Hinge CEO Justin McLeod steps down to launch Overtone, a new AI dating app backed by Match Group
9 Sources
[1]
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
[2]
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
[3]
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
[4]
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
[5]
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
[6]
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
[7]
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
[8]
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
[9]
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,
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Justin McLeod, founder and CEO of Hinge, is stepping down after over a decade to launch Overtone, an AI dating service that uses voice tools to create meaningful connections. Match Group is backing the venture with substantial funding and ownership, while Jackie Jantos takes over as Hinge's new CEO. The move comes as dating apps face growing swipe fatigue and declining user satisfaction.
Justin McLeod Exits Hinge to Build New AI Dating Venture
Justin McLeod is stepping down as CEO of Hinge to launch Overtone, a new AI dating service that aims to transform how people find partners
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. After founding Hinge in 2011 and leading it through a major relaunch in 2016, McLeod spent the past year incubating Overtone within Hinge alongside a dedicated team3
. The venture describes itself as "an early-stage dating service focused on using AI and voice tools to help people connect in a more thoughtful and personal way"1
.Match Group, which acquired Hinge in 2019, is backing Overtone with pre-seed financing and plans to lead the company's initial funding round in early 2026 while taking a substantial ownership position
2
. Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff will join Overtone's board, while McLeod serves as chairman4
. "We're proud to have incubated Overtone within Hinge and to now lead its funding round as he builds his next venture," Rascoff said2
.Overtone Aims to Reimagine Online Dating Experience
McLeod envisions Overtone as less of a social platform and more like "the experience of working with an all-star personal matchmaker," according to a blog post announcing the venture
3
. The service will prioritize getting to know users deeply to make curated, personalized introductions to people on their wavelength5
. While few details about Overtone's specific features have been revealed, McLeod told Fast Company 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"4
.McLeod emphasized that while AI connections can't replace human relationships, "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"
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. The founder stressed that "A.I. should always stand behind us, not between us"5
.Jackie Jantos Takes Over as Hinge CEO
Jackie Jantos, Hinge's president and chief marketing officer, will take over as CEO, with Tamika Young becoming chief marketing and communications officer
3
. McLeod will remain in an advisory position at Hinge through March to ensure a smooth transition2
. Jantos, who previously worked at Spotify and Coca-Cola, joined Hinge in 2021 and has focused on Gen Z-focused initiatives5
."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
2
. Under McLeod's leadership, Hinge grew from less than $1 million in revenue in 2017 to roughly $400 million by 20234
. Jantos stated that "our focus will remain on intentional innovation that is grounded in culture, creativity, and a deep understanding of how people connect today"1
.Related Stories
Dating Apps Face Growing Swipe Fatigue and User Decline
The launch comes as the online dating industry grapples with user dissatisfaction and declining engagement. A 2024 Forbes study found more than three quarters of dating-app users experienced swipe fatigue, with many citing burnout linked to an inability to make meaningful connections
4
. Tinder has reported nine straight quarters of paying subscriber declines and is down more than 1.5 million paying users from its peak in 20221
4
.Match Group reported a 5 percent year-over-year decline in paying users in its most recent quarter, though Hinge remains a bright spot with paying users up 17 percent
5
. Hinge's AI recommendation feature, launched in March, drove a 15 percent increase in matches and contact exchanges in the first quarter of this year1
. This week, Hinge launched "Convo Starters," an AI feature designed to help users craft more interesting opening messages1
.AI Becomes Central to Matchmaking Strategy
McLeod isn't alone among dating app founders exploring AI-first experiences. Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of Bumble, said she wants to create "the world's smartest and most emotionally intelligent matchmaker in existence"
1
. Tinder, Bumble, and Facebook Dating have all experimented with AI-powered features to combat user fatigue1
.Match CEO Spencer Rascoff announced that a "major pillar of Tinder's upcoming 2026 product experience" will be Chemistry, a feature that accesses users' camera rolls with permission to learn more about them
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. However, user appetite for AI in dating remains unclear. A Bloomberg Intelligence study of 1,000 dating app users found nearly 50 percent said they didn't have problems making a dating profile on their own without AI4
. McLeod told Fast Company he's "a founder and CEO at heart" and eager for a fresh challenge, saying "there's a piece of me that wants to be out there on my own, ultimately steering the ship again"4
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