The current generation of individuals in their twenties is experiencing such profound disillusionment with swipe-based dating applications that they are actively seeking and willing to explore virtually any alternative, including AI-powered matchmaking services. Following their departure from UC Berkeley, Ditto co-founders Allen Wang and Eric Liu embarked on a mission to develop a platform that would enable their peers to connect meaningfully, without the weekly time commitment often required to navigate the complexities of apps like Tinder and Hinge.
"As members of Gen Z ourselves, we were firsthand witnesses to the evolving behavioral patterns in how people are seeking connections," Ditto founder Allen Wang informed TechCrunch. He further explained, "We observe that individuals are growing exceptionally tired of endless swiping and superficial small talk, and they are genuinely searching for more authentic, real-life interactions."
Rather than functioning as a conventional application, Ditto allows college students to register by texting a specific iMessage number along with a unique code. Subsequently, an AI chatbot introduces itself as Ditto, proclaiming itself "a dating initiative built by college students who get it… no swiping, no awkward DMs, just real dates every Wednesday at 7 pm."
Users navigate a text-based onboarding process, beginning with essential biographical details such as their name, gender, and birth date. Ditto then proceeds to ask more specific questions designed to ascertain an individual's personality, interests, and dating preferences. Some users even upload images of their celebrity crushes to provide the AI with a clearer understanding of their preferred partner type.
The Ditto algorithm endeavors to match individuals not merely on the basis of similar hobbies and interests, but rather on what those activities reveal about a person's deeper character and values.
Wang elaborated on this methodology: "If you have a guy who is deeply invested in rock climbing, skydiving, and outdoor sports, and a girl whose interests lie in hip hop, streetwear, and skateboarding, then even if their hobbies appear dissimilar on the surface, I can tell you that, at a deeper level, both are very adventurous; perhaps they are very individualistic." He concluded, "This is fundamentally why people discover chemistry with one another, and our claim is that chemistry is, in fact, predictable with the right signals."
Subsequently, every Wednesday at 7 PM, Ditto sends users a message revealing their match for the week.
"The message includes details about the person, a specific time, and a designated location, and users simply need to arrive, go on the date, and provide feedback upon their return. We will then collect more information about the date to enhance our understanding of the user and facilitate a more suitable next date," Wang articulated. He added, "Currently, people's primary goal is simply to go out and meet others. This approach effectively removes a significant amount of friction for our users, as we undertake the heavy lifting for them, allowing them to simply show up and connect with whoever awaits."
Ditto boasts 150,000 sign-ups, and Wang indicates that approximately 20% of the matches facilitated through Ditto ultimately result in an actual date. (While this percentage might appear low, it is notably competitive when compared to the conversion rates on many established dating platforms.)
To introduce users to one another and articulate their potential compatibility, Ditto generates a distinctive collage-like graphic. This aesthetic choice is highly popular among Gen Z and has also been adopted by other connection-focused applications with young founders, such as Sonder.
With any dating application, particularly one that minimizes the time between matching and meeting, discerning the safety of a situation—specifically, whether the individual you are meeting is genuinely who they claim to be—can be challenging. For now, as Ditto is exclusively available at a few dozen colleges, there is an inherent vetting mechanism: users are confirmed students at their respective universities via a .edu email address. Ditto is strategically focused on expanding to more educational institutions—and eventually beyond the college demographic—while meticulously ensuring safe and scalable growth. This endeavor presents a considerable challenge, even for the most established and well-funded dating apps. Nevertheless, Ditto is well-resourced, having secured $9.2 million in seed funding from investors including Gradient, Peak XV, and Scribble.
Wang highlighted the organic nature of their investor interest, stating, "99% of the investors reached out to us through inbound inquiries, as we maintained a significant presence on LinkedIn and Twitter for a period." He further revealed the high caliber of this interest: "Even Duolingo’s co-founder Severin Hacker contacted me, saying, 'Hey, love your mission, I really like what you do, let’s hop on a call.'"
Ditto has cultivated this notable reputation through its unconventional and often irreverent marketing campaigns, such as viral videos featuring robot stunts. Now based in San Francisco, Ditto employs twelve full-time staff but is also actively recruiting a "Chief Yacht Officer" to organize promotional events—a legitimate job listing.
"Our users are college students, and they can detect corporate marketing from a mile away," Wang commented. He clarified the strategic intent: "However, these stunts represent the top of our marketing funnel, not the core product… Viral moments attract college students to look; a genuinely good first date is what ultimately compels them to stay."
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