The newest addition to the dating app's scene is Cheers, a new matchmaking app, which has just introduced itself to New York City users. Founded by former Instagram engineer Sahil Ahuja, Cheer aims for fame because it provides features such as friend-matchmaking and social posting to help users form new connections.

Cheers (where almost everybody knows your name) puts a twist to all the usual mechanics of dating apps. Users can just swipe their way through profiles and engage in direct messaging while leveraging their existing friend network to play matchmaker by letting users swipe on behalf of friends, share profiles, and request an introduction, which has made the awkwardness of online meetings with potential matches largely disappear.

However, Cheers is also integrated with social media photo sharing and allows users to upload unlimited pictures, a common request from most other dating apps, who can allow only six to seven photos. Ahuja thinks that by adding unlimited pictures featured on the user's Instagram-style profile, it will enhance the overall experience and make the dating app more social. It also helps during vetting because one could be tagged in one of your friend's photos.

I have spoken to many women who felt that it was quite a benefit to them if they see people on there with a friend, it validates that, you know, this is a legit person and they are not sketchy. Would be all right to go out with them in real life," Ahuja said to TechCrunch.

Ahuja spent four years at Instagram before taking the leap into the startup world to create his web3 company, Soho, which was sold to Sound last year. It has always been his dream to build Cheers, but first, he wanted to get experience on his resume from Instagram. In a way, Instagram is its own dating app. More and more users are turning to the app to "slide into the DMs" of their latest crush.

The concept of a friend-matching app is also not new. Tinder tried it in 2023 with Tinder Matchmaker, and Bumble has its Recommend feature to friends. Startups Loop and Wingman also work on the same principles.

Though friend matchmaking is no new concept, Cheers seems reflective of the shifting behavior of online daters-people begin to attract towards more real connections. What better way to assure they'll find a decent match other than leaning on close friends to know them best?

Unlike the distant connections users might follow on Instagram or Facebook, Cheers takes it to a personalized level. Users are required to invite others from their contact list, emphasizing a more intentional way of connecting. For instance, the app allows a user to view only three matches per day, which actually promotes deliberate and purposeful dating interactions so that users' experiences take precedence.

While many dating apps are trying out AI, Cheers is using the ChatGPT to determine which photos should be posted and come up with their captions. The users are even assisted in setting up their profiles by AI. It does not, however, accept AI-generated profile images.

Today, Ahuja is working alone on Cheers and won't be marketing the app to new markets or hire anyone at such a time as the features of the app were improved. He says there will be some paid features going forward but isn't keen to wait until then to reach 5,000 users.
Currently, it has managed to accumulate 150 signups, and signups require an invitation from friends to use. It is only available for iOS, for now.