Schmooze, an AI-driven meme-based dating platform, has raised $4 million in a Series A funding round led by Elevation Capital. The round also saw participation from angel investors, including the founders of UltraHuman, The Souled Store, Mosaic Wellness, and Paytm.
The fresh funds will be used to further enhance its AI, with a continued focus on scaling user acquisition efforts.
Before this, Schmooze had raised $3.47 million in 2022 from Inventus Capital Partners and others, bringing its total funding to nearly $7.5 million.
“Schmooze was born out of the frustration we saw our peers experiencing with existing dating apps. When I was at Stanford, I noticed how tired people were of the superficial swiping culture. They wanted more than just looks; they craved a connection beyond the surface. And then it hit me—memes are the new language of connection for Gen Z. Memes are not just funny pictures; they’re windows into our personalities. So, we combined this insight with AI to create Schmooze, where your meme swipes are the key to finding your perfect match,” said Vidya Madhavan.
Commenting on the investment, Amit Aggarwal, principal at Elevation Capital, said, “Schmooze represents a fundamental evolution in the dating app market. It is designed to be the wingman Gen Zs didn’t know they needed—powered by cutting-edge AI and fueled by a rich tapestry of memes. It’s an experience matching the psyche of today’s youth, offering a vibe-check that resonates with their unique cultural language.”
Abhinav Anurag, co-founder of Schmooze, highlighted the platform’s future plans: “We are quickly expanding to other forms of content. The firm is also developing features like Roast AI, which simulates conversations with a stand-up comedian, and Rant AI, a digital diary that responds to user inputs. These additions aim to address the loneliness and social disconnection faced by Gen Z.”
Amit Aggarwal, principal at Elevation Capital, praised Schmooze’s unique approach: “Schmooze is an experience matching the psyche of today’s youth, offering a vibe-check that resonates with their unique cultural language.”
Launched in 2021 by Vidya Madhavan and Abhinav Anurag, Schmooze sets itself apart by leveraging memes and artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate connections between users based on humor and shared interests. This is meant to be an alternative to “superficial” dating focuses like looks, and is instead meant to better reflect the personality of each user by forcing them to engage in what they personally think is funny.
The platform also focuses on AI-powered features, including “Genie AI” (which acts as a dating coach) and “Roast AI” (a comedic chatbot) that are designed to enhance user interaction and offer companionship. Schmooze has already attracted over 1 million users in India and recorded 900 million meme swipes, with a higher female-to-male ratio than typical dating platforms.
