Justin McLeod, founder of Hinge, announced that he has raised $18 million for his new dating company, Overtone. McLeod stepped down from his CEO role at Hinge last year. Investors in the raise include Match Group (Hinge’s owner), FirstMark Capital and Pace Capital.
What Overtone promises
Overtone describes itself as "a voice- and audio-forward service, enabled by AI, that provides highly curated introductions." In a blog post, McLeod wrote that "Overtone is not a dating app." He clarified that the product is not a social platform that reduces people to stats, quotes and photos; it does not rely on opaque, algorithmic feeds trained on split-second impulses, nor does it involve juggling likes, matches and chats across many people at once.
McLeod said the company aims to "get to know each person deeply, learning about them in their own voice, hearing their own unique story," and to make only introductions that are worth making, grounded in relationship science and careful reflection. The company intends to transparently explain why it believes someone is a great match.
Industry context
The move comes as the dating industry faces widespread user dissatisfaction. A Forbes Health survey in 2024 found that 78% of dating app users felt burned out. The survey’s 1,000 respondents reported spending roughly 51 minutes per day on dating apps, a time investment that often did not produce fulfilling connections.
Many dating apps are experimenting with AI to improve match quality — for example, offering AI-generated conversation starters or help building profiles — but there is resistance to outsourcing more of the intimate work to machines. McLeod appears focused on using AI to narrow who might be a good match rather than to automate conversations or relationships.
Competitors and launch plans
Other newer apps such as Ditto and Date Drop are pursuing a similar strategy: using AI to pair users instead of placing everyone in a pool to swipe on, which can create an illusion of endless choice and a fertile ground for ghosting. Overtone is expected to become available later this year, initially in selected locations only.
Board additions
Alongside the funding announcement, Overtone said relationship expert Esther Perel has joined its board. The board will also include Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Match, and leadership advisor Diana Chapman.
In short: Overtone is positioning itself as a voice-first, AI-curated introductions service that rejects traditional swipe-and-profile mechanics. It has secured $18 million in funding and plans a limited rollout this year.
