No, the Hater dating app is no longer in business. It closed a genuine Shark Tank deal and saw strong early traction, but shut down within about a year and a half of the episode airing.
What happened on Shark Tank
Founder Brendan Alper pitched Hater, a dating app that matched users based on shared dislikes rather than shared interests, on Season 9. Mark Cuban initially offered $200,000 for a 10% stake, and after negotiation they settled on $200,000 for 7.5% equity plus an additional 2.5% in advisory shares. Unlike many on-air agreements, this deal actually closed.
Why it shut down anyway
Hater gained rapid early popularity and real user traction, but struggled to convert that into long-term engagement or a working monetization model. The app shut down in June 2019, roughly a year and a half after its Shark Tank appearance.
What the founder did next
Brendan Alper now lives in Stockholm, Sweden, and has launched a new app called Everbloom, which turns videos into narrative stories, a different product from Hater’s original dating concept.
Frequently asked questions
Did Hater’s Shark Tank deal with Mark Cuban close?
Yes, the deal for $200,000 for 7.5% equity plus 2.5% advisory shares did close.
When did the Hater app shut down?
June 2019, about a year and a half after its Shark Tank appearance.
What is the founder doing now?
Brendan Alper is based in Stockholm and has launched a new app called Everbloom.
For more Shark Tank updates, see Talmyn’s Business Case Studies desk.
