EINPRESSWIRE – Mike Sherrill, co-founder of Machine Zone and creator of Game of War, invested in Singapore-based dating startup Spark. Spark is focused on helping users move from online matches to real-world dates through curated, bookable experiences. The company has ~3,500 users in Thailand and is expanding across Southeast Asia.
BLOOMBERG – Seattle-based Sniffies (3m MAU) has a real-time map for gay hookups and is web-only due to app store content restrictions. The news caused Grindr shares to fall 2.5%. Match’s stock was little changed. Last Match purchased HER app. Match is winding down its existing Archer app, which it launched in 2023 to serve queer men. It will focus instead on supporting Sniffies.
TNW – Eight is a Portuguese dating app currently raising €3M, with about €256K secured so far. It is currently available in Portugal and the UK. CEO Afonso Simão previously founded Miofar, a fitness brand he grew to ~$1.2M in revenue. Every night between 8 and 9pm, human-verified users log in, browse 30s video introductions from other members, and unlock 8-minute live video calls with anyone they match with. Chat is only enabled after both sides say yes to a call. Human verification is a core feature.
FORBES – Former Hinge executives Sam Levy and Tim MacGougan have raised $8.5M in seed funding to launch Rodeo, an app designed to turn social media content into real-world plans. The app extracts details from links or screenshots, such as restaurant addresses or ticket information, and converts them into shareable calendar holds to help users make plans with friends. After a 20,000-user beta, Rodeo secured backing from Foundry, 359 Capital, and Oceans, and has grown through TikTok-driven marketing and creator partnerships. The company is not yet generating revenue but is exploring future monetization through partnerships with platforms like Ticketmaster and OpenTable or a potential freemium model.
BUSINESS CLOUD – Dating app hati, founded in 2025 by Zaahirah Adam, secured a £150K investment from Steven Bartlett on Dragons’ Den despite generating just £48 in revenue at the time of filming. The app replaces text messaging with five-minute phone calls, uses voice and video profiles instead of static photos, and requires friend verification to reduce catfishing. Adam initially sought £150K for 5% (a £3M valuation), but after other Dragons declined over low traction and easy replicability, she agreed to give Bartlett 30% for the same investment.
MSN – Left Field is an AI dating app featured on Shark Tank that aims to move away from endless swiping by focusing on real-life connections. Launched in February 2025, it had ~5K users at the time of filming and uses AI and approximate location data to suggest socially proximate matches. The founders secured $200K in funding from Kendra Scott and Alexis Ohanian in exchange for 8% equity plus advisory shares, signaling strong investor confidence despite ongoing public debate about location-based safety.
WHALESBOOK – Info Edge (India) has invested ₹10 crore (~$1.1M) in dating app Aisle through its subsidiary Jeevansathi Internet Services to support the dating platform’s working capital. The investment comes despite Aisle posting a net loss of ₹17.8 crore (~$2M) in FY25, even as revenue grew to ₹39.62 crore (~$4.3M).
NEWS24ONLINE – WedKnott, a premium matchmaking platform for Ivy League alumni and high-achieving professionals, has secured strategic investment from blockchain entrepreneur Sir Pratik Gauri, founder of $1.5B blockchain company 5ire. The funding supports WedKnott’s international expansion into Dubai and London, targeting wealthy Indian diaspora. Founded in 2018 by Abhinav Gandhi and Misha Malik, WedKnott operates from Noida and Mumbai. It has built a network of 250K members, and offers tiered memberships with psychology-based matchmaking.
TECH CRUNCH – Known has raised $9.7M in funding as it tests a voice AI–driven dating app designed to move users toward faster in-person dates. The San Francisco–based startup replaces traditional profiles with long, conversational voice onboarding sessions that capture nuanced preferences and improve matching. In a local beta, the company says about 80% of introductions led to real-life dates, far higher than swipe-based apps. Matches must accept introductions and agree to dates within short time windows to reduce ghosting, and the app also helps schedule dates and choose restaurants. Known is currently testing in San Francisco ahead of a broader launch.
THE BRIDGE – Voicetep raised ¥200M ($1.3M) to expand its voice-based dating app and communication platform. The app, launched in April 2025, matches users through voice calls first and moves to video or messaging only with mutual consent. It holds a patent for voice-only matching and includes an AI tool that analyzes conversation patterns.
See full article at The Bridge