One of New Zealand's top business leaders is putting her heart on the line with her latest venture — launching a professional matchmaking service.
Compatico is the brain-child of former Telecom CEO and My Food Bag founder Theresa Gattung. The premium matchmaking service aims to find love matches for those over the age of 40 who don't want to use dating apps, and would rather have a more discreet journey to finding love.
It was her own experience with dating in her 50s that revealed what she said was a gap in the market.
Gattung had taken for granted that when she was ready to find a partner it would be relatively straightforward.
"I was happily partnered for over 20 years through my 20s and 30s and that relationship ended in my early 40s," she said.
"I was so busy I didn't think about re-partnering. I had lots going on in my life and then one day I woke up in my mid-50s and I thought, 'ah' and I assumed that once I decided, it would happen but it didn't happen.
"And I thought, well, I've got to be a bit more active about this so I tried some of the services that are available and I was disappointed. There was nothing personalised that met the expectations that I've got that I thought were reasonable for people to have."
Some of those experiences left her dismayed and exposed to the common difficulties of modern dating.
"Some of the services that I tried led to behaviour that I would describe as rude or disrespectful," she said. "We'd agreed on a date, we'd agreed on the restaurant and then he texted as I walked into the restaurant to say 'No I'm not coming'.
"Swapping photos and then being ghosted — just all the things that women experience. One of the services that I joined said 'Oh look, we don't take very many women over the age of 55' — as if you were washed up at 55 — and I thought this is not good enough we've got to be able to do better than this."
And so after a year of planning and testing (yes they've had a trial group to check everything's going to run smoothly), Compatico was born.
The service is for anyone over 40 who's grown both weary and wary of online dating apps.
Essentially it's a return to the ancient art of matchmaking. There's no swiping left or right, the picking of potential matches is left to a third party. Those who do join the company's private database enjoy anonymity to all but the matchmaker.
They have an expert team including a psychologist, makeup and styling specialists, and even a sexologist. They also run Ministry of Justice checks on anyone seeking to be on their database.
There are two membership options. The $5995 'Platinum Match Me' is a priority service to find that perfect person. Then there's the 'Deluxe Matchable' which at $695 per annum means you'll be included in Compatico's private database and gives you access to their singles-only events.
It's not cheap but Gattung believes it was well below other similar offerings offshore.
"If you look at what’s available overseas, it's very good value for money. I’ve not been able to find a matchmaking service in the world that is a lower price than that.
"Most are considerably more and that’s without all the wrap-around services that we offer. But that’s the level it has to be to provide the personalised service," she said.
'A couple's world out there'
Census data from 2018 revealed more than half a million Kiwis over the age of 45 were single.
The company's research showed a majority of those singles were looking for a lasting relationship but found it hard to meet new people.
Compatico's resident psychologist Tiare Tolks said it's a real battle for those over 40.
"It's a couple's world out there and also they're a bit wary and gun shy and exhausted by algorithm-driven options. Many of them are professionals, they don't want people flicking through [photos] on screens. They value discretion and privacy," she said.
There was also value in finding someone with whom you could have a lasting relationship.
"It's health insurance. There's a lot of data now to suggest that if you're in a safe, loving and caring relationship you have less risk of heart disease and strokes. You're going to live longer and you'll be happier," said Tolks.
The new business marks a huge change for Gattung. Once the country's youngest female CEO when she took the reins at Telecom (she was 37 at the time) her other business successes have included My Food Bag which she founded with Cecilia Robinson and Nadia Lim in 2012.
This latest venture, though, is deeply personal.
"It has been so joyful and you know it's a business and of course you want to make money but we are also guided and inspired by wanting to increase the amount of love in the world," said Gattung.
She hasn't found that special person herself yet but the wishlist is straight-forward.
"Well, I'm not looking for marriage... I've never wanted to be married. I want to have an intimate relationship, a long-term partner with someone who shares some of the same interests and values that I do."
Turns out she's now got the perfect platform to find them.
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