What is SMARTdate?

SMARTdate arranges events for single people to meet face to face.  Our primary business is speed dating, and we run events in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban for different age groups.  These are structured so that every participant meets every other participant face to face for 5 minutes. Events are held at public venues, normally a popular restaurant or bar. The event is coordinated by a SMARTdate host who is trained to make sure people feel comfortable and welcome, and ensure that people leave feeling they have met lots of people and had fun.

We also arrange social events that are not as structured as speed dating events, but still allow single people to meet in a social environment.

The idea at all events is that you meet a whole lot of people whom you wouldn't normally have spoken to. Even if you don't have a romantic match with someone there may be potential for friendship, and from that you will be included in a larger circle of friends, and then maybe a life partner!

At each speed dating event we apply a matching system. This means that you never have to tell anyone on the night that you don't fancy them. We work with an online matching system. The day after the event you will have the opportunity to mark the names of the people you want to see again, and so will they. If you choose someone and they choose you as well, only then do you see each other's contact detail.  So if you don't like someone, you simply don't choose them, and no-one feels rejected!

Events are advertised on the website, www.SMARTdate.co.za and all participants book and pay in advance of the event. Bookings can also be made by calling 072 464 4253.

The Company

SMARTdate, owned an managed by Jenny Cereseto started in October 2005. We have over 13,000 members across the country. We employ 8 part time staff and two full tiem staff members.  We arrange between 16 and 20 events each month in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

SMARTdate licenses are available for sale in Nelspruit, Pietermaritzburg and Somerset West.

About the owner

Jenny Cereseto, owner SMARTdate and Speed networking. Jenny understands the importance of building social networks for better business and personal relationships as well developing a sustainable social network within a company. She cut her teeth working for the largest International Fund Management Company in Edinburgh, Scotland; Franklin Templeton Investments. Through her work, engaging with people across 13 countries, speaking 7 languages meant that understanding cultures and building face to face relationships was a necessity to conducting business effectively. Speed networking was developed for use in South Africa to facilitate the creation of a culture for open communication within larger groups and high quality business relationships. Jenny is passionate about connecting people.

Speed networking was born out of Speed dating. A radical concept designed to get singles to mingle fast and effectively, SMARTdate now has over 13,000 members with at least 6 couples married and lots of members in longer term relationships. The concept works even better for business purposes. Jenny and her team work with businesses to help bigger business build their internal network. This aids the development of solid interpersonal relationships in order to create efficient business processes, allow staff to engage at all levels and to create commitment to the organisations based on sound fundamental ethics and values communicated through the network.

Speed networking™ and SMARTdate™ are trademarked concepts. Use of the Speed Networking concept can only be executed under license issued from SMARTdate.

Jenny's advice to first time speed dater's:

Be honest.

The aim is simply to work out whom you would like to spend more time with. Don’t tick everyone unless you genuinely would like to spend time with them. Nobody wants false hope or a broken heart.

Remember first impressions count. Wear something you feel good in. Look good, feel good! 

Don’t worry if you are shy. You meet each person one-on-one. Many people are at the event because they are too shy to go up to a stranger in public. It's safer, it's fun.

Do:

• Be honest
• Try to bring out the best in a person
• Ask general questions to get an idea of their character.
• Listen to the other person and answer the questions as honestly as possible
• Keep an open mind.

Don’t:

• Don’t lie!
• Ask questions that would cause the person to blush
• Try a shock question
• Write a person off after one wrong answer