Ditto raises USD $9.2m for AI iMessage dating push

Ditto has secured USD 9.2 million in seed funding to develop an iMessage-based dating service specifically tailored for the university market.

The investment round was led by Peak XV Partners, with further participation from Gradient, Scribble Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Llama Venture. Positioning itself as a direct alternative to traditional swipe-based platforms, the company argues that students currently waste excessive time on digital interactions that rarely result in face-to-face encounters.

Instead of requiring a standalone application, Ditto operates entirely through iMessage, where users submit their personal preferences and availability via text. The service then generates a specific date proposal, including a designated time and a location near the user's campus.

By focusing on planning one date at a time, the system encourages users to make a definitive decision on whether to attend. Feedback collected after these meetings is then utilised to refine future matching algorithms.

The startup was founded by Allen Wang and Eric Liu, who conceptualised the service during their time as undergraduates at UC Berkeley. Since launching at UC San Diego, the platform has expanded to include UC Berkeley, USC, UCLA, and UC Davis. Ditto currently reports a user base of over 42,000 students across four campuses, noting that more than 25% of its growth is driven by organic referrals.

According to Wang, the primary objective remains moving users away from their screens and into real-world social settings.

"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, Ditto.

Wang also pointed to the company's view of current app dynamics and user experience.

"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.", said Wang.

Product approach

Ditto incorporates artificial intelligence into its matching process, allowing users to outline highly specific personal preferences within their text messages. Once these criteria are processed, the service proposes a suitable match and provides a structured plan for an in-person meeting.

This approach is designed to streamline the dating experience by removing the ambiguity often found in digital-first interactions.

Beyond the technical mechanics, the company frames its service as a response to broader societal challenges facing young adults today. By facilitating physical meetups, Ditto aims to address the growing issues of digital fatigue, loneliness, and mental health concerns that frequently characterise contemporary student dating behaviour.

Investor view

Gradient Partner Vig Sachidananda commented on the approach and early adoption. Gradient participated in the round.

"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, 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.", said Sachidananda.

Events plan

Ditto has announced that the newly acquired funding will be utilised to launch a series of yacht parties across the United States throughout 2026. The programme consists of ten scheduled events, beginning with an inaugural gathering in Los Angeles on Valentine's Day.

This initiative follows a successful pilot event held in San Francisco in October 2025, which the company described as a high-performing milestone for the brand.

For the 2026 circuit, each event is designed to host 100 single university students, who will be organised into 50 couples. To facilitate these gatherings, Ditto plans to collaborate with various campus clubs and Greek life organisations. While the series kicks off in Los Angeles, subsequent events are slated for major hubs including New York and Boston, further extending the service's physical footprint.

Expansion focus

Ditto has outlined an ambitious roadmap to expand its footprint across a broader range of university campuses. While the current focus remains on the student market, the company intends to transition beyond romantic dating in the long term.

This strategic evolution will see the platform facilitate various other forms of interpersonal connection, reflecting a move towards a more comprehensive social ecosystem.

As part of this diversification, Ditto plans to incorporate professional networking and group-based social experiences into its service. By leveraging its existing iMessage-based infrastructure, the company aims to apply its model of real-world interaction to a wider array of social and career-focused contexts, moving users away from digital-only networking and towards meaningful face-to-face engagement.