AI Dates: Get More IRL Dates with Voice AI – Is Known the Future of Dating?
The dating app landscape is constantly evolving, but one thing remains consistent: people crave genuine connection. For years, swipe-based apps have dominated, but a growing number of users are expressing fatigue with superficial interactions. Enter Known, a San Francisco-based startup leveraging the power of voice AI to facilitate more meaningful, in-person dates. Founded by Celeste Amadon and Asher Allen, Known isn’t just another dating app; it’s a reimagining of how we find love in the digital age. This article dives deep into Known’s innovative approach, its recent $9.7 million funding round, and the broader trend of AI in dating.
From Restaurant Booking to Real-Life Connections: The Genesis of Known
Interestingly, Known didn’t start as a dating app. Amadon and Allen initially focused on using AI to streamline restaurant bookings for dates. However, during the development of a voice-powered AI onboarding system for this initial app, they discovered something remarkable. Users loved to talk. The average onboarding session clocked in at an impressive 26 minutes, far exceeding expectations and revealing a desire for more conversational interaction. This insight sparked a pivotal shift in their vision, leading to the birth of Known.
“Our take is that for the first time, we could know enough about somebody to serve them a date that would make sense. And if we could do that much faster with less rejection rate, we could create a user experience that could get people out on more dates,” explains Amadon. This focus on understanding users beyond surface-level profiles is at the heart of Known’s strategy.
The Power of Voice AI: A Deeper Dive into Known’s Onboarding Process
Known’s core differentiator lies in its voice AI-powered onboarding. Unlike traditional dating apps that rely on lengthy forms and curated profiles, Known engages users in natural conversations. This approach yields significantly richer data, allowing the AI to understand nuances and preferences that would typically remain hidden. Users have even spent as long as 1 hour and 38 minutes in the onboarding process, demonstrating a willingness to engage and share.
Why Voice Matters
The choice of voice as the primary onboarding modality is deliberate. Known found that when users typed their responses, they tended to edit and refine them, potentially presenting an idealized version of themselves. Voice, on the other hand, feels more personable and authentic. The AI can ask dynamic follow-up questions based on the conversation, uncovering deeper insights into a user’s personality, interests, and values. For example, if a user recently moved to the city, the AI can inquire about their experiences and preferences.
Impressive Results: 80% of Introductions Lead to Dates
Early results from Known’s beta testing in San Francisco are incredibly promising. The startup reports that 80% of its introductions result in physical dates – a significantly higher rate than traditional swipe-based dating apps. This success rate is a key factor in attracting investors, including Forerunner, NFX, PearVC, and Coelius Capital, who collectively contributed $9.7 million in funding. This marks Forerunner’s first investment in a dating app, highlighting the potential they see in Known’s innovative approach.
Investor Perspective: Understanding the Female Demographic
Eurie Kim, a partner at Forerunner, emphasized the importance of Amadon’s understanding of the target demographic. “Celeste is a really thoughtful founder to understand the mindset of the consumer, which is a young female, to be honest. There are other people who can be focused on the male demographic, but she is focused on the young female who has a lot of unspoken desires and needs that, if you put them in a profile, they would never say.” Kim believes that conversational AI is uniquely positioned to uncover these nuances, offering a more effective matching process than traditional profile-based systems.
Addressing the Loneliness Epidemic
Amadon is driven by a desire to address a significant societal issue. “There’s been a million pieces written about the loneliness epidemic in the U.S. And I do really think that it’s our generation’s largest problem,” she states. She and Allen dropped out of Stanford to dedicate themselves to building Known, demonstrating their commitment to solving this problem at scale.
How Known Works: From Onboarding to Date Confirmation
Here’s a breakdown of the Known experience:
- Voice AI Onboarding: Users engage in a conversational onboarding process, answering questions and sharing their preferences.
- AI-Powered Matching: The AI analyzes the data collected during onboarding to suggest potential matches.
- Profile Exploration: Users can ask AI agents about potential matches to learn more.
- Expressing Interest: If a user likes a profile, they can tap “interested.”
- Introduction & Date Scheduling: When two people match, they have 24 hours to accept the introduction and another 24 hours to agree on a date.
- Feedback Loop: After the date, users provide feedback to the AI, refining future recommendations.
Known also incorporates its original idea of restaurant recommendations, helping users choose a suitable venue for their first date. The app integrates with calendars to facilitate easy scheduling. During the beta phase, the company charged $30 per successful date, but is exploring different pricing models.
The Team Behind Known and Future Plans
Currently, Known has a team of three full-time engineers and four people focused on go-to-market, supplemented by several contractors. Amadon, with her background in politics, and Allen, who previously worked on product at AI-powered shopping app Phia, plan to expand the team with the recent funding. Known is currently in beta testing in San Francisco and plans to launch more broadly early next year.
The Rise of AI in Dating: Competition and Opportunity
Known isn’t alone in exploring the potential of AI in the dating space. Other startups, including Hinge CEO Justin McLeod’s new app Overtone, are also leveraging AI to improve matching accuracy. Even established players like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge are integrating AI features to enhance user engagement. However, Amadon views the competition as a positive sign.
“When it comes to other startup dating products, I’ve been so happy to see a lot of people building in the space because I think it shows that it’s time to shift away from a swipe-based model. And I think most of them that I’ve seen have been pretty different from what we’re building at Known,” she says.
The Future of Dating: Beyond the Swipe
Known represents a significant departure from the traditional dating app model. By prioritizing authentic conversation and leveraging the power of voice AI, the startup is attempting to address the shortcomings of swipe-based apps and create a more meaningful dating experience. The impressive early results and strong investor backing suggest that Known is well-positioned to disrupt the industry and help people forge genuine connections in the real world. As the loneliness epidemic continues to impact society, innovative solutions like Known are more important than ever. The future of dating may very well be powered by AI, but it will be defined by the human connections it enables.
GearTech will continue to follow Known’s progress and provide updates on the evolving landscape of AI-powered dating.