Hinge founder Justin McLeod announced that he has raised $18 million in funding for his new dating company Overtone.
McLeod stepped down as CEO of Hinge last year, and Hinge’s owner Match Group (which also owns apps like Tinder and OkCupid) is helping fund his new company, along with Firstmark Capital and Pace Capital.
Details about the company are limited at this time, but Overtone describes itself as “an AI-powered voice and audio transport service that provides highly curated introductions.”
“Overtone is not a dating app,” McLeod wrote in a blog post. “So it’s not a social platform with profiles that limit people to stats, quotes, and photos. There’s no opaque algorithmic feed trained on spur-of-the-moment impulses. And it’s not juggling likes, matches, and chats between too many people at once.”
It may seem strange that the creator of Hinge would disdain algorithmic feeds and swipes, but the dating industry as a whole has evolved with the realization that users are dissatisfied with the status quo. A 2024 Forbes Health study found that 78% of dating app users felt burnt out. The survey’s 1,000 respondents reported spending about 51 minutes per day on dating apps, but this investment rarely resulted in fulfilling connections.
Most dating apps are trying to improve the quality of their matches through AI, including offering AI-generated conversation starters and profile-building assistance. However, many people are dissatisfied with the idea of further delegating this intimate process to a computer. Rather than outsourcing the actual conversations and connections, McLeod seems interested in using AI to target the right people.
“We get to know each person deeply, learn about them in their own voices, and hear their own unique stories,” McLeod wrote. “And we only make worthwhile introductions, based on relationship science and thoughtful consideration. We transparently explain why we believe someone is the best fit.”
Other new apps like Ditto and Date Drop are betting on a similar approach, using AI to pair users together rather than putting everyone in a pool and swiping at each other, creating the illusion of infinite choice and a breeding ground for ghosting.
Overtone will be available in select locations later this year. In addition to the funding, the company also announced that relationship expert Esther Perel has joined its board of directors, along with Match CEO Spencer Rascoff and leadership advisor Diana Chapman.
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