London Dating App Sonder Debuts Mood-Board Matching

A new London-based dating app called Sonder is attempting to disrupt formulaic matchmaking by replacing prompt responses with a visual “canvas” model, where users build personality boards that guide matches. Launched in June 2025, Sonder has already been staging promotional events in the capital to drive awareness.

Sonder was founded by Mehedi Hassan and Lenard Pratt, designer Helen Sun and marketing lead Hannah Kin. The idea is to let users express themselves through curated imagery rather than filling in survey-style questions. Hassan described it metaphorically: “It’s like Pinterest and Myspace had a baby, it’s very old school.”

In practical terms, each user builds a “canvas” – essentially a mood board of interests, styles, and aesthetics. The app then matches people whose canvases align, rather than ranking profiles or relying on paid boosts. According to the founders, this model is intended to reduce surface-level biases and emphasize creativity and compatibility.

The app deliberately omits dating-specific prompts. In the words of Kin, “All these prompts kind of prime and frame you to have the same conversations with different people.” Hassan added that apps like Hinge can feel exhausting because they turn dating into a checklist of traits: “It feels quite exhausting.” Sonder is currently free, without subscription tiers, and its algorithm rewards those who invest effort in crafting their board, given that richer data helps the app’s matching logic.

Looking ahead, Sonder plans to broaden its scope beyond romance. A friendship mode is slated to launch toward the end of October, reflecting the team’s belief that the canvas concept applies to platonic connections as well. For now, the app is available only on iOS.