OkCupid is the epitome of a data-driven brand. Founded in 2004 by four math majors, the company used data to differentiate itself in a crowded market. Most company blogs are dreary affairs, but OKCupid’s became a must-read for fun, titillating factoids like how race affects the types of messages one gets on the dating site.
Sam Yagan, an OKCupid founder, spoke at Digiday’s Data Marketing Summit about why OkCupid is so focussed on data and how it was able to monetize itself because of this wealth of data.
“People think that people turn online for dating because they need someone to find their soul mate for them, but we think it’s because you want a bigger pool of people to choose from,” he said . “Data is key to sorting through all of these people.”
Below is Yagan’s presentation and video of his talk at DMS.
More in Marketing
Beverage brands update Dry January marketing based on changing consumer habits
January 16, 2026
Today, people generally seek balance when pursuing their personalized wellness goals in a new year.
Future of Marketing Briefing: X claims an ad comeback, reality proves out a different thesis
January 16, 2026
The comeback story X wants told, and the ad business it actually has.
Mythbuster: What AI is not about to do in advertising
January 16, 2026
As the hype around AI thins into something closer to reality, the ad industry is quietly drawing a line around what LLMs can do — and what they will not be trusted to touch.