Engage.com, the Internet's first online relationship community where adults join forces with their single friends to help them in their search for true and lasting love, recently announced a $5 million Series A round of funding. Advanced Technology Ventures led the round, with current seed investors Revolution Ventures, The Founders Fund and Josh Kopleman also participating. Steve Baloff, a general partner at ATV, will take a seat on the Engage board. Engage will use the financing for additional product development, recruiting and marketing efforts.

leading online dating services were satisfied with their experience. "Engage promotes social accountability in dating by allowing singles to invite a highly-motivated and caring community to help them meet someone special," said Suneet Wadhwa, CEO and co-founder of Engage. "This removes the social isolation that tends to foster inauthentic dating behaviors plaguing other dating sites."

Recognizing that half of all marriages in this country are the result of a personal introduction, often made by a friend, on Engage singles invite their friends and family to Play Matchmaker(TM) for them, vouch for their character and share their instincts and perspective about potential romantic interests. This tried and true, socially-collaborative process of finding love online borrows from how relationships actually form in the off-line world.

“Engage captured our attention with a seasoned team and an innovative offering that presents a better alternative to the outdated, and nearly identical, business models of all the current dating sites,” said Steve Baloff of ATV. “We're convinced Engage's collaborative and socially-conscious approach to the relationship space provides singles with a better path to love, and we look forward to actively participating in that process.”

Steve Baloff brings over 19 years of entrepreneurial, operating and venture experience to the Engage Board of Directors. He founded and served as CEO of Worldview Systems, a venture-backed start-up noted for creating and launching Travelocity. Steve held executive positions in sales, marketing and general management with Covalent Systems. During his tenure, the company went from pre-revenue to over $20 million in revenues. His career originated at Booz, Allen & Hamilton, where he focused on strategy engagements for a variety of technology companies. Steve currently holds Director roles with Alfalight, Browster, Compassoft, Liquid Engines, Tripwire and WildTangent.