Hinge CEO Justin McLeod exits to launch AI dating app Overtone

Hinge founder and CEO Justin McLeod has announced that he is stepping down from his position and will launch a new venture — Overtone. McLeod revealed that Overtone is an AI-driven dating platform spun out of the Match Group.

As part of the transition, Jackie Jantos, currently Hinge's president and chief marketing officer, has been promoted to chief executive officer. McLeod, who founded Hinge in 2011, will remain an advisor to Hinge through March to support the transition. Match Group will continue to invest in Hinge's momentum and in Overtone's development as part of its strategy to shape the future of the category through responsible AI and real-world outcomes.

Leadership transition at Hinge

As CEO, Jackie Jantos will lead Hinge into its next phase of growth, building on four years of leadership across brand, culture, and product strategy. Under her tenure as President and CMO, Hinge expanded into Europe and Latin America, introduced new product innovations rooted in user insights, and strengthened its cultural relevance with Gen Z, which now represents Hinge's largest audience globally."Justin has been an extraordinary innovator and world-class founder, taking Hinge from an early idea to a global leader in intentional dating," said Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Match Group.

"We're proud to have incubated Overtone within Hinge and to now lead its funding round as he builds his next venture. With a strong foundation and leadership team in place, Hinge is poised for its next chapter under Jackie's leadership, focused on continued growth and innovation.

""Building Hinge has been the privilege of my life, and I'm incredibly proud of what the team has created," said McLeod. "The company's momentum, including being on track to reach $1 billion in revenue by 2027, gives me full confidence in where Hinge is headed.

I'm grateful for Spencer and Match Group's continued support and excited for what comes next."

Launch of Overtone

McLeod revealed that his new company — Overtone will work independently but will get strategic support from Match Group. The dating app is said to useAI-powered personalization to improve matchmaking, focusing on deeper compatibility and conversational chemistry rather than surface-level swipes.According to McLeod, Overtone will use advanced AI to help users craft more authentic profiles and generate meaningful introductions. The platform is designed to reduce the friction of online dating by offering smarter suggestions and context-aware interactions.Match Group plans to lead Overtone's initial funding round in early 2026 and hold a substantial ownership position.