Dating app Tinder has made its first acquisition by picking up ephemeral messenger app Tappy for an undisclosed sum, according to TechCrunch.
Tappy is a mobile messenger that shares photos and messages that disappear after 24 hours. Tappy’s conversations must begin with a photo, which then turn into a chat thread of photos that creates a visual dialogue.
TechCrunch reports the app is attempting to shake up the text messaging space, pulling the best features from successful picture messaging apps Snapchat and Instagram.
Sean Rad, cofounder and chief executive of Tinder, told TechCrunch the move was about keeping up with the company’s rapid growth.
“We’re growing and recruiting like crazy,” said Rad.
“It’s incredibly difficult to find talented people to join us fast enough to keep up with our roadmap for 2015, which includes some ambitious plans.”
Rad said Tappy’s goals were a “great match” to the goals of Tinder’s own photo messaging app Tinder Moments. Tinder has never allowed users to privately send each other photos through the app and Tappy will give them this functionality, according to the reports.
Tinder users are currently making 1.5 billion swipes (swiping is how users approve or pass on a prospective match) and 21 million matches each day.
Kirsten Robb is a former journalist at SmartCompany. Previously, she worked at News Corp as a property reporter for Leader Newspapers and the Herald Sun, and holds a Masters of Journalism at Melbourne University.
