For professionals, an online twist to keeping a tryst

An app that synchronises with networking site LinkedIn's database provides a dating platform for working professionals

For single, highly networked professionals, LinkedIn could well be the networking website to find that perfect job - or even a life partner. For the first time, a website for dating has been created for LinkedIn users.

Hitch.me, founded by Naveed Nadir, is a dating platform for LinkedIn professionals. For users to become a hitch.me member, they need to have a LinkedIn account. Nadir has developed an application that synchronises with the LinkedIn database.

He believes there was a need for such a product. "I was sure of its need, due to the shortcomings of all the dating sites. We needed something for professionals. Something secure, private and trustworthy," said he in an e-mailed response to Business Standard. The website also says there are innumerable online dating platforms that claim to be safe, but are filled with spammers and not-so-classy people.

For LinkedIn members (135 million worldwide and 13 million in India), joining Hitch.me is free. Once a user has signed up, he gets access to member LinkedIn profiles and can filter these with advanced search. However, for personal profile viewing and communicating with its owner, one needs to spend Hitch.me credits.

Credits can be earned by making a payment through credit card. According to Nadir, users get 200 free credits on joining. Thereafter, they can purchase these: $10 for 300 credits, $25 for 1,000 and $50 for 2,500. With these credits, one can send emoticons or a personal presentation to a potential date.

Nadir also points out that an individual's privacy is maintained. No activity on hitch.me is shared with the person's LinkedIn profile.

This is the second time LinkedIn has been used as a platform to connect people beyond just professional networking.

A few months before, LinkedIn India tied with matrimonial website Bharat Matrimony.

In this, professionals can display their LinkedIn profiles with their matrimony ones on BharatMatrimony.com.

"The tie-up has been a great success for BharatMatrimony.com. Earlier, people would get limited detail about a person's professional background, but with LinkedIn profile, we can get full details," said Murugavel Janakiraman, founder-CEO, BharatMatrimony. Fifty people have used the LinkedIn profile application of Bharat Matrimony.

Like Nadir, Janakiraman also believes an individual's professional background adds credibility.