Berkeley, California: Ditto has announced a $9.2 million seed funding round to expand its iMessage-based matchmaking platform designed to help college students go on real, in-person dates without swiping or prolonged online conversations.
The funding will support the company’s expansion across U.S. college campuses as it continues building a dating experience focused on real-world interaction.
The seed round was led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from Gradient, Scribble Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Llama Venture.
Ditto Focuses on Real-World Dating Outcomes
As college students grow increasingly frustrated with swipe-based dating platforms, Ditto is positioning itself as an alternative that removes friction from online dating by planning complete dates for users.
The company’s iMessage-based matchmaker handles the entire process — from identifying compatible matches to organizing logistics — allowing users to focus on meeting in person.
Many students report fatigue from dating apps optimized for engagement rather than outcomes. On swipe-based platforms such as Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble, users often spend weeks chatting without meeting. According to the company, it takes approximately one thousand swipes on Tinder to secure a real-life date.
Ditto’s model instead focuses on arranging one curated date at a time, without browsing profiles or managing conversations. “Our goal was to build something that actually helps people go on dates, not stay stuck in an app,” said Allen Wang, CEO and co-founder of Ditto.
“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. 20% of our matches turned into actual dates.”
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Ditto: Campus Growth and Product Experience
Ditto initially launched at UC San Diego, gaining rapid traction through sorority group chats, before expanding to UC Berkeley, USC, UCLA, and UC Davis.
The platform operates entirely through iMessage, where students already communicate daily. Users share preferences for a date — for example, “a 6’2 hot nerd that brings me flowers” or “an ABG who mastered leetcode” — along with their availability.
Ditto then sends users a message containing a complete date plan, including:
- Match details
- Time and location
- Campus-centric planning
After each date, Ditto collects feedback and uses it to refine future matches. The company says this process creates a personalized, efficient, and low-pressure experience compared to traditional dating apps.
Ditto was founded by Allen Wang and Eric Liu, two UC Berkeley undergraduates who observed friends spending hours on dating apps without forming meaningful connections.
Despite being in relationships themselves, neither founder had met partners through dating platforms, leading them to question whether the business model of dating apps prioritized engagement over successful relationships.
Ditto was built to reverse that incentive structure by focusing on successful in-person interactions rather than screen time.
User Adoption and Feedback
Since launch, Ditto has grown to more than 42,000 users across four college campuses, with over 25% of new users joining through referrals.
User feedback frequently describes the experience as:
- Efficient
- Safe
- Fun
Some users report memorable first dates, while others appreciate meeting new people without pressure, even when romantic connections do not continue.
Social Trends Driving Adoption
Ditto’s growth comes amid rising concerns about loneliness, mental health challenges, and digital fatigue among young adults. At the same time, many users are seeking experiences that encourage real-world interaction rather than additional screen time. The company positions its platform as technology that facilitates offline connection instead of replacing it.
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Expansion Plans and Events
With the new funding, Ditto plans to host 10 yacht parties across the United States in 2026, beginning in Los Angeles on Valentine’s Day.
The concept was first tested in San Francisco in October 2025. Each yacht event will host 100 college singles matched into 50 couples using Ditto’s algorithm. The company is co-hosting these events with college clubs and Greek life organizations in cities including Los Angeles, New York, and Boston.
“Ditto is leveraging AI in a creative way to build a novel online dating experience — one which resembles a true matchmaking service,” said Vig Sachidananda, Partner at Gradient. “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.”
Future Roadmap
Looking ahead, Ditto plans to expand beyond college campuses and explore additional use cases such as:
- Professional networking
- Group social experiences
The company’s long-term vision is to become a modern matchmaking platform that helps people turn intent into meaningful real-world interactions.
