AI Dating Startup Amata Launches with $6M in Funding

A new dating app called Amata is launching in the U.S. with a twist: there’s no swiping, no inbox full of messages. Instead, users interact with an AI “matchmaker” that asks questions about preferences and then connects them with a potential match, handling logistics and communication in a more constrained way.

When a user is matched, they purchase a “token” (currently priced at $16) to trigger the AI’s date planning functionality. From there, Amata designs the date – selecting a time and place tailored to users’ locations and preferences. A direct message channel opens only two hours before the scheduled meeting; until then, there is no conventional chat history.

Amata also includes built-in rules to discourage no-shows and spur intentionality. If a user cancel twice in succession, their ability to receive new match recommendations is paused for a week. Cancelled tokens, however, are not forfeited and are banked for future use. CEO Ludovic Huraux said: “We don’t want people who are not emotionally available, who are on dating apps just for their ego boost … It’s about intentionality.”

Amata’s U.S. launch begins in New York, after a preliminary testing phase in Australia. The startup has raised $6 million in pre-seed funding, and operates with a small team split across New York and Paris. This approach marks a more curated, end-to-end AI experience intended to streamline what many see as the friction-filled parts of online dating.

In the broader context, Amata joins a wave of emerging apps and updates from incumbents exploring AI-driven matchmaking. Traditional swiping models have faced criticism for fostering superficial engagement and burnout; in response, companies are experimenting with more guided, minimal-interaction formats meant to provide the same intentional feel as a conventional date.