Thursday, April 17, 2008

Seattle Startup Takes Aim at Online Relationships

Seattle-based matchmaking Web site Sparkbliss officially launched Wednesday. The privately held company, which was founded just last month, aims to eliminate the risks and dishonesty that it says are inherent in Internet dating. "Online dating is not, 'What you see is what you get,'" Sparkbliss founder Joel M. Blatt said in a statement. "Photos are often swiped from modeling agency sites and profiles often completely plagiarized." According to Sparkbliss, Blatt established the company after experiencing the "perils of online dating" first hand. The startup explained that it will mitigate those hazards by leveraging references from people its members know and trust. Sparkbliss' service is provided free of charge and is supported through advertising revenue, the company said.