Dating App Cerca Aims to Reshape Gen Z’s Approach to Romance
The dating landscape, particularly for young adults, is often described as challenging. Recognizing this, Myles Slayton, along with Willy Conzelman and Carter Munk, developed Cerca, a dating app designed with Gen Z in mind. Addressing concerns about trust and the fear of rejection prevalent among this generation, Cerca focuses on connecting users through mutual acquaintances.
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Official guidance: IEEE — official guidance for Dating app Cerca show how Gen United Kingdom Overview
The Genesis of Cerca: Addressing Gen Z’s Dating Needs
Slayton observed during a banking internship in New York City that he and his peers struggled to find meaningful connections through existing dating apps. He noted that many popular dating apps were originally designed for millennials, while Gen Z often prefers to meet potential partners through existing social circles. This observation led to the creation of Cerca, which aims to replicate the experience of meeting someone through friends or acquaintances.
The app’s core concept revolves around building trust and mitigating the fear of rejection. Slayton believes that the internet and the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to a sense of distrust among strangers, making it harder for Gen Z to connect with new people. Cerca seeks to address this by limiting potential matches to friends or friends of friends, fostering a sense of familiarity and safety.
How Cerca Works: Leveraging Social Connections
Cerca operates by having users create a standard dating profile and then sync their contacts. The app then displays only profiles of friends or friends of friends who are also on the platform. This approach aims to eliminate the anxiety associated with interacting with complete strangers. To further reduce the fear of rejection, all likes are kept anonymous.
The app limits users to four swipes per day, a deliberate choice intended to encourage more thoughtful consideration of each profile. Slayton argues that the endless swiping prevalent on other dating apps can lead to fatigue and a superficial approach to finding a partner. Cerca prioritizes presenting information about shared connections before displaying background information and photos, emphasizing personality and social context over purely physical attraction.
Safety and Privacy Features
Cerca incorporates several features designed to enhance user safety and privacy. Users can select which contacts they want to share with the app and block specific individuals from seeing their profiles. The app also includes measures to prevent screenshotting and screen recording, protecting users’ personal information. The emphasis on shared connections allows users to vet potential dates by consulting mutual friends.
Slayton also mentioned the ability to filter out certain keywords from profiles, offering users additional control over the types of people they encounter. The app notifies users when someone likes their profile, but the identity of the person remains hidden. Cerca’s algorithm then prioritizes the profile of the person who liked them in the feed of the potential match, prompting them to decide whether to reciprocate the interest. Matches are revealed each evening, keeping the initiator’s identity a secret until both parties express mutual interest.
Cerca’s Trajectory and Future Plans
Cerca has garnered attention since its launch, securing $1.6 million in seed funding. The app currently has approximately 60,000 users, primarily in New York and at various universities. The company participated in Startup Battlefield and showcased its technology at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco.
Beyond the digital realm, Cerca is expanding its presence through merchandise and events. Slayton and his co-founders see their participation in Startup Battlefield as an opportunity to present a positive vision for dating to a wider audience. By focusing on trust, safety, and meaningful connections, Cerca aims to offer Gen Z a more fulfilling and less anxiety-ridden dating experience.
In conclusion, Cerca represents a deliberate effort to address the specific dating needs and concerns of Gen Z. By leveraging existing social connections and prioritizing safety and privacy, the app seeks to create a more trustworthy and less intimidating environment for young people seeking romantic relationships.
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