Hinge CEO leaves company to lead new AI-powered dating app: All the details

Hinge

Hinge founder Justin McLeod is stepping away from the company he created more than a decade ago to focus on a brand new dating app built around artificial intelligence. McLeod, who launched Hinge in 2011 and turned it into one of the most popular dating platforms in the world, will now lead a new venture called Overtone.

Hinge’s parent company, Match Group, announced that McLeod will be replaced by Jackie Jantos, who currently serves as the app’s president and chief marketing officer. McLeod will continue to advise Hinge until March, giving the company time to transition under new leadership.

In a statement, McLeod said he feels confident about the future of Hinge, especially with the app on track to reach $1 billion in revenue by 2027. He added that the timing feels right to focus on his next idea. That idea is Overtone, a dating service designed to use AI and voice technology to help people connect in a more meaningful and personal way.

McLeod has already been working on Overtone with a dedicated team throughout this year. The project was incubated inside Hinge with support from Match Group, which will also lead Overtone’s first funding round in early 2026. Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff called the new venture an exciting step and said the company is proud to back McLeod’s next chapter. Match Group, which also owns Tinder and several other dating platforms, will hold a significant ownership stake in Overtone.

The move marks a major shift for both McLeod and Hinge. Under his leadership, Hinge positioned itself as “the dating app designed to be deleted,” focusing on long term connections rather than casual swipes. With Overtone, McLeod wants to take that vision further using new technology that could change how people meet online.

As Hinge enters a new phase under Jantos and Overtone prepares for launch, Match Group is betting that AI powered dating could be the next big leap in the industry. McLeod’s transition signals that he believes the future of dating apps will look very different from the past decade, and he wants to be the one to shape it.