<article>Singapore-based dating services provider<a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=lunch+actually" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Lunch Actually Group</a> has acquired Indonesian startup Setipe, the company announced today. The value of the purchase was not disclosed.</article>

Singapore-based dating services provider<a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=lunch+actually" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Lunch Actually Group</a> has acquired Indonesian startup Setipe, the company announced today. The value of the purchase was not disclosed.
With the acquisition, Setipe will come under the group’s stable of brands including Lunch Actually, Esync, LunckClick and Lunch Actually Academy. Setipe founder Rizi Thalib will remain as CEO, and, in addition, and will head Lunch Actually Group’s Indonesian operations.
Together, they will strengthen their foothold in Indonesia by providing a “holistic dating solution to address the needs of all serious singles”, the joint statement said.
“With Setipe’s strong knowledge of local dating culture and the top-of-mind brand recall for Indonesian singles, topped with our 13 years of experience, regional presence, and proven dating offerings, we are confident we can grow our business to an unprecendented level in Indonesia,” said Violet Lim, CEO and co-founder of Lunch Actually.
Started in 2013, Setipe boasts over 800,000 members and over 200 documented marriages. The service is equipped with a personality profiling and match-making engine developed by psychologists to connect singles that match. Setipe members comprise mainly of working professionals who value privacy and confidentiality.
After three years of operation, Setipe has gained “impressive” traction and growth, according to Thailb. But for them to monetize further, offline services will increasingly play a larger role, due to Indonesia’s low credit card penetration rates and limited Internet access.
“Lunch Actually Group brings tremendous value to the table by leveraging their vast experience, regional access, and together with Setipe, provide a comprehensive portfolio of dating services &#8211; from offline matchmaking, online and mobile dating app, as well as date coaching services,” Thailb stated.
Lunch Actually was launched in 2004 by husband and wife Jamie Lee and Violet Lim. It now has operations in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Bangkok.
The group claims to have more than half a million members in its combined database and has arranged more than 93,000 dates. In the last six years, the group’s revenue has been growing by 30 &#8211; 50 per cent per year, making it one of the largest dating agencies in Southeast Asia.
The group has also recently announced a collaboration with Japanese internet dating firm Diverse Co to launch a premium dating service in Tokyo.
In September, Lunch Actually raised a series A investment from Japanese social network Mixi and Fatfish Internet Group. Financial terms of the cash investment were undisclosed.
<h3>Dating app consolidation</h3>
Dating apps in the region appear to be entering a phase of consolidation, following last month’s merger between Singapore-based Paktor Group and Taiwanese 17 Media. The merged entity will operate as a regional social entertainment company led by group CEO Joseph Pua.
Paktor claims to be the top dating platform in Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam and South Korea. It is one of the best-funded dating apps in the region, having snatched investments from large groups and VCs such as MNC, YJ Capital, and Convergence Ventures. The merger, done via a share swap, pushes M17’s portfolio of services out to a combined app user base of 50 million.
Paktor had previously acquired Down, which was formerly branded as Bang With Friends (BWF), for an undisclosed sum of money.
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Singapore's Lunch Actually Group buys Indonesian dating startup Setipe

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Singapore's Lunch Actually Group buys Indonesian dating startup Setipe

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