Founded by former Tinder executive Taru Kapoor, the app opens in the United States on Oct. 8. It uses volunteer matchers to assess profiles and offer users a smaller set of potential partners.
Rivet, a dating app founded by former Tinder executive Taru Kapoor, is due to open to US users on Oct. 8. Rather than asking people to scroll through long lists of profiles, it invites volunteers from the community to assess whether strangers might be compatible, then offers users a smaller set of potential matches.
Kapoor said Rivet’s algorithm proposes pairings based on profile information, after which volunteer “matchers” review both profiles and vote. People with high scores are matched and can choose to start a conversation. Kapoor says the approach is intended to surface people users might otherwise pass over while quickly swiping through hundreds of profiles.
The New York-based company has raised US$10.5 million in seed funding and tested the service in selected markets. Rivet is available on iOS and Android. Joining is free, but some features cost money. Users can pay in “karma” points to message someone before the community has matched them. A pack of 3,000 points costs US$9.99.
A visualisation feature places two users’ profile photos side by side to help compare what the company calls their “vibe” and height compatibility. Points earned for successful introductions can be exchanged for profile perks, direct introductions, cash rewards or gift cards. Rivet also plans leaderboards, live matching events and promotions that cover part of a first date.
Rivet is entering a market where major apps are trying to win back people tired of swiping. Bumble and Tinder have added in-person events, and Bumble has also introduced AI-assisted matchmaking. In 2025, television personality Bethenny Frankel launched The Core, which offers peer-selected matches. Whether community curation can attract a large user base remains uncertain.