Alternative to Dating Apps Raised €1.2M to Go International and Chose Portugal

Jornal Económico, Portugal's leading business publication, published a comprehensive feature on Joiner's €1.2M fundraising and Portugal launch.

The Funding Round

Joiner secured €1.2 million to fuel international expansion, with Portugal chosen as the first market outside Lithuania. The startup previously raised €500K in an earlier round.

Why Portugal?

The founders fell in love with Lisbon during Web Summit and chose Portugal over Spain for its:

• Vibrant expat community seeking social connections
• Strong tech ecosystem and startup-friendly culture
• Strategic gateway to Southern Europe and global markets
• High concentration of young professionals and digital nomads

The Business Model

Unlike dating apps, Joiner positions itself as an "anti-dating app" focused on:

• Group activities, from karaoke to museum visits
• No ads or commercial promotions, purely peer-to-peer events
• Host approval system, event creators review participant profiles before accepting
• Language and interest filters, helping users find "their people"

Growth Trajectory

• 50,000+ users across Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Ukraine
• 12,000+ events organized through the platform
• €300K+ invested in local Portuguese teams
• Target: 250,000 users with focus on Lisbon and Porto

The Anti-Tinder Philosophy

Co-founder Eduard Titov (ex-Uber CMO in Kazakhstan) and Jūratė Plungytė (ex-Uber CMO in Lithuania) built Joiner from frustration with dating apps. Their vision: combat urban loneliness through shared activities, not swipes.

"Portugal has everything we were looking for, expats seeking friends, a culture that values socializing, and a city that's growing fast," said Jūratė.

📰 Read the full article on Jornal Económico (in Portuguese) 🚀