BUSINESS INSIDER – Amber Atherton, partner at VC firm Patron, says dating apps are being replaced by AI-driven platforms that connect users across romance, friendship, and work. Startups like Boardy position themselves as AI-powered professional connectors, while Gigi recently shifted from dating to broader social networking using AI. Patron isn't invested in these but is backing similar early-stage companies through its $100M consumer tech fund. It has invested in Arya, an AI intimacy coach, and is tracking apps like 222 and Real Roots that organize real-life meetups, and Autograph, a tool for preserving family stories.
Category: Reporters – Sydney Bradley
Cerca Dating App Raises $1.6M to Match Singles Through Mutual Friends
BUSINESS INSIDER – Cerca is a new dating app founded by U.S. college students that connects users through mutual friends, aiming to create a safer, more intentional dating experience. Users see only four profiles daily and need five friends to join. The app raised $1.6M in seed funding from Corazon Capital, led by former Match Group CEO Sam Yagan. With over 20K users, Cerca emphasizes accountability, limited swipes, and in-person events to move dating beyond hookup culture.
by Sydney Bradley
See full article at Business Insider
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com
Bumble CEO Admits Growth Strategy Backfired as Revenue Drops 7.7%
BUSINESS INSIDER – Bumble reported a 7.7% drop in Q1 2025 revenue as founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, who returned as CEO in March, acknowledged the app lost its way by prioritizing growth over user experience. She cited an influx of low-quality profiles, poor matches, and a shift from word-of-mouth to performance marketing as key missteps. Bumble plans to cut ad spend, remove bad actors, and improve matching with AI. The company is trying to recover from a 90% stock decline since its 2021 IPO. Competitor Match Group also reported weak results, laying off 13% of its staff.
Dating App Sitch Raises $2M
BUSINESS INSIDER – Sitch, an AI matchmaking app, has raised $2M in pre-seed funding led by Andreessen Horowitz's accelerator A16z Speedrun. The startup launched in New York City in Nov 2024 and plans to expand to other U.S. cities. Sitch uses a matchmaker chatbot built on OpenAI, trained on hundreds of real-life introductions by cofounder Nandini Mullaji, a part-time matchmaker. Users answer detailed questions about values and dating preferences, then receive up to five curated matches per week. They pay upfront, with pricing tiers ranging from $90 (3 setups) to $160 (8 setups). If ghosted after a setup, users get a refund. Sitch is also rolling out voice-based AI features and hiring full-time staff post-Speedrun. It manually reviews new user applications for quality and safety.
by Sydney Bradley
See full article at Business Insider
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com
AI Takes Center Stage at GDI Online Dating Conference in New York
BUSINESS INSIDER – At the Social Discovery and Dating Conference hosted by Global Dating Insights (GDI) in New York last week, AI was the central theme, with dating app founders and execs debating its role in the industry. Companies like Slide, Once, and Sitch discussed how large language models and AI agents could improve matching, safety, and user experience. Some startups, like the French app Gigi, are already experimenting with AI as a dating companion or assistant. While excitement around the potential is high, most speakers agreed that widespread user adoption of AI-driven features in dating apps is still a few years away.
Investors Bet on AI and Social Interaction to Shape the Future of Dating Apps
BUSINESS INDISTER – Venture capitalists are focusing on AI-driven dating startups as the next big opportunity in consumer tech. Investors are backing platforms that go beyond traditional swiping models, incorporating AI matchmaking and real-world social elements. French dating app Gigi uses an AI matchmaker, while Sitch applies AI to improve compatibility. Investors believe Gen Z is driving a shift toward dating apps that focus on community, real-world interactions, and shared interests rather than just appearance-based swiping. Some funds remain skeptical about the potential for billion-dollar exits in the dating space, but new models blending AI and social engagement continue to attract interest.
Left Field, a New Dating App, Launches in NYC With a Pokémon Go-style Approach
BUSINESS INSIDER – Left Field, a new dating app founded by Samantha Martin and Kate Sieler, aims to combat swipe fatigue by using location-based notifications instead of traditional swiping. When users cross paths with a potential match, they receive a push notification, allowing for more organic connections. Left Field currently has no paid features and is focused on college campuses, social media marketing, and live singles events to grow its user base. The app launched on the Apple App Store in February and plans to expand in May.
New Apps Challenge Swipe Fatigue and Traditional Models
BUSINESS INSIDER – New dating apps are emerging as users grow tired of swiping, challenging industry giants like Tinder and Bumble. Startups are experimenting with alternatives, such as AI-powered matchmaking (Sitch), daily limited profile selections (Pique Dating), and in-person dating events. Some social networking apps like 222 and Posh also foster organic connections that can lead to romance. Even Big Tech, including Facebook and Instagram, is expanding its dating features. With Gen Z prioritizing broader social connections, the online dating landscape is evolving beyond traditional swipe-based models.
New Dating Apps Betting on Matchmaking
BUSINESS INSIDER – Several new "matchmaking" dating apps have launched in the past year, addressing dating-app fatigue. Sitch is an AI matchmaking app launched in New York in November. Cheers is an app that lets friends play matchmaker in a social-media feed, launched in October. Facebook Dating even launched a matchmaking feature last month. Tinder's cofounder and former CEO, Sean Rad, said on a September episode of the 20VC podcast that he had always imagined the dating app moving beyond swiping and into matchmaking. In 2017, Hinge launched a stand-alone app called Matchmaker that lets friends swipe for each other. It appears to have since shut down. Tinder, also owned by Match Group, launched a similar feature in 2023.
Loop is a matchmaking app where everyone can set up their single friends. Only a third of the user base are singles; the rest are friends and family members or even professional or hobbyist matchmakers. Loop launched in 2023 and is currently free for all users.
Arrange should launch in December and will let users link their profiles with a "scout," a trusted friend or family member, who can talk with potential matches ahead of time and vet for compatibility.
Amori is a dating-advice app with characters users can chat with, is experimenting with matchmaking using a personal assistant (though it isn't live within the app yet).
by Sydney Bradley & Daniel Latu
See full article at Business Insider
Turns out People Are Actually Using Facebook Dating
BUSINESS INSIDER – Facebook Dating is growing, offering free features like unlimited likes and no paywalls, in contrast to competitors like Tinder and Bumble. Since its launch in 2019, it has seen a 20% growth in the US and Canada, with increased daily interactions among young adults. Key features include the "Matchmaker" tool for friends to swipe on your behalf, AI-assisted bio writing, Instagram integration, and "secret crushes" for sending interest to friends of friends. Facebook's strategy focuses on providing a competitive dating experience without monetizing directly, leveraging its core app to drive user engagement.