12. December 2025
Admin
Hinge Founder Justin McLeod Steps Down to Launch AI-Driven Dating App Overtone
After more than a decade leading Hinge, its founder Justin McLeod has stepped down as CEO to start a new AI-centred dating app called **Overtone**. This fresh venture — backed and funded by Match Group — aims to reinvent how people connect online by using artificial intelligence and voice tools to foster richer, more thoughtful interactions.
Quick Insight:
With traditional swipe-style dating apps showing signs of fatigue among users, Overtone seeks to break the mold by prioritising deeper engagement through technology that goes beyond the standard profile scroll.
1. A New Chapter After Hinge
• Justin McLeod started Hinge in 2011 and grew it into one of the most successful dating apps, known for encouraging meaningful connections and being “designed to be deleted.”
• After leading Hinge for over a decade, he is shifting his focus to Overtone — reflecting his ongoing belief that tech can help people form genuine relationships.
• McLeod will serve as **Chairman of the Board** for Overtone and remain an adviser at Hinge for a transition period.
2. What Overtone Aims to Do
• Overtone is designed around **AI and voice-enabled tools** that help users connect in ways that feel more personal and thoughtful than typical text-and-image interactions.
• Early indications suggest an approach that blends matchmaking assistance, conversational guidance, and deeper context — aimed at reducing “swipe fatigue” and helping people build stronger connections.
• While specific features are not fully revealed yet, the app promises to rethink dating app engagement with technology that feels less transactional.
3. Match Group’s Role & Leadership Shift
• Match Group — which owns Hinge, Tinder, OkCupid and other dating brands — is leading Overtone’s initial funding and will hold a **significant ownership stake**.
• McLeod’s successor as CEO of Hinge is **Jackie Jantos**, who has served as president and chief marketing officer.
• Jantos is expected to continue Hinge’s focus on meaningful relationships while the company integrates AI capabilities to enhance existing user experiences.
Final Thoughts
The launch of Overtone highlights how the dating-app landscape is evolving — from simple matching algorithms to experiences driven by advanced technology. As users seek more authentic connection and less repetitive swiping, innovators like McLeod are betting that AI can play a meaningful, human-centric role in how relationships begin in the digital age.
Tip: If you’re interested in innovations in social tech or the future of online relationships, keep an eye on AI-driven platforms like Overtone — they’re likely to shape how we meet and connect in years ahead.
