Mark Brooks is a pioneering strategist and one of the most respected voices in the global online dating and social discovery industry, with a career spanning over two decades. He entered the digital relationships space in the late 1990s, long before dating apps became mainstream, working closely with early platforms and gaining first-hand insight into user behavior, monetization models, and platform growth challenges. In 2005, he founded Courtland Brooks, a boutique consultancy created specifically to serve the online dating, matchmaking, and social networking sector. Unlike general marketing agencies, Courtland Brooks was designed as a strategic advisory partner, helping companies with brand positioning, user acquisition, revenue strategy, partnerships, public relations, and long-term business planning. Under Mark’s leadership, the firm has advised a wide range of companies, from early-stage startups to major international platforms, many of which later achieved strong market positions, acquisitions, or exits. His work has helped professionalize and structure an industry that was once fragmented and experimental, bringing strategic clarity to how digital relationship businesses grow and compete globally.
Beyond consulting, Mark Brooks has played a central role in shaping industry knowledge and dialogue. In 2004, he launched OnlinePersonalsWatch, one of the first and longest-running daily news and analysis platforms dedicated to the online dating and social discovery business. The platform became a trusted source for executives, investors, journalists, and founders, offering curated insights into trends, mergers, product innovation, regulation, and consumer behavior. Mark has interviewed hundreds of industry leaders, spoken at conferences across North America, Europe, and Asia, and is frequently quoted by major business and technology publications for his perspective on digital relationships and social technology. He has also been involved in organizing and supporting industry events that bring together founders, operators, and investors, helping build a more connected and collaborative global ecosystem around dating and social platforms. Through these efforts, he has not only advised the industry but also helped define its standards, language, and strategic direction.
Today, Mark Brooks continues to lead Courtland Brooks while expanding his influence through partnerships, advisory roles, and industry collaborations. His academic background in business leadership and behavioral science gives him a rare combination of strategic thinking and human insight, allowing him to understand both the commercial and emotional dynamics behind digital connection. This balance is what sets his work apart: he approaches online dating not just as a technology product, but as a human system that requires trust, psychology, design, and ethics alongside growth and revenue. As digital relationships become an increasingly central part of modern life, Mark Brooks remains a key figure helping companies navigate growth responsibly, build meaningful platforms, and create long-term value in an industry that continues to reshape how people connect around the worl
