Category: All Investment Raises

Chinese AI Matchmaker Liangpei Raises RMB15M in Angel Funding

Posted on August 25, 2026
Liangpei

36KR – Chinese AI matchmaking startup Liangpei Technology has raised RMB15M ($2.2M) in angel funding from Capital Today for a 20% stake. Its AI matchmaker verifies users through real-name checks, facial recognition, and a 20-minute voice interview, then introduces one compatible person at a time instead of offering swipe-based browsing. The company launched its product 40 days ago and has registered ~10K users. Founder Zeng Xinxun previously worked on search recommendations at WeChat and TikTok and led AI search at Kimi.

See full article at 36Kr

Investors Back Startups Tackling Loneliness and Dating App Fatigue

Posted on August 4, 2026
Gigi icon

NEWS ANYWAY – Business Insider reviewed pitch decks from 18 dating, social networking, and AI startups that raised funding. Gigi raised $8M after pivoting from AI avatars to dating and then professional networking, while Spill opened a crowdfunding round to its users through Wefunder. Investors are backing companies addressing loneliness, dating-app fatigue and professional networking, but remain selective about which businesses can achieve venture-scale growth. Early user traction, clear monetisation and a defensible business model remain important to securing investment.

See full article at News Anyway

WeRoad Raises $58M From Airbnb, Brings WeMeet Social Events Platform to the U.S.

Posted on June 9, 2026
Logo of WeRoad

TECH CRUNCH – Milan-based company WeRoad has raised $58M in a Series C round led by Airbnb as it prepares to expand into the U.S., starting with Austin. The company generated €130M ($148M) in revenue in 2025 and took ~100K travelers on group trips. In 2025, WeRoad also launched WeMeet, an app focused on local in-person gatherings such as dinners, hikes, yoga classes, running groups, after-work drinks, and board game nights. ~50K people attended WeMeet events across 35 cities last year, while the app reached 150K downloads. WeRoad says WeMeet will play a central role in its U.S. expansion strategy, helping it build local communities before expanding further.

See full article at Tech Crunch

Mark Brooks: This is one to watch. We Road runs great escapes. We Meet is their social play. It’s proving more challenging than they thought to get the social play up and running.

Silicon Valley Gaming Pioneer Mike Sherrill Invests in SPARK

Posted on April 30, 2026
Logo of SPARK with a tagline 'From Match to Meet In Moments.

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.

See full article at EinPresswire

Match Invests $100M in Sniffies With Option to Buy

Posted on April 28, 2026
Logos of Match Group and Sniffies displayed together

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.

See full article at Bloomberg

Eight, the Portuguese Dating App, Is Raising a €3M Seed Round

Posted on April 14, 2026
Eight dating app

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. 

See full article at TNW

Hinge Alumni Raise $8.5M to Launch Rodeo, an App Turning Social Media Into Real-World Plans

Posted on March 4, 2026
Rodeo app

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.

See full article at Forbes

Steven Bartlett Backs Hati, a Dating App With £48 Revenue

Posted on February 27, 2026
hati dating app

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.

See full article at Business Cloud

Left Field Dating App Lands $200K on Shark Tank to Disrupt Endless Swiping

Posted on January 27, 2026
Let Field on Shark Tank

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.

See full article at MSN

Info Edge Invests ₹10 Crore in Dating Platform Aisle Amidst Losses

Posted on January 20, 2026
Logos of Info Edge and Aisle

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).

See full article at Whalesbook