Hinge Founder Quits to Launch His AI Dating App "Overtone"
- Hinge founder Justin McLeod is stepping down as CEO to launch Overtone, a new AI and voice-based dating startup backed by Match Group.
- Jackie Jantos, Hinge's current president and CMO, will take over leadership as the app continues to grow revenue despite a broader industry downturn.
- The move highlights the dating industry's aggressive pivot toward artificial intelligence to combat "swipe fatigue" and declining subscriber numbers among Gen Z users.
The online dating industry is witnessing a significant leadership shake up as Justin McLeod, the founder of Hinge, steps down from his role as CEO to pioneer a new frontier in romance technology. McLeod is leaving the "app designed to be deleted" to launch Overtone, an AI powered dating service that promises to use voice tools and artificial intelligence to foster deeper connections. This move signals a broader industry pivot as tech leaders attempt to solve the growing user fatigue and disillusionment plaguing modern dating platforms.
Match Group, the conglomerate that owns Hinge as well as Tinder and OkCupid, is not losing McLeod entirely but rather backing his new venture. The company plans to lead Overtone’s initial funding round in early 2026 and take a "substantial ownership position." Match CEO Spencer Rascoff is even expected to join the new startup’s board. This strategic investment suggests that the industry giant views AI not just as a feature but as the potential future of the entire sector. Overtone was quietly incubated within Hinge over the past year by McLeod and a dedicated team before spinning out as an independent entity.
McLeod will be succeeded at Hinge by Jackie Jantos who currently serves as president and chief marketing officer. Jantos is a veteran marketer with experience at Spotify and Coca Cola. She has been instrumental in Hinge’s recent pivot toward Gen Z, a demographic known for its skepticism of digital artifice. Under her guidance the app launched campaigns celebrating "No Ordinary Love" and even published a physical book encouraging users to disconnect from screens. Her challenge will be to maintain Hinge’s momentum it is the only major app in the Match portfolio showing subscriber growth while navigating the ethical minefield of AI integration.
The timing of this transition is critical. The dating app market is struggling with a "malaise" as users grow tired of endless swiping and superficial interactions. Tinder has reported nine consecutive quarters of paying subscriber declines. In response companies are rushing to integrate AI solutions. Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd has floated the idea of "AI dating concierges" while Tinder is testing a feature called "Chemistry" that would access users' camera rolls to learn their preferences.
Overtone aims to differentiate itself by focusing on "voice tools" and thoughtful connection rather than just algorithmic matching. While details remain scarce the emphasis on audio suggests a move away from the image obsessed culture of current apps. This aligns with a broader trend of seeking authenticity in digital spaces. However the reliance on AI also raises privacy concerns. As tech companies demand more access to personal data from voice samples to photo libraries users are forced to decide how much privacy they are willing to trade for the chance at love.
For Hinge the departure of its founder marks the end of an era. McLeod built the app in 2011 with a philosophy that prioritized relationships over casual hookups. The platform is now on track to generate $1 billion in revenue by 2027. Jantos has pledged to continue "intentional innovation" grounded in culture but the pressure to adopt AI features like the recently launched "Convo Starters" is undeniable.
Ultimately the launch of Overtone represents a gamble. It bets that the solution to technology induced loneliness is more technology specifically smarter and more intrusive AI. Whether users will embrace a robot matchmaker or recoil from it remains the billion dollar question hanging over the future of digital romance.