In the age of Tinder, Lovoo, and the like, dating has reached its peak in terms of superficiality. Swipe left, swipe right—we sort people out based on their appearance in a fraction of a second. The Munich startup liebertext.de wants to counteract this and has given the good old personal ad a new lease of life. Learn more in our 7 questions.
1. Who are you and what do you do? Please introduce yourselves briefly!
liebertext.de is the new free dating platform in Munich that completely distances itself from the image-heavy and superficial self-presentation on the internet. Here, you can find the right partner or new friends with your own words. Because they are definitely more powerful than profile pictures and algorithms. After all, people are smarter than computers. liebertext.de has simply dusted off the old-school 1TP1408 ink of the classic personal ad and digitized it. The web app works just like the classic personal ad in a newspaper, only online. Here, you can read, write, and chat directly. liebertext.de is completely free, anonymous, and easy to use. Registration is quick and straightforward. No questionnaires, no pictures—just online chat and a favorites list. Starting in mid-July, liebertext.de will also be available as a smartphone app (iOS, Android).
The good old advertisement
Liebertext.de was founded in 2016 by Angelika Ziebart, her husband Christoph Walz, and their good boarding school friend Marina Tomacelli Filomarino. Angi (40) and Christoph (39) studied at the Schwäbisch Gmünd University of Art and Design. Seven years ago, they founded a design agency in Munich. Christoph also teaches at various universities. Marina (39) studied communication sciences in Paris and worked as a PR and event manager for 15 years.
Almost two years ago, we were sitting in the kitchen with a glass of red wine, trying to convince a friend to try online dating. She definitely didn't want to expose herself or market herself with a photo, and she certainly didn't want to manage a profile page. So we all remembered the good old ad. She was thrilled. We immediately got to work and founded liebertext.de. Angi is our CEO, Christoph our Chief Digital Officer, and Marina the Brand Ambassador.
2. But that's been around for a long time!
The online dating market is huge, yes! And more and more people are searching for their ideal partner online these days. Regardless of age or social background.
But with us, things are completely different! Our platform is perfect for anyone bored by the superficiality of our visually driven world. We want to help people who aren't just interested in looks, but who are serious about finding someone. We believe that everyone has the right to intimacy, and if dating hasn't worked out so well so far and you're tired of selfies, snaps, and swipes, then there's something new! Whether old or young — it's ideal for anyone who's interested in more than just the facade.
Startup means giving up comfort
The platform is also well-suited for those over 60 looking for a partner: 90% of singles in this age group are open to online dating. Thus, among the millions of Germans who have found their partner online, there are a growing number of seniors. The desire for a fulfilling relationship remains even in advanced age. The intuitive and contemporary style of the new dating platform ultimately makes searching and finding a partner a simple and entertaining experience.
3. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
Founding a startup means dealing with countless challenges every single day. The biggest was certainly quitting our jobs, canceling the cleaning service, and forgoing many comforts.
4. Let’s get down to business: How is business going?
We're currently in the proof-of-concept phase, which we hope to complete this fall. By then, we want to demonstrate that the product works and that people like it. Immediately afterward, we plan to expand liebertext.de further into other German cities with the support of investors. An English version is also planned soon. liebertext.de's basic functions are and will remain free. Registration and the ability to read and post ads will always be free. Premium features, such as uploading a handwritten ad or an audio file with a spoken ad, will cost a small fee. Our customers are currently being a huge help to us by suggesting premium features themselves. That's fantastic!
Munich isn't that stuffy
5. What does Munich mean to you?
It's very different for all three! Angi was born in Munich and has always been in love with her city:
"Munich is just so beautiful! You always think nothing works here because everything is so stuffy, but that's not true! When it comes to getting to know people, everyone could be a bit more confident, but we try to help with that."
For Christoph, Munich is la Dolce Vita Bavarese—with traditional hipsters and corporate startups, naked and buttoned-up people, surfers and SUVs. Simply one of the most beautiful filter bubbles in the world.
I, Marina, have only been living here since September, but I knew Munich from before. I've always loved the city. The friendly atmosphere of the people of Munich, the way the city is harmoniously connected to nature, the countless beer gardens, the international flair... Munich is fantastic!
6. How will your startup become the next unicorn? Or will we see you soon at Epic Fail Night?
We're aware that our product won't change the lives of humanity! We simply believe that everyone has a right to love and closeness, and that we should all place more value on content and emotions. Our goal is to run a company that's fair and humane. We hope to achieve great success, of course.
7. Hiking or beer garden?
BEER GARDEN!
