Asian Dating Platform KRUSH Secures Funding for US Growth

KRUSH, a dating app tailored for Asians, has secured seed funding from Mashup Ventures to accelerate its growth and expansion. While the investment amount has not been disclosed, the funds will support KRUSH’s operations in major U.S. cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as its plans to reach new international markets.

Unlike traditional dating apps, KRUSH blends matchmaking with cultural exchange. The platform offers features such as facial recognition-based matching, personalized recommendations, and offline events to foster real-world connections. Beyond dating, it includes community-driven functions like anonymous forums, fortune-telling, and friend suggestions, aiming to create a safe and interactive space for Asians living abroad.

Co-founded by Moon Kyung-shin and Hong Sung-min, KRUSH draws on the founders’ personal experiences of studying overseas and their desire to help Asians navigate social challenges abroad. Moon, an alum of Amazon and Samsung Electronics with an MBA from Columbia University, and Hong, a computer science graduate from NYU with experience in global startups, have built KRUSH to emphasize meaningful interactions and cultural connection.

While KRUSH has been around for a while, it hasn’t had much prominence due to its small scale – for example, its Google Play Store listing mentions a triple-digit download number. The hope is that Mashup Ventures’ backing will carry them forward into a wider market, and hopefully give the platform the funds it needs to expand once it is properly established in the U.S.