Amiccio Brings Speed-Dating Meet-Cutes to New York City

The Short Version: Some classics always return, much like side parts and flare jeans, and right now speed dating is having its moment. After a stretch of fading public interest, attendance at dating and singles events saw a 43% resurgence from 2022 to 2023. In New York, Amiccio Singles Events is the top pick for weekly speed dating, pulling in singles from every borough. We talked with Kevin, Amiccio's Marketing Director, about how the fast-growing startup became the newest dating choice for professional singles across the City that Never Sleeps.

Back in the late ’90s, a party that looked ordinary enough was happening at the Los Angeles home of the Hirsch family. The young guests, men and women alike, chatted over drinks, food, and music, swapping stories about where they came from and what they did for work. The catch? Every 15 minutes, the men moved on to talk with someone new.

The guests had no idea they were taking part in the first documented case of speed dating.

Aryeh and Rena Hirsch had spotted a pattern among the people they knew in the 1996 dating scene: Typical singles events appeared to work only for “attractive women and outgoing men.” Their fix, throwing what we now call speed dating, caught on fast.

Speed dating hit its peak in the early 2000s, then slowly faded over the following 15 years or so, largely because dating apps took off. Since COVID, though, singles and dating events have bounced back, with U.S. event attendance climbing 43% between 2022 and 2023.

Take a look at Amiccio's pop-up dating events around NYC.

Meet Amiccio Singles Events, a speed dating startup in New York City that organizes events every week. Whether the setting is an empty dance studio or a restaurant bar, Amiccio's singles mixers are a place to finally set your phone aside and meet like-minded people in person.

Amiccio's Marketing Director, Kevin, thinks these events let you bypass the stage of wondering what someone is really like offline.

“Dating apps let you connect from anywhere without having to attend an event, but it might be a while before you can meet in person,” Kevin explained. “And when you finally meet, the chemistry might not be what you expected — it’s essentially a 50/50 chance. But with in-person events, you get immediate feedback on their vibe and your chemistry, so it’s much more efficient for people genuinely looking for a partner.” 

From Pop-Up Parties to Speed Dating

Amiccio has a clear goal: to foster in-person connections. In a world of what feels like never-ending left-swiping, speed dating events are a welcome change of pace.

Still, Amiccio didn't start out as the speed-dating company it is now.

When it launched in 2021, it was an app for hosting spur-of-the-moment themed events, like bar crawls, holiday parties, and pop-ups.

“While we were experimenting with different types of events, we also tried speed dating,” Kevin explained. “And we saw the demand for speed dating was the greatest out of all the types of events we’d tried.”

Figuring out whether you're attracted to a person takes just 90 seconds to 4 minutes.

Clearly, people wanted this kind of face-to-face interaction, and some said they were giving the old tradition a try because they were tired of apps. So, after that success, Amiccio shifted to hosting mainly speed dating.

Kevin also noted that a dating event is usually a safer place to meet someone than a date set up through an app. A first date arranged online often means seeing someone alone somewhere private, with less social protection. At speed dating events, by contrast, everything stays confidential and no personal details change hands, apart from your email or phone number when you've made a match.

Romance Sparks in New York City

Few cities are better for single people than New York City. Between its reputation as a food capital, its legendary nightlife, its lively cultural scene, its world-class museums, and its endless shopping, the city offers an experience like no other for anyone out on the dating scene.

On top of that, over 50% of the 9 million people who live there are single, meaning the odds may already be on your side.

Even so, Amiccio is choosy about whom it serves. For now, it hosts only straight singles, because the team feels other LGBTQ+ speed dating organizers have a better grasp of those communities' needs. Amiccio also targets a young, modern crowd, mostly people aged from their 20s into their 40s, plus or minus a few years.

The point of speed dating is to find someone you click with.

“The people who come to our events are generally more social people and enjoy meeting new people, but they’ve also encouraged us to choose different types of venues so that the vibe changes every week and there’s a variety of different atmospheres,” Kevin said. 

At every speed dating or singles event, Amiccio also makes a point of keeping the gender ratio balanced, with close to equal numbers of men and women. Most NYC speed dating events attract young professionals aged in their 20s and 30s and skew 60% women and 40% men, but Amiccio aims to get as near as it can to 50% women and 50% men.

Here's what usually happens at an Amiccio speed dating event:

1. Pick an event that appeals to you from Amiccio's list of singles' events and register.
2. Once you get there, there's a window of 10 to 20 minutes for grabbing a drink and doing a little mingling.
3. As the event begins, the women sit at assigned tables, and the men each take a seat across from a woman.
4. The whole event runs about an hour and includes 10 rotations of five minutes each.
5. In each rotation, participants jot down the names of the people they meet, along with a few details.
6. Following every conversation, participants mark on their cards whether they'd like to see that person again. (That's useful, since keeping track of who's who can be tough after the event.)
7. Once the event wraps up, the match cards are gathered.
8. For the remainder of the night, guests are free to mingle with people they missed during the rotations or keep talking with anyone they like.
9. On the following day, Amiccio lets attendees know about any mutual matches.

“In general, people have voiced to us that they’re tired of swiping on dating apps,” Kevin said. “But New York is kind of a city where people can feel surrounded by people but still feel lonely. So it’s a nice break from virtual interactions, too — even if you don’t love everything about your situation, it’s nice to get out and meet people in person.” 

Speed Dating With a Twist

Amiccio takes particular pride in how closely it listens to its audience.

That's what turned Amiccio from an app for scheduling events into a booming speed dating host that brings in hundreds of attendees every month.

“Some people like a more lively atmosphere, whereas others like quieter settings, so we might choose a place with more space where it’s calmer talking with one another,” Kevin said. “Generally, we’ll try to have a healthy mix accommodating both audiences.”

With that in mind, Amiccio is trying out creative event pairings, like combining speed dating with beginner dance lessons in tango and salsa.

Amiccio's speed dating classes built around bachata, tango, and salsa are a fun way to mingle with dance partners.

“People learn to dance and also get to meet singles while they’re rotating partners,” Kevin explained. “We’re excited because it’s pretty new, and we haven’t seen it elsewhere.” 

Kevin's advice: Even if you aren't sure whether you've found a match, stick around until the end so you get the full experience.

“I think people can make a stronger impression if they talk with the other attendees before and after the event rather than just during the regular rounds, which are only five or six minutes each,” Kevin added. “While the rotations are great for meeting everyone, it’s easier to stand out if you stick around from the beginning to the end. It leaves a lasting impression in people’s memories.” 

If you live in New York City and you're sick of swiping left, try out a speed dating night from Amiccio. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose, so browse the calendar and reserve your place at a singles' event.