Dating startup Rivet has raised $10.5 million in seed funding from Peak XV Partners, Shine Capital, and Blume Ventures to build and scale its community-driven matchmaking platform across the US, the company announced this week. Founded in 2025 by former Tinder executive Taru Kapoor and Rajat Sahni, Rivet launched nationwide in the US yesterday, aiming to expand its user base and product offerings.
Rivet’s platform operates on a “social matching” model where users can join as “matchers” to recommend potential pairs based on community assessments. These recommendations generate a social matching score that determines which pairs are introduced. After introductions, individuals independently decide whether to connect. The startup’s engineering and machine learning teams are primarily based in India, with an office in Delhi NCR. Former Tinder and OkCupid CEO Elie Seidman is among Rivet’s early investors and advised Kapoor during the platform’s development, according to inc42.com.
The funding round highlights growing investor interest in niche dating platforms that leverage community engagement rather than algorithm-only matchmaking. Rivet’s approach contrasts with traditional dating apps by emphasizing user-driven recommendations and a “give-to-get” model, where users help others find matches while receiving suggestions themselves. This positions Rivet to compete with established players like Tinder and OkCupid by offering a differentiated social experience in the crowded US dating market.
Rivet plans to deploy the fresh capital to enhance its product, expand distribution channels, and scale operations across the US. The startup’s nationwide launch and $10.5 million seed raise mark key milestones as it seeks to grow its footprint in the competitive dating app sector, according to inc42.com.