app jswipe . 10 spark networks launched crosspaths a dating app that helps like minded christians find matches on october 8 2015 . 11 redesigns of the jdate and christianmingle websites were announced in 2015 . in addition to revamped branding the site makeovers featured technology changes including expanded mobile capabilities a re designed inbox and a new daily matches feature . jdate s redesign went live on november 18 2015 while christianmingle s went live on december 17 2015 . 12 13 operations edit david siminoff formerly served as chief executive officer of the company . the current spark networks leadership team 14 consists of danny rosenthal chief executive officer & director david budworth chief technology officer lisa mclafferty chief revenue officer robert w. o hare chief financial officer previously based in beverly hills california spark networks is now based in los angeles california with additional offices in lehi utah and hertzelia pituach israel . 15 in 2013 the company authorized the repurchase of 5 million of its outstanding common stock as a reflection of confidence in the long term business . 16 references edit spark networks a leading provider of iconic niche focused brands . . spark networks . retrieved 2016 03 02 . niche singles sites claim success . abc news . 2013 03 01 . retrieved 2016 03 02 . a b christianmingle.com the leading christian singles network . spark networks . retrieved 2016 03 03 . a b jdate.com the leading jewish singles network explore the possibilities . . spark networks . retrieved 2016 03 03 . spark networks home to some of the world s most iconic niche focused brands . spark networks . retrieved 2016 03 02 . dealbook . parent of dating sites looks for a match . dealbook . retrieved 2016 03 02 . hill logan . at christianmingle and jdate god s your wingman . bloomberg.com . retrieved 2016 03 11 . matchnet plc changes its name to spark networks plc . online personals watch news on the dating industry and business . retrieved 2016 03 02 . jdate launches new app making it easier than ever to get chosen spark networks . spark networks . retrieved 2016 03 02 . spark networks acquires smooch labs owner of the jswipe mobile application spark networks . spark networks . retrieved 2016 03 02 . faith and love meet on new dating app for single christians spark networks . spark networks . retrieved 2016 03 02 . from spark to fireworks online dating brands jdate and christianmingle get makeovers spark networks . spark networks . retrieved 2016 03 02 . meaningful matches are ready to be made on the all new christianmingle spark networks . spark networks . retrieved 2016 03 02 . spark networks investor relations management team . investor.spark.net . retrieved 2016 08 22 . spark networks contact us . spark networks . retrieved 2016 03 02 . spark networks inc. announces 5 million stock repurchase program . yahoo finance . retrieved 2016 03 02 . external links edit official website retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title spark networks & oldid 740130143 categories companies listed on nyse mktonline dating services navigation menu personal tools not logged intalkcontributionscreate accountlog in namespaces article talk variants views read edit view history more search navigation main pagecontentsfeatured contentcurrent eventsrandom articledonate to wikipediawikipedia store interaction helpabout wikipediacommunity portalrecent changescontact page tools what links hererelated changesupload filespecial pagespermanent linkpage informationwikidata itemcite this page print export create a bookdownload as pdfprintable 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