Hinge founder Justin McLeod announced an $18 million fundraise for Overtone, a new AI-enabled dating company built around voice, audio and curated introductions rather than swipe-based profiles.
Overtone is being backed by Match Group, the owner of Hinge, Tinder and OkCupid, along with FirstMark Capital and Pace Capital. McLeod stepped down as Hinge CEO last year to launch the new company.
The company has released only limited product details so far. Overtone describes itself as “a voice- and audio-forward service, enabled by AI, that provides highly curated introductions.”
McLeod is positioning Overtone as a departure from the dating app model he helped popularize with Hinge. “Overtone is not a dating app,” he wrote in a blog post. “By that I mean it’s not a social platform with profiles that reduce people to stats, quotes and photos. There are no opaque, algorithmic feeds trained on split-second impulses. And there’s no juggling likes, matches and chats across many people at once.”
The pitch comes as dating companies try to respond to user fatigue with app-based matchmaking. A Forbes Health survey conducted in 2024 found that 78% of dating app users felt burnt out. The 1,000 respondents said they spent about 51 minutes a day on dating apps, though that time often did not lead to satisfying connections.
Many dating platforms are using AI to improve parts of the experience, including profile building and conversation prompts. Overtone appears to be taking a different approach, using AI to help decide which introductions are worth making instead of automating the human side of dating.
“We get to know each person deeply, learning about them in their own voice, hearing their own unique story,” McLeod wrote. “And we make only the introductions that are worth making, grounded in relationship science and thoughtful reflection. We transparently explain why we believe someone is a great match.”
That strategy overlaps with a newer group of dating startups that use AI to pair people more selectively, rather than asking users to browse through large pools of profiles. Ditto and Date Drop are among the companies pursuing similar ideas.
Overtone is expected to become available later this year in select locations. The company also said relationship expert Esther Perel has joined its board, along with Match CEO Spencer Rascoff and leadership advisor Diana Chapman.
This analysis is based on reporting from TechCrunch.
Image courtesy of Overtone.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
About this article: This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure it follows our editorial standards for accuracy and independence. We maintain strict fact-checking protocols and cite all sources.
Continue with high-value guides related to this topic.
Get the latest AI news delivered to your inbox every morning.
More articles from Society and Policy
New York has become the first state in the U.S. to impose a statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order temporarily blocking environmental...
Artificial intelligence adoption is creating two sharply different outcomes for workers over 50, according to research highlighted by CNBC: some experienced employees are seeing parts of their roles...
Google is rolling out new AI transparency features across its advertising platform, introducing disclosures that identify when artificial intelligence was used to create or edit ads. The updates...
Join thousands of weekly readers — the latest AI news, free in your inbox.
Get One Month Free
Subscribe & fill out this quick survey
Subscribe to our newsletter and fill out a 2-minute survey to claim one free month of Plus or Pro — no strings attached.