Hinge founder's new AI matchmaker Overtone raises $18 million to replace dating app swiping

Hinge Founder's New Dating App Secures Major Backing

Justin McLeod, the entrepreneur behind Hinge, has secured $18 million in seed funding for Overtone, his AI-driven matchmaking company that promises to transform how people find romantic connections1

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. The investment round draws support from Match Group, which owns Hinge, Tinder, and OKCupid, alongside venture capital firms FirstMark Capital and Pace Capital3

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. McLeod announced his departure from Hinge in December 2025 to focus exclusively on building this AI matchmaking app without swiping, which he plans to launch later this year in select locations1

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What Makes Overtone Different From Traditional Dating Apps

"Overtone is not a dating app," McLeod emphasized in his blog post announcing the funding1

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. Unlike conventional online dating platforms with profiles that reduce people to statistics and photos, Overtone positions itself as an AI-powered matchmaking service that eliminates the typical mechanics of modern dating technology5

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. The platform is described as a voice-and audio-forward service where users don't upload public profiles or browse through hundreds of potential matches5

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. Instead, the system relies on voice interactions to understand personality, interests, and relationship preferences before suggesting worthwhile introductions5

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How the AI Matchmaker Works

McLeod outlined his vision for Overtone in detail, explaining that the service will get to know each person deeply by learning about them in their own voice and hearing their unique story2

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. The platform will make only introductions that are worth making, grounded in relationship science and thoughtful reflection1

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. Overtone will transparently explain why someone is believed to be a great match, then leave it to daters to meet in person and discover chemistry with guidance along the way2

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. This approach aims to bring back traditional matchmaking, a practice that has largely been limited to those who can spend thousands of dollars on personal matchmakers1

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. McLeod promises to deliver this "with the reach and diversity of modern networks, the collective wisdom of relationship science, and the conviction that when it comes to options, all you need is less™"1

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Expert Backing and Industry Reactions

The startup has assembled notable advisors to guide its development. Match Group and Tinder CEO Spencer Rascoff has joined Overtone's board, along with executive leadership adviser Diana Chapman, founder of The Signal Institute, and renowned relationship psychotherapist Esther Perel, who previously partnered with Hinge1

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. However, Overtone enters a market where some daters remain skeptical about using AI for romantic connections. When Bumble announced earlier this year that it would kill the swipe and introduce an AI matchmaker, the reaction online was largely negative1

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. The platform has already drawn comparisons to Black Mirror, highlighting concerns about AI's role in intimate human connections. Despite the skepticism, budding AI matchmakers like Sitch Matchmaking and Ditto AI are already operating in the space. Those interested can join the waitlist as Overtone prepares for its selective launch1

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