Tinder

Gen Z Dating Apps Replace Swiping with AI Matchmaking

Ditto, a Gen Z-focused dating startup founded by Allen Wang and Eric Liu, replaces swipe mechanics with an AI-driven chatbot that onboards users via text/iMessage and delivers weekly, scheduled matches. The app emphasizes personality signal matching (rather than surface hobby overlap), sends users a time-and-place match every Wednesday at 7 p.m., and uses .edu verification while operating at several dozen colleges. Ditto reports about 150,000 signups, a 20% date-rate from its connections, 12 full-time employees, and $9.2 million in seed funding from investors including Gradient, Peak XV, and Scribble. The company combines viral marketing stunts with in-person weekly dates as its product strategy and is hiring as it tries to scale safely beyond college campuses.

Bumble pivots to IRL meetups, teases swipe-free future

Bumble announced early success for its new Plans app, which facilitates low-pressure, in-person group meetups, and signaled a strategic shift away from the traditional swipe model. CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd told investors on the company's Q2 earnings call that Plans showed "promising results" and that Bumble will lean more into real-life experiences and a new interaction model to replace the swipe. The company said it will use more AI tools behind the scenes while avoiding an "AI-driven" user experience. Bumble reported Q2 revenue of $210.5 million, down 15.2% year-over-year, and noted concerns about paying-user declines reflected in its Q3 forecast and stock reaction.

ACE campaign wins HORIZONT 'Creation of the Month'

HORIZONT readers voted the ACE (Auto Club Europa) brand campaign developed by Serviceplan as July's "Creation of the Month", winning 74.5% of votes. The runner-up was Accenture Song’s campaign for digital bank Chase (17.3%), followed by Penny’s Malle-song by Charles & Charlotte (2.2%). The top five also included AOK’s film "Nah bei dir" by KNSK (1.6%) and Ottobock’s "Dear AI" by Presence (1.3%). McDonald’s World Cup campaign featuring Bastian Schweinsteiger (Scholz & Friends) received no votes. The article also announces that the August voting has started, listing participating brands and their agencies.