Tantan Expands Fitness Events to Boost Female Sign-Ups
Tantan's fitness events led to a 5% rise in female sign-ups post-event, showing founders the potential of IRL activities to enhance user engagement.
Dating apps are moving beyond swipes and screens by organizing real-world fitness events that bring singles together in active, social settings. Companies like Tantan, Surf, and ATEAM are betting that shared physical activities create better connections than traditional dates. This shift reflects a broader industry trend toward in-person experiences that reduce pressure while increasing engagement.
Tantan Leads with Fitness-Focused Events
Tantan, one of Asia-Pacific's largest dating apps, is expanding its fitness and social events across the region. The company has been organizing runs, workouts, and other activities since 2025. Some events have filled within a day, and around 90% of registered participants have attended.
Tantan also reported a 5% increase in female app sign-ups in the week after each event. Upcoming events include a vertical run for around 300 people in Bangkok and a two-day Bar Run in Taichung, expected to attract up to 3,500 participants. The focus on fitness gives singles something to do together and takes some of the pressure away from meeting for a date.
Competing Apps Join the Movement
Tantan is not the only dating app using fitness to bring people together. Surf works with HYROX on pre-race runs, recovery sessions, blind dates, and after-parties. Wellness dating app ATEAM held around 30 events for 2,000 people before launching its app.
ATEAM also works with SoulCycle and Life Time Fitness to create opportunities for singles to meet through shared wellness activities. These partnerships allow dating apps to tap into existing fitness communities and provide structured environments for connection. The strategy reduces the awkwardness of traditional dating while appealing to health-conscious users.
The focus on fitness gives singles something to do together and takes some of the pressure away from meeting for a date.
The Industry Shifts Toward Real-World Connections
The move is part of a wider shift towards IRL dating. Tinder is expanding its IRL events, mainly through partnerships with third-party event providers. At the GDI London Conference, Jigsaw Dating General Manager Maisie Baker surprised the audience by revealing that the company runs more than 200 singles events each month, despite having only five full-time employees.
Jigsaw started as a dating app that gradually revealed profile photos as people chatted. It has since become a hybrid dating platform, running mixers, speed dating, pickleball, and other events across more than 30 US cities. This transformation demonstrates how dating apps are evolving from purely digital platforms into comprehensive matchmaking services that blend online and offline experiences.
Jigsaw Dating runs more than 200 singles events each month, despite having only five full-time employees.
- Dating apps are successfully converting digital users into event attendees, with high participation rates proving the demand for in-person experiences
- Fitness-based events attract more female users and create natural conversation opportunities that reduce dating anxiety
- The hybrid model combining apps with real-world events is becoming the new standard for dating platforms seeking sustainable growth
Key takeaways
- 01Tantan's fitness events increased female sign-ups by 5% in the week after each event.
- 02Companies like Tantan, Surf, and ATEAM use shared physical activities for user connection.
- 03Jigsaw Dating runs over 200 monthly events in 30+ US cities with five employees.
- 04Fitness events offer less pressure and provide natural conversation starters for singles.
- 05There is a broader industry shift towards combining online apps with in-person experiences.
Reviewed by an operator. Last updated September 18, 2026. High Intent is led by founder and CEO Bill Alena, backed by a team of industry experts with over 100 years of online dating experience between them.
Questions operators ask
Tantan reported a 5% increase in female sign-ups for its app in the week following each fitness event. This indicates that real-world activities directly contributed to user acquisition. The events also saw high attendance rates, with about 90% of registered participants showing up to the activities.
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