Controversial flirt site FitFinder has been relaunched as Floxx after an “angel investor,” former BBC Dragon Doug Richard, backed the venture.
The website, which allows users to anonymously post descriptions of “fitties” they spot in libraries, cafés or JCRs, relaunched on Monday 3rd January under its new name Floxx.
The website originally launched as FitFinder in April when creator Rich Martell was a student at UCL.
After attracting 5 million hits from 50 different universities, the founder received a message whilst on his way to the LMH ball in Oxford informing him that the LSE had advised its students to avoid the website.
UCL accused him of “bringing the university into disrepute,” fined Martell £300 and threatened to expel him from . He chose to close the site down in order to save his degree.
However the project was saved by former panellist on the BBC’s programme Dragons’ Den Doug Richard, who tweeted, emailed and posted a letter to Martell in the hope of joining as an investor.
Martell said, “It was very quick. I was told this guy from Dragons’ Den wanted to get in touch, give him a call. So I did.”
As a result the site has launched ready for the new academic term, receiving over 1000 hits per day.
Martell, a former computer scientist, told Cherwell that the name as changed to Floxx because, “we’re looking at the US. And over there FitFinder might mean something pretty different. People might log on looking for their local gym.”
Martell’s team is preparing for the Floxx app to go live on Apple’s istore within the next week, making it easier for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry users to access the site.
“It will add to the community feel, and cool things are coming out next week,” said the founder.
The website has proved popular with Oxford students. A student at Univ posted anonymously a week ago, “Male, Brunette hair. Jack Sparrow, I would surrender to your seamen.”
However, not everyone is a fan of the website. St John’s Women’s Officer, Evelyn Jackson, said, “There was a good reason FitFinder got banned. I cannot see the benefits of the objectification of either sex. The founder says it’s like receiving a Valentine’s card, well isn’t that a bit sad?”
Doug Richard said in response, “This is pretty innocent, amplifying what people do all day everywhere, just like other social networking sites. If checking people out is a crime then I’m afraid I’m guilty.”
Martell is keen to stress the difference between Floxx and other social networking sites. “The unique thing is that it’s based around a location,” he told Cherwell.
“You can be at Bridge in Oxford, check in anonymously on the website, and then get notifications whenever anyone else posts. You can have a dialogue with people. It’s about location and connecting people.”
Investor Richard stressed his hopes for the project, saying, “I’m very ambitious for Floxx. Between the US and Western Europe there’s tens of millions. We can broaden our user base because we’re a moment in time. That’s very powerful.”
The creator and his team have high hopes for the website which is already available in twelve countries. As new features are added to the site, the founder hopes to develop further, with the USA and Brazil as the next targets.
“This opportunity doesn’t normally come along to 21-year-old students. It’s worth a shot,” said Martell.
