A few months ago, Bumble announced that it would be adding business networking features to its dating app. Now it’s here, and it’s called Bizz. It launches in the US, UK, Germany, France and Canada today.
Bumble’s claim to fame in the crowded dating app market is that it allows women to choose who they want to talk to; men must wait to be contacted. It’s a measure that’s also integrated into Bizz. Bumble told The Verge that they hope by allowing women to make the first move, they’ll “help clear up the gray areas in networking that often make women feel uncomfortable.”
This isn’t LinkedIn, though. While the app does have some surface similarities — verified photos, a skills section, digital resumes and work examples — it’s intended for networking and mentoring only, Bumble insisted to The Verge. It’s not meant for job searching and recruiting. That being said, Bumble is intent on hiring 10 employees through connections made in Bizz.
It’s not the first time Bumble has ventured outside the dating sphere; they also have a service that allows you to find new friends. This new venture seems like a smart move for Bumble, but it remains to be seen how well Bizz will work in practice.