Hinge CEO Justin McLeod steps down to launch Overtone, a new AI dating app backed by Match Group

Hinge CEO steps down to launch Overtone, an AI dating app | TechCrunch

Hinge CEO Justin McLeod is stepping down from his role to launch a new AI dating product called Overtone. Match Group, the dating giant that owns apps like Hinge, Tinder, and OkCupid, is backing Overtone with pre-seed financing and plans to take a "substantial ownership position," according to a press release. With Match's support, Overtone was incubated as a project inside of Hinge. McLeod and a dedicated team spent the year developing the idea of Overtone, which is described as "an early-stage dating service focused on using AI and voice tools to help people connect in a more thoughtful and personal way." McLeod isn't the only dating app founder branching out into new, standalone AI experiences. Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of Bumble, said she wants to use AI to make "the world's smartest and most emotionally intelligent matchmaker in existence." Somewhat infamously, Wolfe Herd proposed the idea last year of singles using AI to stand-in for themselves and date other people's AIs. It's not yet clear how Overtone will differentiate itself from other dating apps, which have been experimenting with AI features to compensate for the market's growing malaise with online dating -- especially among Gen Z. Tinder has reported nine straight quarters of paying subscriber declines and has leaned into AI with features that are supposed to help users get more matches. Hinge launched another AI feature just this week called "Convo Starters," which is supposed to help daters come up with more interesting things to say than the usual small talk. Tinder and Facebook Dating have each experimented with AI-powered matching to combat "swipe fatigue." Ceding control of your dating experience is one thing, but other attempts at integrating AI into these apps get even more dubious. Match CEO Spencer Rascoff said last month that a "major pillar of Tinder's upcoming 2026 product experience" will be a feature called Chemistry. With the user's permission, the feature will access users' camera rolls to learn more about them. (For the record, we would advise that you do not give tech companies unfettered access to even more of your data.) McLeod founded Hinge in 2011 as a dating app with a greater focus on building relationships than facilitating casual dates. The app, which is on track to hit $1 billion in revenue by 2027, was acquired by Match in 2019. Jackie Jantos, Hinge's president and chief marketing officer, will take over as CEO. McLeod will remain in an advisory position at Hinge through March. This summer, TechCrunch spoke to Jantos at SXSW London about how Hinge will address Gen Z, a market that's growing increasingly disillusioned with meeting people online. "This is a generation that has grown up with a deep understanding of how digital experiences are created and what they are trying to get out of them," Jantos told TechCrunch. Gen Z wants transparency and authenticity from digital brands, according to Jantos. While some might see this as inherently incompatible with the company's growing reliance on AI, Hinge's AI recommendation feature, launched in March, drove a 15% increase in matches and contact exchanges in the first quarter of this year. Based on Jantos' comments upon assuming her new role, it seems that Hinge will continue investing in these features under her leadership. "Our focus will remain on intentional innovation that is grounded in culture, creativity, and a deep understanding of how people connect today," Jantos said in a statement.

Hinge founder leaves CEO role to launch AI-powered dating startup

Hinge founder Justin McLeod is stepping down as CEO of the dating app to launch a dating service powered by artificial intelligence. McLeod will be replaced by Jackie Jantos, the dating app's president and chief marketing officer, Hinge parent company Match Group announced on Tuesday. "The company's momentum, including being on track to reach $1 billion in revenue by 2027, gives me full confidence in where Hinge is headed," said McLeod in a statement. He created the dating app in 2011. McLeod will remain as an advisor to Hinge through March. Overtone, his new venture, will use AI and voice tools to "help people connect in a more thoughtful and personal way," according to the announcement. Along with a dedicated team, McLeod spent much of this year developing the startup with support from Match Group, which said it plans to lead Overtone's initial funding round in early 2026. Match Group, which also owns Tinder and various other dating apps, will hold a significant ownership position in Overtone. Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff will join Overtone's board. "We're proud to have incubated Overtone within Hinge and to now lead its funding round as he builds his next venture," Rascoff said in a statement.

Hinge's Justin McLeod leaves to launch AI dating service

Hinge's founder and CEO, Justin McLeod, is stepping down to launch Overtone, an AI-driven dating service. McLeod launched Hinge in 2012, according to its website, and relaunched the popular dating app in 2016 "with a renewed commitment -- helping people find love." McLeod mentions the relaunch in a blog post on Overtone's website, stating that public sentiment was turning on dating apps at the time, and so was his. So he made the decision "to tear down Hinge as we knew it and rebuild from scratch." "And yet, as the cultural tides shift again, I've begun to feel a stir familiar to the one that sparked our reinvention ten years ago," McLeod writes, harking to the degrading public opinion of dating apps (even though Hinge has monetarily grown between 2024 and 2025). McLeod then goes on to discuss the rise of AI connections and how they can't compare to human relationships -- but that "AI, if used correctly, can help us invent an entirely new way for people to find their partners that is far more personal, far more efficient, and far more effective." For the last year, McLeod and a small team within Hinge have been developing Overtone, which a Hinge spokesperson described to Mashable as an "AI-driven venture backed by Match Group" (the dating app conglomerate that acquired Hinge in 2018). "Think less like a social platform, more like the experience of working with an all-star personal matchmaker," McLeod says in the blog post. "A service that prioritizes getting to know you -- and everyone else -- so it can make curated, personalized introductions to people on your wavelength." Jackie Jantos, formerly president and chief marketing officer, will become Hinge's new CEO, according to a press release. Tamika Young will be Hinge's chief marketing and communications officer after previously serving as senior vice president of global communications. McLeod will remain as an adviser to Hinge through March. Hinge, like many dating and hookup apps, has been leaning into AI recently. This month, it launched Convo Starters, an AI feature designed to help break the ice with a first message that's better than "hey." In January, Hinge released AI-driven prompt feedback to encourage users to write more thoughtful responses to prompts.

Hinge's founder and CEO is stepping down to start a new AI-first dating app | Fortune

After more than a decade as CEO of Hinge, Justin McLeod is stepping down to launch another dating app -- with an AI twist. McLeod started Hinge in 2011 and spent more than a decade at the helm, including after Match Group acquired the company in 2019. The company's president and chief marketing officer, Jackie Jantos, will take over as CEO. McLeod's new dating app, Overtone, plans to use "AI and voice tools to help people connect in a more thoughtful and personal way," according to a press release. Yet, few further details are known about the venture. "We're not going to talk a lot about [Overtone] quite yet," McLeod told Fast Company, "except to say that there's an opportunity to completely reimagine the dating experience and how technology can help facilitate people finding their partner -- that breaks the mold of the way current dating apps are designed." Overtone started as a project within Hinge, but is now spinning off to operate independently. Still, it will continue to have ties to Match Group, which will lead the company's first funding round in 2026 and plans to hold a "substantial ownership position." Match CEO Spencer Rascoff will also sit on the board of directors, while McLeod serves as chairman of the board. Match Group did not immediately respond to Fortune's request for comment. The new venture comes as dating apps have struggled to maintain users. A 2024 study from Forbes found more than three quarters of dating-app users experienced some sort of "swipe fatigue," and many said the burnout they experienced was linked to not being able to make genuine connections. Some data from the biggest market player, Tinder, dovetails with these sentiments. The app is down more than 1.5 million paying users from its peak in 2022, according to Fast Company. Match Group, which apart from Hinge also owns Tinder, Match.com, and OkCupid, reported a 2% year-over-year revenue increase in its latest quarter, yet Tinder's paying customers dropped by 7%, according to the Wall Street Journal. To be sure, a bright spot in the company's third quarter was Hinge, whose paying users increased 17%. Amid potentially stagnating interest in dating apps, Match Group companies, as well as competitors Bumble and even Facebook Dating, have increasingly turned to AI to try to rekindle users' interest. Earlier this year, Hinge launched a feature called "prompt feedback" that uses AI to help improve users improve the responses they give to public-facing prompts such as "my happy place." Bumble and Tinder have also both added tools that use AI to analyze users' photos and present the most appealing. Yet, it's unclear if users are actually looking for more AI in their dating lives. In a study of 1,000 dating app users by Bloomberg Intelligence, nearly 50% of respondents said they didn't have problems making a dating profile on their own, without AI. While McLeod's new project, Overtone, started within Match Group, he said it made more sense for the new dating app to be an independent company so it could move at the fastest possible pace. During his tenure, Hinge grew from less than $1 million in revenue in 2017 to roughly $400 million by 2023. He told Fast Company he was eager for a fresh challenge and to take the reins once more. "I'm a founder and CEO at heart," he said. "There's a piece of me that wants to be out there on my own, ultimately steering the ship again."

Hinge Founder Justin McLeod Exits to Launch a New A.I. Online Dating Startup

Justin McLeod exits Hinge to build Overture while Jackie Jantos steps in as CEO. Justin Mcleod, the founder and CEO of Hinge, tore his company down a decade ago and rebuilt it after realizing the dating app was engineered for engagement rather than genuine connection. Now, ten years later, McLeod says he's had another revelation -- but instead of overhauling Hinge, he's channeling it into an entirely new venture. Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter Sign Up Thank you for signing up! By clicking submit, you agree to our <a href="http://observermedia.com/terms">terms of service</a> and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime. See all of our newsletters McLeod's next venture, an A.I.-powered dating company called Overture, will prompt his immediate departure as Hinge's CEO. He will be replaced by Jackie Jantos, the company's current president and chief marketing officer. McLeod acknowledged that technological developments risk harming relationships as users increasingly turn to chatbots instead of human companionship. "A.I. should always stand behind us, not between us," he said in a blog post announcing Overture. His new company aims to use the technology to create something "less like a social platform" and "more like the experience of working with an all-star personal matchmaker." McLeod and a small team within Hinge have been building the project for about a year. The standalone company has support from Match Group, Hinge's parent company, which participated in Overture's pre-seed financing, plans to lead its initial funding round early next year and will hold a substantial ownership stake. Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff will also join Overture's board. "We're proud to have incubated Overtone within Hinge and to now lead its funding round as he builds his next venture," said Rascoff in a statement. "With a strong foundation and leadership team in place, Hinge is poised for its next chapter under Jackie's leadership." Hinge gets a new leader Jantos, who formerly worked at Spotify and Coca-Cola, joined Hinge in 2021 and has served as president since March. Her tenure has been marked by Gen Z-focused initiatives like "No Ordinary Love," a campaign highlighting successful Hinge couples through ads, a Substack and a zine. As she assumes the CEO role, Jantos will oversee Hinge's ongoing integration of A.I. The company has rolled out numerous features that use the technology to boost personalization and improve safety. Earlier this week, Hinge introduced a new A.I. tool designed to help users start conversations with each other. Despite industry-wide challenges in online dating, Hinge continues to grow. Match Group, which also owns Tinder and OkCupid, reported a 5 percent year-over-year decline in paying users in its most recent quarter. But Hinge remains a standout, with paying users up 17 percent. Hinge will be advised by McLeod through March to ensure a smooth transition. "The company's momentum, including being on track to reach $1 billion in revenue by 2027, gives me full confidence in where Hinge is headed," McLeod said, calling his work building the platform "the privilege of my life."

Hinge CEO McLeod stepping down to lead Match Group-backed AI dating startup

Jackie Jantos, currently Hinge's president and chief marketing officer, will take over as CEO. Jantos has overseen the app's expansion into Europe and Latin America and led product initiatives targeting Gen Z users. Match Group said on Tuesday that Hinge founder and CEO Justin McLeod will step down to launch Overtone, an AI-powered dating venture backed by the company, signaling a major bet on artificial intelligence. Jackie Jantos, currently Hinge's president and chief marketing officer, will take over as CEO. Jantos has overseen the app's expansion into Europe and Latin America and led product initiatives targeting Gen Z users. Overtone, incubated within Hinge during 2025, will operate as an independent company focused on using AI and voice tools to create connections, the company said. Match Group plans to lead Overtone's initial funding round in early 2026 and hold a significant ownership stake. McLeod will serve as chairman of Overtone and remain as an adviser to Hinge through March. "With MTCH retaining a substantial ownership position, the company seems to be making sure that it will not be left behind on potentially significant developments," said MScience analyst Chandler Willison. The move underscores Match Group's effort to defend its dominant position in the traditional online dating ecosystem with apps like Tinder and OkCupid, while hedging on experimental ventures that could reshape the industry, Willison added. McLeod founded Hinge in 2011 and helped it become one of Match Group's fastest-growing brands. AI-driven matchmaking Match Group, which continues to be one of the dominant players in the online dating sector with its applications, is still placing its bets on AI connection amid evolving demand from younger users, who continue to engage with AI-powered and niche matchmaking apps. Rivals such as Bumble and Grindr have also stepped up investments in AI, betting on new features that improve personalization and bolster safety to face rising criticism of "swiping fatigue." Several startups, including AI-first dating platforms Teaser and Blush, are also experimenting with generative AI tools and conversational agents designed to mimic human chemistry and improve first-date conversions. The sectorwide embrace of AI comes amid slowing user growth, rising competition and mounting pressure to rekindle growth, pushing dating companies to reimagine how algorithms can make introductions feel more natural.

Hinge Founder Justin McLeod Exits To Launch Match Group-Backed AI Dating App - Match Group (NASDAQ:MTCH)

Justin McLeod, the founder of Hinge, is stepping down as CEO of the popular dating app to launch a new AI-powered dating service called Overtone, which will use AI and voice tools to "help people connect in a more thoughtful and personal way." Match Group Joins Overtone Board McLeod will be succeeded by Jackie Jantos, who currently serves as Hinge's president and chief marketing officer, announced Hinge's parent company, Match Group (NASDAQ:MTCH), on Tuesday. McLeod will continue to advise Hinge until March. Match, the parent company of Tinder and other dating platforms, will take a substantial stake in Overtone. CEO Spencer Rascoff will also join Overtone's board. The company plans to lead Overtone's initial funding round in early 2026. "The company's momentum, including being on track to reach $1 billion in revenue by 2027, gives me full confidence in where Hinge is headed," said McLeod in a statement. See Also: America Has Become A 'Digital Narco-State': Nobel Prize Winner Warns As Tech Billionaires Now 'Dictate US Foreign Policy' McLeod's departure from Hinge comes at a time when the online dating industry is facing increased scrutiny. Match has been under pressure from U.S. senators since September to address the rising issue of romance scams on its platforms, particularly Tinder. For the third quarter, Match Group's total revenue grew 2% year-on-year to $914 million, a little under the anticipated $915.22 million. At the same time, the company posted an EPS of $0.62, missing the $0.63 expectation. Investment bank, Raymond James, reiterated its Market-Perform rating on the stock and lauded the company's move to back McLeod, reported Investing.com. The firm called the move "an interesting play in an ecosystem" and a "well-calculated risk." Benzinga's Edge Rankings place Match Group in the 50th percentile for momentum and the 45th percentile for growth, reflecting its average performance in both areas. Check the detailed report here. Price Action: On a year-to-date basis, Match Group stock climbed 4.32% as per data from Benzinga Pro. On Tuesday, it fell 0.32% to close at $34.02. READ NEXT: 'It Feels Like The World Just Changed, Again' Salesforce CEO Says Google's Gemini 3 Is 'Sharper And Faster' Than ChatGPT Image via Shutterstock Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. MTCHMatch Group Inc$34.100.24%OverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Match Group stock falls after CEO of Hinge departs to launch AI startup By Investing.com

Investing.com -- Match Group (NASDAQ:MTCH) stock fell 1.8% in after-hours trading Tuesday following news that Hinge's founder and CEO Justin McLeod is leaving to launch Overtone, a new AI-driven dating venture. Match Group will lead Overtone's initial funding round in early 2026 and maintain a substantial ownership position in the startup, which focuses on using AI and voice tools to facilitate more thoughtful personal connections. The company had been incubating Overtone within Hinge throughout 2025, providing pre-seed financing and access to internal expertise. As part of the leadership transition, Hinge's current President and Chief Marketing Officer Jackie Jantos has been promoted to CEO. McLeod, who founded Hinge in 2011, will remain an advisor to the company through March to support the transition while serving as Chairman of Overtone. "Building Hinge has been the privilege of my life, and I'm incredibly proud of what the team has created," said McLeod. "The company's momentum, including being on track to reach $1 billion in revenue by 2027, gives me full confidence in where Hinge is headed." Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff will join Overtone's board of directors as the new company operates independently during its continued development phase. Under Jantos' previous leadership as President and CMO, Hinge expanded into Europe and Latin America and strengthened its appeal with Gen Z users, now the app's largest audience globally. The leadership change comes as Match Group continues to focus on innovation in the dating app space, particularly through responsible AI implementation and technologies designed to foster meaningful connections. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Hinge CEO McLeod stepping down to lead Match Group-backed AI dating startup

Dec 9 (Reuters) - Match Group said on Tuesday that Hinge founder and CEO Justin McLeod will step down to launch Overtone, an AI-powered dating venture backed by the company, signaling a major bet on artificial intelligence. Jackie Jantos, currently Hinge's president and chief marketing officer, will take over as CEO. Jantos has overseen the app's expansion into Europe and Latin America and led product initiatives targeting Gen Z users. Overtone, incubated within Hinge during 2025, will operate as an independent company focused on using AI and voice tools to create connections, the company said. Match Group plans to lead Overtone's initial funding round in early 2026 and hold a significant ownership stake. McLeod will serve as chairman of Overtone and remain as an adviser to Hinge through March. "With MTCH retaining a substantial ownership position, the company seems to be making sure that it will not be left behind on potentially significant developments," said MScience analyst Chandler Willison. The move underscores Match Group's effort to defend its dominant position in the traditional online dating ecosystem with apps like Tinder and OkCupid, while hedging on experimental ventures that could reshape the industry, Willison added. McLeod founded Hinge in 2011 and helped it become one of Match Group's fastest-growing brands. AI-DRIVEN MATCHMAKING Match Group, which continues to be one of the dominant players in the online dating sector with its applications, is still placing its bets on AI connection amid evolving demand from younger users, who continue to engage with AI-powered and niche matchmaking apps. Rivals such as Bumble and Grindr have also stepped up investments in AI, betting on new features that improve personalization and bolster safety to face rising criticism of "swiping fatigue." Several startups, including AI-first dating platforms Teaser and Blush, are also experimenting with generative AI tools and conversational agents designed to mimic human chemistry and improve first-date conversions. The sectorwide embrace of AI comes amid slowing user growth, rising competition and mounting pressure to rekindle growth, pushing dating companies to reimagine how algorithms can make introductions feel more natural. (Reporting by Kritika Lamba and Abhinav Parmar in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Alan Barona)