Ditto is an AI-powered dating initiative founded by Allen Wang and Eric Liu after they left UC Berkeley. They set out to build a different kind of matching experience for their peers, hoping to spare users the time-consuming and often shallow process associated with swipe-based apps like Tinder and Hinge.
“As Gen Z ourselves, we were firsthand witnessing the behavioral shift in terms of how people are connecting with each other,” Allen Wang told TechCrunch. “We see that people are getting super tired of all the endless swiping and endless small talk, and they’re really looking for something more genuine in real life.”
Sign-up and matching process
Rather than a typical app, college students register with Ditto by texting a specific iMessage number and a code. An AI chatbot introduces itself as Ditto and positions the service with the line: “a dating initiative built by college students who get it… no swiping, no awkward DMs, just real dates every Wednesday at 7 pm.”
Users text through an onboarding flow that begins with basic biographical details (name, gender, birth date) and then moves to more detailed questions about personality, interests, and dating preferences. Some users even upload photos of their celebrity crushes so the AI can better understand their type.
Ditto’s algorithm pairs people not by surface-level shared hobbies but by what those hobbies reveal about deeper traits. Wang illustrated this with an example: someone into rock climbing, skydiving, and outdoor sports and someone into hip hop, streetwear, and skateboarding may not have superficially similar interests, but both could be adventurous and individualistic — signals that the algorithm uses to predict chemistry.
Weekly, scheduled in-person dates and feedback loop
Every Wednesday at 7 PM, Ditto messages users with their match for the week. The message includes the person, a time, and a location; users simply need to show up. After the date they provide feedback, which Ditto uses to refine its understanding and improve future matches.
Wang says this model removes friction by doing the logistical work for users so they can focus on meeting people in real life.
Scale, safety and performance metrics
Ditto reports roughly 150,000 signups, and Wang says about 20% of the matches arranged through Ditto result in an actual date. The service is currently available at a few dozen colleges and uses verification via .edu email addresses to confirm student status as part of its vetting process.
The short time between matching and meeting raises safety considerations — verifying that the person you meet is who they say they are is a challenge. Ditto is focused on expanding to more schools and eventually beyond college while trying to scale safely.
Funding, team and marketing approach
The startup has $9.2 million in seed funding from investors including Gradient, Peak XV, and Scribble. Wang said 99% of investor interest came inbound, aided by Ditto’s visibility on LinkedIn and Twitter; even Duolingo co‑founder Severin Hacker reached out.
Ditto has attracted attention with irreverent marketing — for example, videos of robot stunts — and currently operates from San Francisco with twelve full-time employees. The company has also posted unconventional job listings, such as a “Chief Yacht Officer” to run promotional parties.
Wang emphasized the role of stunt marketing in attracting college users while noting that product experience is what retains them: “The stunts are the top of the funnel, not the product… Viral moments get college kids to look; a good first date is what makes them stay.”
