Meme-based dating app Shmooze has raised $4 million in a Series A funding round led by Elevation Capital, with participation from angel investors including Ultrahuman, The Souled Store, Mosaic Wellness, and Paytm founders.
The funds will be used to boost user acquisition, scale operations, and further develop the app’s advanced AI capabilities.
Founded in 2021 by Vidya Madhavan and Abhinav Anurag, Shmooze differentiates itself by matching users based on the humor shared through memes rather than superficial attributes like appearance.
This unique approach stems from the idea that memes serve as a modern communication tool, especially for Gen Z users.
Instead of swiping based on photos, Shmooze’s advanced AI engine analyzes over a billion meme interactions to create detailed digital profiles based on users’ meme preferences and humor styles, fostering deeper, more meaningful connections.
How Schmooze’s AI Engine Works
Meme interaction analysis: The app’s AI engine examines users’ interactions with memes to understand their personality and preferences, building a digital persona that reflects their humor and interests.
Dynamic matching: Using this data, Schmooze facilitates matches that resonate with users’ comedic style, focusing on shared humor rather than appearance.
Schmooze prediction feature: The platform provides playful insights about potential matches, generating fun, light-hearted comments like “you both have annoying relatives” to break the ice and encourage conversation.
Schmooze also features an AI dating coach called Genie, which helps users improve their storytelling skills, increasing their ability to engage in authentic conversations.
Additionally, the app offers Roast AI, which simulates a conversation with a comedian, and Rant AI, a digital diary for users to vent their thoughts.
These tools are aimed at combating feelings of loneliness, even when users are not actively chatting with others.
In just ten months since its launch in India, Schmooze has attracted over one million users, and recorded nearly 900 million meme swipes.
Notably, the app has seen three times the ratio of female to male users compared to other dating platforms.
Schmooze’s focus on humour, personality compatibility, and AI-powered interactions puts it in a position to redefine the online dating experience, especially for Gen Z users who are looking for deeper, more meaningful connections.
