Known uses voice AI to help you go on more in-person dates
Celeste Amadon and Asher Allen initially set out to build an app that leveraged AI to book restaurants for dates but soon discovered a larger opportunity to foster meaningful in-person connections. This realization led to the creation of Known, a San Francisco-based dating startup that utilizes voice-powered AI for user onboarding.
Voice AI-driven onboarding for deeper user understanding
Known's innovative onboarding process replaces traditional forms with an interactive voice AI system, allowing users to speak freely about themselves. This approach not only makes the experience more natural but also yields richer information — users averaged 26 minutes per onboarding session, with some spending over an hour and a half. This format helps surface nuanced preferences and personal details that users wouldn't typically disclose in writing.
Encouraging in-person dates and reducing ghosting
After gathering comprehensive profiles through voice conversations, Known's AI suggests potential matches. Users can inquire deeper about these profiles and express interest. Once matched, there's a 24-hour window to accept introductions and schedule dates, aiming to prevent prolonged messaging and ghosting. Results from Known's San Francisco beta indicate that about 80% of introductions result in actual in-person dates—significantly higher than swipe-based apps.
Funding and team growth
Based on these promising early outcomes, Known has secured $9.7 million from investors such as Forerunner, NFX, Pear VC, and Coelius Capital. This funding will support expanding the core team, which currently includes three full-time engineers and four go-to-market staff, plus various contractors. Amadon and Allen, who both left Stanford to focus on Known, plan to launch publicly early next year.
Additional features and business model
While the core focus is on matchmaking, Known also integrates restaurant recommendations tailored to users’ preferences and syncs with calendar availability for scheduling first dates seamlessly. During beta testing, the startup charged $30 per successful date, although it intends to explore different pricing strategies moving forward.
Positioning in a growing AI dating market
Known operates alongside several emerging apps that leverage AI to enhance matchmaking, including platforms founded by industry veterans. Unlike traditional swipe apps, these new entrants aim to provide personalized, matchmaker-like experiences on a broader scale and lower cost. Existing dating giants like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge are also adding AI-powered features to keep users engaged. Amadon welcomes this competition, emphasizing that it's time to move beyond swipe-centered models.
The vision: Tackling loneliness at scale
Celeste Amadon is motivated by a desire to address the loneliness epidemic affecting her generation. Known’s approach represents an attempt to build deeper, more meaningful connections by harnessing conversational AI and encouraging face-to-face meetings, which she believes is a crucial step forward.
For the full article, see the original post on TechCrunch.
