While developing an AI app for booking restaurant dates, Celeste Amadon and Asher Allen discovered a more significant concept: encouraging genuine in-person meetings. This innovative approach has since garnered substantial investor interest.
The founders developed a voice-activated AI onboarding system for their application, enabling them to gather extensive user information without requiring form completion. They observed that individuals enjoyed conversing, which extended the average onboarding time to 26 minutes. This insight led to the creation of Known, a San Francisco-based dating startup.
She explained, “We believe that, for the first time, we possess sufficient understanding of individuals to arrange meaningful dates. By accomplishing this more efficiently and with a reduced rejection rate, we can craft a user experience that facilitates more frequent real-life meetups.”
Initial findings indicated the potential success of their concept.
During its San Francisco test phase, Known reported that 80% of its introductions resulted in in-person dates, significantly surpassing the rates of swipe-based dating applications. Encouraged by these outcomes, the startup secured $9.7 million in funding from investors such as Forerunner and NFX, alongside Pear VC and Coelius Capital. Significantly, this marks Forerunner’s inaugural investment in a dating app.
Eurie Kim, a partner at Forerunner, informed TechCrunch, “Celeste is an exceptionally perceptive founder who grasps the consumer’s perspective, particularly that of young women. While others might target the male demographic, her focus is on young women who possess numerous unspoken desires and requirements that wouldn’t be expressed in a profile. A conversation, however, allows these subtleties to emerge, a service that historically demanded a $10,000 matchmaker.”
Amadon stated her consistent interest in large-scale social impact, believing that dating represents one of the most significant challenges for her generation.
Amadon, who co-founded the startup with Allen after they both left Stanford, remarked, “Numerous articles have highlighted the loneliness epidemic in the U.S., and I genuinely consider it the most substantial issue confronting our generation.”
Currently in beta testing in San Francisco, the app employs voice AI for onboarding, querying users without requiring form submissions. Amadon explained that this conversational approach allows the startup to gather more comprehensive user data, leading to superior matches; one user’s onboarding session even lasted an hour and 38 minutes.
Known observed that users tended to edit typed responses. Voice-based onboarding, however, fosters a more personal interaction. The company’s AI can generate dynamic follow-up questions tailored to the conversation. For example, if a user recently relocated, the AI can inquire about their initial impressions and experiences in the new city.
Upon completing onboarding, the AI proposes potential matches. Users can engage AI agents with questions about these profiles. If a profile appeals to them, they can indicate “interested.” Once two individuals are matched, they have 24 hours to accept the introduction and another 24 hours to arrange a date. This system, according to the company, aims to minimize prolonged messaging and ‘ghosting,’ thereby promoting in-person meetings. Post-date, users can submit feedback to the AI, which then uses this input to refine future match recommendations.
Known has not entirely abandoned its initial restaurant concept. The app assists users in selecting restaurants tailored to their preferences. Through AI chat and calendar integration, users can also communicate their availability for first dates. During its beta phase, the company charged $30 for each successful date. However, the startup indicated that this pricing is not fixed and they plan to explore various payment models to determine the most effective approach.
Currently, the startup employs three full-time engineers and four individuals dedicated to go-to-market strategies, supplemented by various contractors across different departments. Amadon, with prior political internships, and Allen, who worked on product development at the AI-powered online shopping app Phia, intend to expand their team using the newly acquired funding.
Known is currently undergoing testing in San Francisco and anticipates a broader launch early next year.
Numerous other emerging dating startups, such as Overtone, the new app from Hinge CEO Justin McLeod, are also leveraging AI to gain deeper user insights and facilitate matches. Some claim to offer personalized matchmaking services, typically costing thousands, at a fraction of the price. Established platforms like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge are similarly integrating AI features to maintain user engagement. Despite the increasing competition, Amadon expresses satisfaction.
She commented, “Regarding other new dating products, I am pleased to witness so much development in this sector, as it signifies a necessary transition away from swipe-based models. Furthermore, most of the applications I’ve observed differ considerably from what we are developing at Known.”