The founder of Hinge is returning to online dating with an unusual pitch: use more artificial intelligence (AI) to make dating feel less algorithmic.
Justin McLeod has raised $18 million for Overtone, a voice-first matchmaking service designed to replace profiles, swiping, and crowded match queues with fewer, more deliberate introductions.
TL;DR
- Overtone raised $18 million from FirstMark Capital, Pace Capital, and Match Group.
- The AI-enabled service will learn about users through voice and provide curated introductions.
- Esther Perel, Spencer Rascoff, and Diana Chapman have joined its board.
- Overtone is expected to launch in select locations by the end of 2026.
Overtone Uses AI To Replace Swiping With Curated Matchmaking
McLeod stepped away from Hinge in late 2025 after nearly 15 years with the company.
Now, he is attempting to rethink the dating experience again, this time by removing many of the mechanics that helped define modern dating apps.
“Overtone is not a dating app,” McLeod wrote. “By that I mean it’s not a social platform with profiles that reduce people to stats, quotes and photos.”
The service will instead use voice and audio to understand each person’s background, personality, and relationship goals. Overtone says it will then use AI, relationship science, and human-centered reflection to identify introductions that may be worth pursuing.
Rather than helping users generate profiles or automate conversations, the technology will operate behind the scenes. The aim is to narrow the field before two people meet, while leaving attraction, chemistry, and communication to the people involved.
Why Overtone Is Betting Against Endless Dating App Choice
The strategy addresses a growing weakness in online dating: many users are tired of spending time browsing without building meaningful connections.
A 2024 Forbes Health survey found that 78% of dating app users experienced burnout. Its 1,000 respondents reported spending an average of about 51 minutes per day on dating platforms, often without finding fulfilling relationships.
McLeod argues that the industry’s current structure creates too much choice and too little guidance. Traditional dating apps present users with large pools of profiles, forcing them to make rapid decisions based on photos, prompts, and limited information.
Overtone plans to reverse that model by offering fewer recommendations and explaining why each person may be compatible.
“We make only the introductions that are worth making, grounded in relationship science and thoughtful reflection,” McLeod wrote. “We transparently explain why we believe someone is a great match.”
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Overtone Adds Esther Perel And Match Group CEO To Its Board
The $18 million seed round includes backing from FirstMark Capital, Pace Capital, and Match Group, which owns Hinge, Tinder, and OkCupid.
Psychotherapist and bestselling author Esther Perel has joined Overtone’s board alongside Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff and leadership advisor Diana Chapman. McLeod will serve as founder, CEO, and chairman.
The service is not yet publicly available and will initially launch in select locations by the end of 2026.
Other emerging services, including Ditto and Date Drop, are also exploring AI-led matchmaking rather than swipe-based discovery. However, Overtone enters the market with McLeod’s experience building Hinge and Match Group’s financial support.
The central test will be whether users are willing to trade endless choice for fewer introductions, and whether AI can reduce dating fatigue without inserting itself between two people trying to form a real connection.
