Hinge creator Justin McLeod launches AI dating service Overtone with $18M funding

Justin McLeod, the founder of Hinge, has secured $18 million in funding for his latest venture, Overtone, a voice- and audio-focused dating service that uses AI to make carefully selected matches rather than letting users scroll through algorithmic feeds.

The funding round includes backing from Match Group—the parent company of Hinge, Tinder, and OkCupid—alongside FirstMark Capital and Pace Capital. McLeod departed his CEO position at Hinge in 2025 to pursue this new concept.

The Problem with Current Dating Apps#

Dating apps have grown increasingly frustrating for millions of users. A 2024 survey by Forbes Health found that roughly 78% of dating app users experience burnout, despite spending an average of 51 minutes daily on these platforms. The fundamental issue: time invested does not consistently translate into meaningful connections.

Industry players have begun responding by introducing AI-powered features—automated conversation starters, profile enhancement tools, and improved matching algorithms. Yet many users remain skeptical about relying on machines for intimate decisions like initiating conversations or building romantic connections.

Overtone's Different Approach#

McLeod's new platform reimagines the dating experience from the ground up. Rather than serving as a social network where people are reduced to photos, quotes, and stats—or navigating endless algorithmic feeds—Overtone focuses on curatorial quality over algorithmic quantity.

"Overtone is not a dating app," McLeod wrote in a blog post. The service eliminates swiping, algorithmic feeds, and the juggling of multiple simultaneous chats. Instead, Overtone uses AI to get to know users deeply through their own voices and stories, then offers only those introductions the platform deems genuinely promising. Each match comes with a transparent explanation grounded in relationship science about why the pairing might work.

Shifting the Dating Landscape#

Overtone joins a broader movement away from the swipe-everything model. Competitors like Ditto and Date Drop are similarly betting that AI-powered curation beats the illusion of infinite choice and the ghosting culture it enables.