404trends #12 | Virtual Romance Trend | Shelves For Apple's Gold Rush 💖

Dear friends, coding wizards, and anyone who ever thought their love life could use a bit more... pixels?

Guess what? Cupid's got a tech upgrade this Wednesday, and it's not just any Valentine's Day—it's the day I've launched my latest creation Insights DB on Product Hunt. I promise it’s just a coincidence, or perhaps fate's way of nudging you to show some love with an upvote, it means a lot!

Meanwhile, in the realm of heartbeats and high-speed internet, online dating, and VR have tied the knot, with Apple's Vision Pro acting as the ring bearer, cherry on top, the icing on the cake, you got it.

Anyway, I’m so excited to come back with another dive-deep report, let’s see what we have

What’s Inside:

• Sub-Reddit Is Growing In Traffic

• Apple Vision Pro: Sell Shovels During The Gold Rush

• Promising Startups

• Recently Fundraised Startups

• 10 Business Ideas

• 12 Marketing Hacks For Valentine’s Day

Quick Stats For Nerds

• 84% of men make a last-minute dash to the closest grocery store for Valentine's Day flowers

• Dating apps are busier on Sundays specifically on the first Sunday of the year, called "Dating Sunday," is the busiest day for dating apps.

• By 2027, it is estimated that there will be 440 million people seeking love through online platforms

• There has been a 92% year-over-year lift in sales of VR headsets

• In 2023, AR / VR startups raised $250 million

Rising Trend: Reddit dating

In the last six months, Reddit has seen a 249% increase in mentions of “dating” within VR interest groups. Subreddit /r/dating experiences a growth in traffic

Why It Matters:

People use dating apps for many reasons. Some are looking for a serious partner, while others just want to have fun or make new friends. Surveys tell us that a lot of people hope to find someone to be with for a long time through these apps. Dating apps are a way to meet many people and learn about yourself.

Rising Trend: Apple Vision Pro apps

You already know that Apple recently launched their Vision Pro and people are going crazy about it. I’m not going to speculate about how good it is, but let’s take a look at the opportunities. And how you can sell shovels during the gold rush.

In history, whenever there is a big change a lot of people get rich fast, at the same time. Some examples are the discovery of oil, the invention of the internet, the launching of TikTok, the creation of Bitcoin, then Open AI, and the launching of an App Store and Google Store. And now the hype of VR headsets. You get it right?

There are many ways you can use this trend, so let’s explore some possibilities.

Startups Involved in VR/AR

• Synthesis AI: Generates photorealistic 3D models for VR/AR applications using AI.

• Theator: Enhances surgical planning and rehearsal with augmented reality technology.

• EQL: Provides immersive VR training for various industries.

• Fifteen Percent Pledge: Uses AR to promote inclusive shopping experiences.

• Techville: Develops VR and AR solutions for healthcare, education, and entertainment.

• Geopogo: Builds immersive 3D environments for the real estate sector.

• Sandbox VR: Designs immersive VR experiences for entertainment and team-building.

• Somnium Space: Develops a virtual world for trading and building virtual properties.

• OpenSpace: Uses 360-degree cameras and AI for digital twins of construction sites.

• Dispelix: Produces AR displays for smart glasses and devices.

• Labster: Offers VR simulations for science education.

• Wolf3D: Helps create personalized 3D avatars for VR, games, and apps.

• Virtualitics: Combines VR and AI for immersive business data visualization.

• Relax: Creates VR experiences for relaxation and meditation.

Startups involved in Valentine’s trend

• MeetMindful: An online dating community focused on wellness and mindfulness.

• Happn: A hyperlocalized location-based dating app.

• Anomalie: An online platform for custom-made wedding gowns.

• Love Cocoa: Offers a chocolate subscription service and gift delivery.

• Bloom & Wild, Bloomon, and FlowerPlus: Offer subscription models for flower delivery.

• Vivino: A wine app that allows users to rate and discover new wines.

• Lovely: Offers a connected sex toy and accompanying app with relationship counseling.

• Little Riot: Provides a connected pillow that lets users hear their loved one’s heartbeat while they sleep.

• LovePop: Offers intricate 3D pop-up cards for special occasions, bringing a creative twist to traditional greetings.

• Hinge: A dating app that encourages meaningful connections, aiming for users to find lasting relationships and ultimately delete the app.

• VRChat: A social VR platform for creating and exploring virtual worlds, enabling interaction through customizable avatars.

My five cents