Dating App ‘Left Field’ Secures Investment on Shark Tank
Left Field, a location-based dating app emphasizing organic in-person meet-cutes over traditional swiping, appeared on the January 21, 2026, episode of ABC’s Shark Tank, securing funding from guest investors Kendra Scott and Alexis Ohanian. During the episode, Sieler and Martin sought $200,000 for a 5% stake. After discussions, they accepted a joint offer from Scott and Ohanian of $200,000 for 8% equity plus 4% advisory shares.
Founders Kate Sieler and Samantha Martin pitched the app, which launched in February 2025 and reported around 5,000 users at the time of filming. Left Field uses AI to identify compatibility through shared social overlaps – such as mutual friends, frequented locations, hometowns, neighborhoods, or college towns – rather than endless profile browsing. Users receive limited, curated “drops” (typically two per week) with personalized notes explaining the connection, aiming to foster introductions that feel like setups from friends.
The platform prioritizes proximity and shared contexts to encourage real-world interactions, positioning itself as an antidote to swipe fatigue prevalent on apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge. This approach echoes earlier location-aware services like Happn (launched in 2014), but Left Field differentiates by limiting match volume, emphasizing trust through mutual connections, and avoiding algorithmic overload.
The Shark Tank appearance has driven visibility for Left Field amid ongoing industry efforts to revive authentic connections in dating apps. While there’s no word on what the investment will be used for in the future – whether it’s expanding the app’s feature set or simply trying to reach a larger market – the recent rise in intentional dating habits could provide the perfect envrionment for Left Field to see further success.
