Dating app Ditto, a new iMessage-based platform, has secured $9.2 million in seed funding. Dating app Ditto has raised $9.2 million in a seed funding round led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from Gradient, Scribble Ventures, Alumni Ventures and Llama Venture.
Founded by Berkeley undergraduates Allen Wang and Eric Liu, Ditto is an iMessage-based matchmaking startup focused on planning real-world dates for college students.
“When you remove swiping and chatting, you remove a lot of the toxicity and anxiety that people associate with online dating. We plan the date, people show up, and real connections have a chance to form. Around 20 per cent of our matches turned into actual dates,” said Allen Wang, CEO and co-founder of Ditto.
The platform is aiming to position itself as an alternative to traditional dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge and Bumble. Instead of requiring users to browse profiles, swipe and manage conversations, Ditto plans one date at a time, handling the match and logistics before asking users to confirm attendance.
The company says the approach is designed to reduce the friction, anxiety and time investment associated with swipe-driven platforms.
On traditional dating apps, users often spend weeks chatting without meeting in person. Ditto claims that 20 per cent of its matches convert into real-life dates.
The startup first launched at UC San Diego and expanded to UC Berkeley, USC, UCLA and UC Davis after gaining traction through campus networks, including sorority group chats. It now reports more than 42,000 users across four campuses, with over 25 per cent joining via referrals.
“Ditto is leveraging AI in a creative way to build a novel online dating experience–one which resembles a true matchmaking service. We’ve seen a great early response from users to this approach and we’re excited to continue to work with Ditto as they expand to college campuses across the US,” said Vig Sachidananda, partner at Gradient.
Beyond campus expansion, the startup plans to host a series of large-scale matchmaking events in 2026, beginning with yacht parties in Los Angeles on Valentine’s Day. It plans to organise 10 such events across major US cities including Los Angeles, New York and Boston.
Looking ahead, Ditto plans to extend its model beyond college dating to include professional networking and group-based social experiences.
Leave a Reply