Portugal’s EIGHT Raises €3 Million Seed Round to Revolutionize Video-First Dating

Introduction

In the bustling ecosystem of dating apps, EIGHT, a Lisbon-based startup, is carving a unique niche with its video-first approach. The company is in the process of raising a €3 million Seed round to expand its innovative dating solution across Europe. Having already secured over €256.6k, EIGHT is set to redefine how people connect, moving away from the traditional swiping model.

Main Body

Founded in 2025 by Miguel Moreira da Cruz and Afonso Simão, EIGHT addresses a common frustration with dating apps: superficial interactions that rarely lead to meaningful connections. “Dating apps are broken,” says CEO Moreira da Cruz. EIGHT aims to remedy this by offering users a real-time, face-to-face experience, providing an 8-minute video date every evening between 20h and 21h.

Each user profile is verified through a 30-second introductory video, ensuring authenticity and reducing the prevalence of fake profiles. This approach, coupled with an AI Dating Coach, helps users refine their dating skills and foster genuine relationships. Available on both iOS and Android, the app is already live in Portugal, with plans to expand into the UK, Spain, and another European market.

EIGHT's metrics are promising: 15,180 registered users, a Day 1 retention rate of 81%, and a D7 retention of 43%, all achieved with minimal marketing. These figures significantly outpace industry benchmarks, highlighting the app's potential to disrupt the dating landscape. The trial-to-paid conversion rate is at an impressive 42%, with an ARPU of €13.30. Before pausing monetization to focus on growth, EIGHT generated €6,000 in revenue.

Insights / Analysis

For startups, EIGHT's strategy offers valuable insights. The company’s focus on genuine user experience over traditional monetization has fostered strong user retention and organic growth. Their approach underscores the importance of product-market fit and user trust, especially in a sector as personal as dating.

Investors should note EIGHT’s ability to scale with limited resources. The planned allocation of the new funding—31% to marketing, 26% to product development, and 15% to team expansion—illustrates a balanced approach to scaling operations while enhancing user experience.

Conclusion

EIGHT is poised to make significant waves in the European dating app market by prioritizing authenticity and meaningful connections. With a clear expansion strategy and strong early metrics, the startup exemplifies how innovation and a user-centric approach can transform industries. As EIGHT continues to grow, it sets a compelling precedent for how startups can thrive by challenging the status quo.

Source: EU-Startups