[ 2025-12-22 03:16:02 ] | AUTHOR: Tanmay@Fourslash | CATEGORY: STARTUPS
TITLE: Known Raises $9.7M for Voice AI Dating App
// San Francisco startup Known has raised $9.7 million to build a voice AI dating app that prioritizes in-person meetings, achieving an 80% success rate in beta tests.
- • Known secured $9.7 million in funding led by Forerunner Ventures, marking the firm's first investment in a dating app.
- • The app uses voice AI for onboarding, averaging 26 minutes per session, to create personalized matches and achieve 80% in-person date conversions in San Francisco beta tests.
- • Designed to reduce ghosting, the platform requires mutual acceptance within 24 hours and integrates restaurant booking and calendar features for first dates.
San Francisco Startup Known Secures $9.7 Million for AI-Driven Dating Platform
San Francisco-based dating startup Known has raised $9.7 million in funding to advance its voice AI-powered application aimed at facilitating more in-person dates. The investment, announced on December 19, 2025, comes from Forerunner Ventures, NFX, Pear VC and Coelius Capital. This marks Forerunner's inaugural investment in the dating sector.
Founders Celeste Amadon and Asher Allen, both Stanford dropouts, initially developed an AI tool for booking restaurants for dates. During testing, they pivoted to a broader platform after discovering users engaged deeply with voice-based onboarding, averaging 26 minutes per session—far longer than typical form-based interactions.
Voice AI Onboarding and Matching Process
Known's beta app, currently testing in San Francisco, employs voice AI to conduct dynamic interviews without requiring users to complete written forms. The system poses follow-up questions based on responses, capturing nuances that typed answers might omit due to self-editing. One user session extended to 1 hour and 38 minutes, highlighting the conversational depth.
For example, if a user mentions a recent move to the city, the AI inquires about their experiences, likes and dislikes. This data informs personalized match suggestions. Users can query AI agents about potential matches and indicate interest with a tap.
Upon mutual interest, matches must accept introductions within 24 hours and agree to a date within another 24 hours. This timeline is intended to minimize prolonged messaging, ghosting and flaky commitments, pushing users toward real-life encounters. Post-date feedback refines future recommendations.
The platform retains elements of the original restaurant booking concept, using AI to select venues aligned with user preferences. Calendar integrations help schedule initial meetings. In beta, Known charges $30 per successful date, though the company plans to test various pricing models.
Early results from San Francisco tests show 80% of introductions resulting in in-person dates—significantly higher than swipe-based apps like Tinder or Bumble.
Amadon views dating as a core generational challenge amid the U.S. loneliness epidemic. "It's our generation's largest problem," she said, emphasizing social impact at scale. Allen, with prior product experience at AI shopping app Phia, complements her background in political internships.
Known plans a broader launch in early 2026, starting beyond San Francisco.
Competitive Landscape and Industry Trends
The funding arrives amid rising AI integration in dating. Competitors like Overtone and Hinge CEO Justin McLeod's new venture also leverage AI for deeper user understanding, offering matchmaker-like services at lower costs. Established players such as Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are incorporating AI to boost engagement.
Known's emphasis on voice and in-person outcomes positions it as a response to fatigue with digital-only interactions, potentially reshaping how users approach modern dating.
Tanmay is the founder of Fourslash, an AI-first research studio pioneering intelligent solutions for complex problems. A former tech journalist turned content marketing expert, he specializes in crypto, AI, blockchain, and emerging technologies.