Hinge founder Justin McLeod is stepping down as CEO after 14 years to launch Overtone, an AI-powered dating startup that promises to revolutionize how people connect online. The move comes as Match Group backs his new venture while Hinge races toward $1 billion in annual revenue by 2027.
The dating app industry just got its biggest shake-up in years. Justin McLeod, who built Hinge from a college dorm room idea into a billion-dollar dating empire, is walking away from the CEO chair to bet everything on artificial intelligence. His new startup, Overtone, promises to use AI and voice technology to create deeper, more meaningful connections than traditional swipe-based apps.
The timing couldn't be more intriguing. Match Group, Hinge's parent company, announced Tuesday that McLeod will be replaced by Jackie Jantos, currently serving as president and chief marketing officer. But here's the twist - instead of treating this as a competitive threat, Match is actually incubating and funding McLeod's new venture.
"The company's momentum, including being on track to reach $1 billion in revenue by 2027, gives me full confidence in where Hinge is headed," McLeod said in the official announcement. It's a rare move - a CEO leaving at the peak of success to chase the next big thing.
McLeod spent much of 2025 quietly developing Overtone with a dedicated team inside Hinge's walls. The startup will use AI and voice tools to "help people connect in a more thoughtful and personal way," moving beyond the endless swiping that has defined online dating for over a decade. While details remain scarce, the focus on voice technology suggests Overtone might prioritize actual conversations over profile pictures and clever bios.
Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff will join Overtone's board, and the company plans to lead the startup's initial funding round in early 2026. "We're proud to have incubated Overtone within Hinge and to now lead its funding round as he builds his next venture," Rascoff said. The arrangement gives Match significant ownership in what could become its next major platform.
This corporate backing represents a fascinating strategic bet. Dating apps have struggled with user fatigue as people grow tired of endless swiping and shallow connections. Bumble has experimented with voice notes, while Tinder added video features, but no major player has fully embraced AI as the core matchmaking engine.
McLeod's departure comes as Hinge rides an unprecedented growth wave. The app, originally launched in 2012 as a friend-of-friends platform, reinvented itself in 2016 as the dating app "designed to be deleted." That positioning helped it capture users seeking serious relationships rather than casual hookups, setting it apart in a crowded market.
