Founded in 2021 by Vidya Madhavan and Abhinav Anurag, the Bengaluru-based startup believes that existing dating apps, which prioritise matching users only on appearance, lead to poor-quality connections. To solve this problem, they launched Schmooze, a dating app which focuses on personality over physical appearance. The platform leverages memes to connect users with similar humour, aiming to foster deeper connections based on shared interests and personality traits. Interestingly, this approach resonates particularly with Gen Z users, who prefer more meaningful interactions over the superficial swipe culture common on other platforms.

Schmooze, a meme-based dating app that uses AI to match users based on humour and personality traits, has raised $4 million in a Series A funding round led by Elevation Capital. The round also saw participation from prominent angel investors, such as the founders of Ultrahuman, The Souled Store, Mosaic Wellness, and Paytm. The startup plans to use the capital raised to expand the app's user acquisition efforts and enhance its AI-driven features. “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," Vidya Madhavan said.

Schmooze’s AI engine plays a key role in enhancing user engagement. One of the platform's standout features is its AI-driven dating coach, 'Genie,' which provides personalized insights and helps users navigate the dating experience. Additionally, Schmooze offers quirky features like "Roast AI," which simulates conversations with a stand-up comedian, and "Rant AI," a digital diary that responds to users' thoughts and emotions, giving users a sense of companionship even when not directly interacting with others. “We've realised that the power of content in unifying people and understanding if they can vibe together is immense and universal. While we began with memes, we’re quickly expanding to other forms of content,” Anurag noted, signaling the company’s plans to diversify its content offerings beyond memes. Since its launch, Schmooze claims to have attracted over one million users and witnessed more than 900 million meme swipes. The startup also claims to have 3x better female-to-male user ratio compared to other mainstream dating platforms, a significant achievement in the competitive online dating market. Schmooze’s founders attribute the app's success to its ability to break the mold of traditional dating apps, which often emphasize appearances over compatibility. The AI engine, which evolves with each user interaction, creates personalized digital profiles that help users find matches based on their unique sense of humor and personality, rather than looks.