Amiccio Redefines Meet-Cutes with Speed Dating in the City that Never Sleeps

The Short Version: As with flare jeans and side parts, some classics come back in style, and speed dating is in the spotlight. Dating and singles events experienced a 43% resurgence in attendance between 2022 and 2023 following a period of waning public interest. For New Yorkers, Amiccio Singles Events is the go-to weekly speed-dating event that draws singles from all boroughs. We spoke with Kevin, Amiccio’s Marketing Director, who shared how the growing startup has become the latest dating option for professional singles in the City that Never Sleeps.

In the late ’90s, what seemed like a typical party was underway at the Hirsch home in Los Angeles. Young men and women mingled over food, drinks, and music, sharing stories about their backgrounds and professions. The twist? Every 15 minutes, the men rotated to a new conversation partner.

Little did they know, they were participating in the first recorded instance of speed dating.

Aryeh and Rena Hirsch had observed a common attribute among their peers in the 1996 dating scene: Conventional singles events seemed to favor only “attractive women and outgoing men.” Their solution — hosting what is now known as speed dating — quickly gained popularity.

Speed dating peaked in the early 2000s but experienced a gradual decline over the next decade and a half, mainly due to the rise of dating apps. But dating singles and dating events have seen a resurgence in the post-COVID era, marked by a 43% increase in event attendance in the U.S. from 2022 to 2023.

Introducing Amiccio Singles Events, a New York City-based speed dating startup that coordinates weekly events. Whether held in a restaurant bar or an empty dance studio, Amiccio’s singles socials are where you can finally put down your phone and meet like-minded people face to face. 

Kevin, the Marketing Director for Amiccio, believes that these events allow you to skip the phase of uncertainty about what a person is truly like in real life.

“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.” 

Amiccio’s mission is clear: to encourage in-person connections. Speed dating events are a refreshing breath of fresh air in a world with seemingly endless left-swiping. 

But Amiccio wasn’t always the speed-dating entity it is today.

Founded in 2021, it started as an app for hosting spontaneous events focusing on themed parties, such as holiday parties, bar crawls, or pop-up events. 

“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.”

There was an apparent demand for in-person interaction at this level, with some people citing app fatigue as a reason for trying this older tradition. So, after success, Amiccio transitioned to hosting mostly speed dating.

Kevin also pointed out that meeting someone at a dating event is generally safer than arranging a date through an app. When setting up a first date online, you often meet someone individually in a private setting with fewer social safeguards. But speed dating events maintain confidentiality, and no personal information is shared — except for your phone number or email if you’ve made a match, that is.

There are few better cities to be single than in New York City. With its status as a culinary capital, iconic nightlife, vibrant cultural scene, world-class museums, and abundant shopping options, the city offers an unparalleled experience for those exploring the dating scene. 

Plus, more than 50% of its 9 million residents are single, so one could argue your odds are already in your favor.

Nevertheless, Amiccio is selective about its audience and participants. It currently caters exclusively to straight singles, as the team believes that other LGBTQ+ speed dating hosts better understand the needs of those communities. Additionally, Amiccio focuses on a young and modern audience, who typically range from their 20s to 40s, give or take a few years.

“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. 

Amiccio also prioritizes a balanced gender ratio at each speed dating or singles event, ensuring a near-even distribution of men and women. Unlike most NYC-based speed dating events that typically attract young professionals in their 20s and 30s with a gender distribution of 60% women and 40% men, Amiccio strives for as close to a 50% women and 50% men ratio as possible.

Here’s what you can expect with a typical Amiccio speed dating event:

1. Sign up for an event of your choosing from Amiccio’s singles’ events.
2. You’ll have 10 to 20 minutes to get drinks and mingle a bit when you arrive.
3. When the event starts, women are seated at designated tables, while men choose seats opposite of each woman.
4. The event is about an hour long and consists of 10 rotations, each lasting five minutes.
5. During each rotation, attendees note down names and some details of the people they meet. 
6. After each conversation, attendees note on their cards whether they’re interested in the person they just met. (This helps because it can be hard to remember who’s who after the event.)
7. Match cards are collected after the event is over. 
8. For the rest of the evening, attendees can freely mingle with others they didn’t meet during the rotations or continue conversations with whomever they’d like. 
9. The day after the event, Amiccio notifies attendees about 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.” 

One of Amiccio’s main points of pride is its commitment to listening to its audience. 

After all, this is what transformed Amiccio from an event scheduling app into a thriving speed dating host that attracts hundreds of people to its events each 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.”

So Amiccio is experimenting with creative event combinations, such as integrating speed dating with beginner dance classes like salsa and tango.

“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 advised that even if you’re unsure whether you’ve made a match, staying until the end ensures you get the whole 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’re in New York City and are tired of swiping left, try one of Amiccio’s speed dating events. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain, so check out its calendar to grab a spot at a singles’ event.