Stoke Prepares Miami Launch of Location-Based Dating and Social App

Stoke, a new dating and social app founded by Kevin Battista, is preparing to launch in Miami. The app helps people meet for dating or friendship at bars, cafés, gyms, and other venues. Rather than matching people who may never meet, Stoke focuses on connecting users who are already at the same location.

Users create a profile and see a map showing participating venues and how many people are there. Once they arrive, they check in and indicate whether they are interested in dating or friendship.

Stoke is free for users. The company plans to generate revenue by charging participating venues for bringing in customers. Its business model combines dating and social discovery with customer acquisition for local businesses.

Founder and CEO Kevin Battista describes himself as a two-time founder with more than 15 years of experience building technology products across product development, design and engineering. He previously co-founded Artha and worked as Head of Product at Thirty Capital.

Stoke was founded in 2026 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The startup is currently raising a pre-seed funding round. It says it is backed by experienced founders.

Stoke will test the app at a dating event across five venues in Miami’s Wynwood neighbourhood on November 7. Participating locations include the Sylvester cocktail lounge, Sürenitea Wellness Kava Bar and White Elephant cocktail bar. A wider launch is planned for January 2027, with a target of 60 participating businesses across the Miami area.

Source: Axios Miami