- Schmooze, an AI-driven dating platform that matches users through memes, raised $4 million in Series A funding.
- In just 10 months since its launch in India, Schmooze has gained over 1 million users and recorded 900 million meme swipes.
- The platform’s AI engine, 'Genie,' enhances user storytelling, while features like Roast AI and Rant AI help combat loneliness among Gen Z, providing companionship beyond dating.
Schmooze, an AI-powered dating platform that matches users through memes, has secured $4 million in its Series A funding round, led by Elevation Capital. The round also included angel investors such as the founders of UltraHuman, The Souled Store, Mosaic Wellness, and Paytm.
Just 10 months after its launch in India, Schmooze has attracted over 1 million users and recorded 900 million meme swipes.
The company claims its platform boasts a 3x better ratio of female to male users compared to mainstream dating sites.
Frustrated by dating apps that focused only on appearances, Schmooze founders Vidya Madhavan and Abhinav Anurag set out to change the game. They wanted a platform that brought people together through personality and humor—where a shared laugh could spark a real connection. Memes became their secret ingredient, bridging the gap between users and helping predict compatibility in a fun, unique way.
Reflecting on the app's journey, Vidya Madhavan noted that during her time at Stanford, she saw many frustrated with the superficiality of dating apps, craving deeper connections. She realized that for Gen Z, memes had become a new language, revealing personality traits.
This insight, combined with AI, inspired her to create Schmooze, where users can find their perfect match through meme swipes.
The AI engine, known as 'Genie,' serves as an advanced coach that enhances users' storytelling abilities, fostering greater expression and authenticity.
Beyond dating, Schmooze aims to combat loneliness and social disconnection among Gen Z with features like Roast AI, which simulates conversations with a stand-up comedian, and Rant AI, a digital diary that responds to user inputs, ensuring users have companionship even when they're alone.
With over 1 billion meme interactions to date, Schmooze plans to use the fresh funds to improve its AI technology and intensify efforts to attract more users.
Edited by Harshajit Sarmah
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Harshajit Sarmah
