gk2gk: Assisting Geeky Singles Find a Leia on their Han Solo — And Vice Versa

The Short Version: With programs like “The Big Bang concept” and video games like World of Warcraft developing in popularity nearly every time, it’s no much longer an insult to phone someone a nerd. In fact, a lot of people these days could possibly go on it as a compliment. Which is especially true of this response people at gk2gk.com, a dating website that motivates singles to accept their internal geek, nerd, or dork and assists them get a hold of their particular great match — because every Han Solo requires his Leia (and vice versa).

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I became 12 years of age while I very first study “Harry Potter while the Sorcerer’s rock,” and that I got therefore in it that I finished the book in under every day.

My personal love for the storyline regarding the kid whom existed provides only grown much deeper given that decades have gone by. I recall waiting in accordance with my sister at Barnes and Noble for all the discharge of “Goblet of flames” and going to the midnight displaying of “purchase of this Phoenix.” I have a lightning bolt tattoo and a Harry Potter playlist on Spotify. I go to Harry Potter sunday at Universal Studios every January (happily putting on my Slytherin colors!) watching the marathons every time they’re on television.

Like scores of others, I grew up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, in addition to their journey features impacted living in numerous means. Be it Harry Potter or some other book, movie, or computer game, getting passionate about an interest usually shapes whom folks are, whom they are pals with, and also who they date — with no one knows that above gk2gk.com.

Founded in 2004, gk2gk may be the initial dating site for solitary geeks, dorks, and nerds (no matter if they truly are into Star Wars, Anime, or Cosplay) to track down similar people for friendship, a night out together, a relationship, and on occasion even wedding.

To get a look in to the enjoyable, special arena of gk2gk in addition to just as geeky folks behind the site, we attained over to Senior Affiliate Manager Erica Roth, which contributed all the details with us.

“Mingle” & various other involved Features motivate Singles to start Up

The gk2gk sign-up is actually a common one: it takes only 2 mins to create a profile with standard resources such as your age, gender, appearance, and ideal big date. But gk2gk takes it a step more by asking members to classify on their own as a “music partner,” “stylish,” “artistic,” or many geeky yet affectionate terms and conditions.

There is actually a section inside profile for responding to much more concerns like “Should you could do lunch with any person, who it is and why?” “what is actually your chosen game?” or producing a question of your, which have been used in the matching process. You are also encouraged to consist of keyword phrases inside profile for much better coordinating (age.g., “Larping,” “Dungeons & Dragons,” or “Sailor Moon.” The target is to personalize them up to you can.

Exactly what gk2gk also excels at is the interactive characteristics such as for example Mingle, a carousel of matches that asks “do you really continue a romantic date with him/her?” state no and you’re revealed another profile. State yes and you’re provided addiitional information concerning individual and will send all of them an answer to one of your own concerns to access know each other more.

Through this one-of-a-kind program, gk2gk can study on the users’ on-site behaviors and develop enjoyable, offline-like relationships that in the end result in better connections.

“The entertaining characteristics on the internet site really get you to create,” Erica mentioned.

The motivation Behind gk2gk — Geeks assisting Additional Geeks

Spencer Koppel got the theory for a geek-specific dating internet site in 2004 after going right on through a divorce. Newly single and a self-proclaimed nerd, Spencer was actually frustrated with the lack alternatives for individuals like him who have been into personal computers, crossword puzzles, comic publications, and similar passions — and just who didn’t placed increased exposure of look and social status.

“appearances are not important in terms of who i might be thinking about,” Spencer told ChicagoReader.com. “It really is a lot more, will we have typical interests? Will we read the same method of publications?”

He shown his frustrations to his girl, Laina, who recommended he just take things into his very own hands, so he performed and founded gk2gk right after.

In 2015, Spencer passed the gk2gk rod to Avalanche LLC, a company that develops and marketplaces effective internet sites like his (their basic release being Date.com in 1997 on Valentine’s Day). Avalanche presently has over 20 conventional and niche sites inside dating sector, with a combined 5 million+ subscribed people (2 million on gk2gk alone) much more than 100 nations and 100,000 brand new singles joining monthly.

“We love staying in the really love company,” their own motto states.

Behind the impressive figures is actually a team that’s just like geeky given that individuals they help. Once they’re not undertaking things like going to Comi-Con collectively, they are enjoying their own individual geeky interests — including President Meir Stralhberg watches “Superstar Trek,” CFO Peder Sahlin techniques photography and understands the worth of a beneficial Hawaiian top, and Director of promotional Carlos Ealdama gathers classic sneakers.

“i will be, particularly, a film buff,” Erica added.

Final Thoughts

gk2gk features transformed the web based matchmaking scene for geeks, and as a guy nerd, I absolutely admire that. a technical is probably someone who is passionate about one thing — whether it is a man playing WoW, a female obsessing over Harry Potter, or a group of men and women reveling inside their discussed interest. Most of us simply want to fulfill special someone who will get all of us, and gk2gk is actually streamlining that procedure.

“‘Geek’ is a pretty wide phase, so that it can indicate different sorts of men and women, whether they’re tech savvy or enthusiastic about science fiction or on the web gaming or comics. Although gk2gk is a niche dating website, there’s a broad number of choices within that niche,” Erica mentioned.

Because same vein, Erica added the aim for gk2gk is to continue reaching a bigger, much more diverse audience, particularly in terms of bringing in much more females.

“we actually would like to get even more females to the system so it’s a straight playing field and folks have actually a better consumer experience,” she said.