The industry is optimised for endless engagement. We optimised for connection.
When Victor Matt left Spotify after six years of building products that maximised engagement, he had a difficult realisation: he'd spent his career maximizing screen time. Dating apps had done the same thing — deliberately.
When he met James Whitfield at a conference in London in 2021, they had the same frustration from different angles — James from building Google's recommendation systems, Victor from product design. Six hours of conversation later, Cymbie was born.
The core thesis: build a dating app that treats relationship formation as the success metric — not session length, not swipe volume, not subscription renewals. A platform that wins when you find what you're looking for.
Five years. One mission.
The idea
Co-founders Victor Matt and James, both exhausted by mainstream dating apps, meet at a product conference in London and spend six hours asking: why does no-one design for relationships?
Building the algorithm
James leaves Google. The first version of the 7-signal compatibility engine is built in a Shoreditch flat with a team of three — two engineers and a relationship psychologist.
Private beta
Cymbie launches to 5,000 invite-only users in London and New York. 1,200 matches. 73 documented relationships in the first six months. The team knows it's working.
Global launch
Cymbie opens to 60+ countries. Warm and Ardent plans launch. 500,000 members join in the first six months. The first Cymbie wedding takes place in Toronto in October.
2 million & growing
Cymbie reaches 2 million members across 60+ countries. Labs publishes its first annual relationship research report. The team grows to 60 people across 15 countries.
Today
47,000+ documented relationships. 94% match satisfaction. A new compatibility model launching in Q3. And a team that still asks the same question every morning: does this help people find love?
Backed by
Be part of the story.
Whether you're looking for love or looking to build something that matters — there's a place for you at Cymbie.