The app becomes active every night from 8 to 9pm, allowing verified users to connect through 30-second video intros and instant live calls. It is currently operational in Portugal and the UK. CEO Afonso Simão, who previously founded Miofar—a fitness brand that achieved over $1.2 million in revenue—leads the company.
Eight, a Portuguese dating app focused on video interactions, is working on raising a €3 million seed round and has already secured €256,600. The app’s concept is straightforward: it doesn’t rely on photo profiles, prolonged text exchanges, or passive swiping.
Each evening, from 8 to 9pm, users who are human-verified log in, view 30-second introductory videos from other members, and can initiate 8-minute live video calls with those they match with.
Text chat is only available once both parties agree to a call, a deliberate change from the text-first approach prevalent in the dating app industry.
The app is available in Portugal and the UK, with plans to use the seed funding to expand into Eastern Europe and the United States. CEO Afonso Simão, a seasoned entrepreneur, previously launched Miofar, a fitness brand that he grew to over $1.2 million in revenue and 60,000 fulfilled orders before exiting.
Moreira da Cruz, the other co-founder, brings expertise in sales and growth, with an MBA in digital marketing and a background as a top enterprise account executive at a SaaS company.
Eight is deliberately designed to be anti-engagement, with the founders aiming for users to transition quickly from the app to real conversations. This focus drove all product decisions.
The app has no infinite scrolling, no dopamine-triggering notifications, and no streak mechanics. It limits usage to a one-hour session per night during which the entire active user base is online simultaneously, fostering scarcity and shared context instead of the asynchronous flow common in other dating apps.
A core feature is human verification, which addresses significant issues in the market: fake profiles and ghosting.
The global dating app market was valued at $6.18 billion in 2024, catering to approximately 364 million users globally. Eight enters a market with notable venture interest but growing user fatigue with the dominant swipe-and-text model.
While several apps have integrated video features, Eight emphasizes video as the primary interaction method from the first contact.