Markus Frind
Childhood
Born in Bavaria in 1979, Markus Frind is a German based internet entrepreneur, who is best known to be the founder of PlentyOfFish. Founded in 2003, PlentyOfFish or POF is one of the most popular online dating sites primarily used in Canada, UK, Australia, Brazil, US and Ireland. While Markus has kept it free to use, revenue is generated through online advertising. They also offer premium services to the POF users, through which they can see the last view of a user profile, and whether a user has seen or deleted a message. The headquarters of the POF is situated on the 26th floor of a skyscraper, the roof of which has a revolving restaurant.
Early Career
Graduated from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 1999, Frind gained a diploma of Computer Systems Technology. After that, he worked with a number of online companies, and landed with a company where he detected and fixed errors in their website. This is such a humble job to start with, but Markus Frind had higher ambitions. In 2003, he developed an online dating website, PlentyOfFish,
where men and women from different parts of the world could find each other, and date over the Internet. The website became a huge hit within a short period of time, especially among users in Canada, UK, Australia and US.
Career
With an aim to keep POF free, Markus Frind made use of AdSense for generating revenue. He received his first check worth $1100 in July 2003. By 2004, Markus took over POF as his full-time business. Until 2007, he independently managed the site and all operations related to it. But after that, he shifted in his new headquarters in Vancouver, and started hiring employees. In 2009, he launched a Lady Gaga contest through the site, in which single members were allowed to go to the ‘Fame Monster’ tour of Lady Gaga, and meet her personally.
Career Highlights
Markus Frind also released PlentyOfFish mobile apps for Android and iPhone devices in 2010. By 2013, around 70% of PlentyOfFish users operated it through mobile devices. In 2014, Markus confirmed that the number has increased to 85%, and it is continuously growing every week. According to Markus, POF has created millions of relationships over the Internet, many of which have resulted in marriage. He proudly states that around 1 million babies have taken birth as a result of POF.
Markus Frind also earns an income from his advertising deals, and today, he is serving more than 1.5 billion web pages every month. He started PlentyOfFish without any plan, with no money, and with minimal knowledge about building a web business. But today, his creation is one of the biggest dating sites in the US, and perhaps across the world.
Personal Life
In 2003, Frind founded PlentyOfFish (POF), an online dating platform he initially developed to enhance his programming skills. The site rapidly gained popularity, becoming one of the world's largest dating platforms. In 2015, he sold POF to Match Group for $575 million.Post-sale, Frind ventured into viticulture, establishing Frind Estate Winery in Kelowna, British Columbia. This endeavor reflects his family's 500-year history in farming and winemaking. He also manages Frind Properties, an investment firm focusing on real estate and equities.
On a personal note, Frind is married to Annie Kanciar, whom he met through PlentyOfFish. The couple resides in Vancouver with their two children. In 2016, they acquired a 6,000-square-foot home in Vancouver for $35 million, highlighting his interest in luxury real estate.
Frind's journey from a small-town upbringing to a tech entrepreneur and vintner underscores his adaptability and diverse interests, balancing professional achievements with a fulfilling family life.
Awards
- 2014
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iDate Lifetime Achievement
