Dating can be hard, and there is no shortage of apps and platforms striving to bring together like-minded individuals. Niche dating platforms range from linking up Disney aficionados and bacon-loving singles to finding love via a Netflix queue. Now, thanks to TrekDating.com, fans of the Star Trek franchise can find love over a common interest.
“I'm a huge Star Trek fan,” said Jonathan Bird, managing director of the site, to iDigitalTimes. “I wanted to learn code. I combined the two and built TrekDating.com.”
Users of all sexual orientations can sign up for free and create their personal profile with an accompanying photograph. When users log in to their account, they can view whether someone has seen their profile and manage their inbox. Becoming a paid member allows for advanced search options (like searching for singles based on age, zip code, smoking habits and interests) but those with the free account can send “winks” and contact people as well.
“We've got something like 150 different search criterias enabled on the site allowing you to 'scan' for the person you'd like to meet,” said Bird. “So no matter if you are looking for someone tall dark and handsome or someone who can speak foreign languages like Klingon you'll be able to find them within minutes.”
The site first launched exclusively in the UK in 2013, but has since expanded to the U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada and Australia. According to Bird, the response has been huge.
“Star Trek fans from all over the world have joined the site,” he said. “The U.S., U.K. and Canada have been huge adopters signing up in the hundreds every single day.”
Bird has found success on his dating website: He met his wife, Dawn, on the platform. While she was more of a sci-fi fan than a Star Trek junkie, the two hit it off.
Should non-Star Trek fans bother joining? “Just because you are not a Star Trek fan it does not mean you can't find love on the site,” said Bird. “We do advise a health warning to Star Wars fans however.”
