Ditto Raises $9.2M to Expand iMessage College Matchmaking
Ditto, an iMessage-based dating service focused on college students, has announced a $9.2 million seed funding round aimed at expanding to more college capuses. The round was led by Peak XV Partners and included participation from Gradient, Scribble Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Llama Venture. The Berkeley-based startup plans to use the capital to expand beyond its current campuses and refine its model of planning real, in-person dates without swiping or prolonged messaging.
Founded by UC Berkeley undergraduates Allen Wang (CEO) and Eric Liu, Ditto launched initially at UC San Diego and has since grown to UC Berkeley, USC, UCLA, and UC Davis, reaching more than 42,000 users. The service operates entirely through iMessage, where users share preferences (e.g., personality traits, physical attributes, or specific interests) and availability. Ditto then curates one date at a time, providing details including time, location, and match information, centered around campus proximity. After each date, users provide feedback to improve future suggestions.
“Our goal was to build something that actually helps people go on dates, not stay stuck in an app,” said Allen Wang, CEO and co-founder. “When you remove swiping and chatting, you remove a lot of the toxicity and anxiety that people associate with online dating. We plan the date, people show up, and real connections have a chance to form. 20% of our matches turned into actual dates.”
The company cites widespread fatigue with traditional swipe-based apps as a key driver of its approach. It notes that platforms like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble often require extensive messaging before meetings occur, with users reporting high rates of burnout. Ditto aims to eliminate this layer by focusing solely on outcomes: getting people to meet in person. The startup reports strong referral growth (over 25% of users) and positive feedback on reduced pressure and more authentic interactions.
To kick off 2026, Ditto is hosting 10 yacht parties across U.S. cities starting Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles. Each event will match 100 college singles into 50 blind-date couples, co-hosted with campus clubs and Greek organizations. The company describes the parties as a continuation of its earlier San Francisco event in October 2025.
