Georgetown Students Launch Safety-Focused Dating App Cerca

A new dating app developed by two Georgetown University students is reimagining how college students connect online. Cerca, created by Myles Slayton and Willy Conzelman (both CAS ’25), alongside USC senior Carter Rocket-Munk, focuses on safety and familiarity by only matching users who share mutual contacts.

Unlike mainstream dating platforms that prioritize volume and anonymity, Cerca connects users through their phone contacts, fostering a network-based approach. While contacts aren’t notified, the app shows users which friends they share with potential matches. “When you have the ability to ask your friend who’s the mutual, ‘Hey, should I go on a date with this guy? Is he normal?’ Having your best friend’s vetting process, it’s obviously a clear winner,” Slayton explained.

The emphasis on safety was a key driver for the app’s creation, with Conzelman citing disturbing personal anecdotes that underscored the risks of meeting strangers through traditional platforms. Cerca introduces several features aimed at minimizing those risks: users are limited in how many profiles they can swipe through each day, and screenshotting is disabled to protect privacy. Repeat attempts to screenshot result in bans.

Cerca also offers a unique daily match reveal at 8 p.m., which aims to reduce anxiety and uncertainty around who liked whose profile first. The team hopes this scheduled approach will encourage more confident interactions.

Currently hosting between 10,000 and 12,000 users and facilitating hundreds of matches daily, Cerca plans to grow its user base through university events and a summer expansion in New York City. Future developments may include platonic matchmaking and features allowing friends to match others.