Why did Jigsaw pivot from an app to in-person events?

Jigsaw pivoted to address widespread user rejection of AI in dating and to counter general app fatigue. The company opted for a high-touch service model, believing that in-person events offer a more compelling and desirable experience than traditional dating applications. This change targets a different segment of the dating market.

How many events does Jigsaw run and where?

Jigsaw currently operates over 200 in-person dating events every month. These events are spread across more than 30 cities throughout the United States. This extensive network of events demonstrates Jigsaw's commitment to its new, offline-focused business model.

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Alex Durrant

Alex Durrant co-founded Jigsaw, which pivoted from a dating app to a large-scale in-person dating event operator, highlighting a potential new market for dating operators.

Maintained by the High Intent newsroom. Last updated July 31, 2026. Led by founder and CEO Bill Alena, backed by a team of industry experts with over 100 years of online dating experience between them.

Who Alex Durrant is

Alex Durrant is a co-founder of Jigsaw. Initially, Jigsaw operated as a dating application. In a significant strategic change, the company discontinued its app operations. This pivot led Jigsaw to focus entirely on organizing in-person dating events. Under Durrant's leadership, Jigsaw now runs over 200 monthly events across more than 30 cities in the United States. This move reflects a strategic decision to address user sentiment regarding artificial intelligence in dating and app fatigue. Jigsaw's current model emphasizes a high-touch service approach over traditional software scalability, creating a distinct offering in the dating market. This operational shift provides a new model for dating operators to consider.

Questions operators ask about Alex Durrant

Alex Durrant is a co-founder of Jigsaw. He has been instrumental in the company's strategic pivot from a dating app to an in-person event operator. His leadership has guided Jigsaw to its current operational model, focusing on offline dating experiences rather than a digital application.

Our coverage of Alex Durrant

1 story

Jigsaw Killed Its App for America's Largest In-Person Dating Op
Jigsaw Dating has ceased operating as a dating app, pivoting entirely to running over 200 in-person dating events monthly across 30-plus US cities. This shift bets on widespread user rejection of AI in dating and addresses app fatigue, offering a high-touch service model instead of traditional software scalability, creating a potential new market for dating operators.
June 17, 2026

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