Why We Built Mustartlove
In 2022, Vince Wang was attending his third networking event in as many weeks, surrounded by hundreds of interesting people yet feeling genuinely disconnected. He kept noticing that despite all the dating apps and social platforms available, people were still struggling to find meaningful connections with others who truly shared their values, passions, and life goals.
The problem wasn't access to people — it was the lack of context. Traditional dating apps optimized for visual attraction and location, but what about the things that actually make relationships last? What about shared love of early morning trail runs, weekend pottery classes, or the conviction that experiences matter more than things?
Vince assembled a small team of engineers, relationship psychologists, and community designers in early 2023. Their mission: build a platform where the first conversation isn't "hey" but "did you also just finish that hiking trail last weekend?" Where compatibility isn't just a percentage score but a living, growing reflection of who you are and how you want to spend your time.
After 18 months of research, iterative development, and closed beta testing with 50,000 users across seven cities, Mustartlove launched publicly in January 2025. Within the first quarter, users were spending an average of 38 minutes per session engaging in community activities and conversations.
Our Mission & Values
Authenticity First
We build features that encourage genuine self-expression and reward honest profiles over curated facades.
Community Driven
Connections form most naturally within communities. We create spaces where relationships emerge organically.
Safety Always
Every feature we ship is evaluated through a safety lens first. Our users’ wellbeing is never traded for engagement metrics.
Backed By
We are proud to be supported by investors who share our vision for a more connected world.
Great North Ventures$2,500,000 Seed Round — 2025
Great North Ventures is a Minneapolis-based early-stage venture capital firm focused on transformative technology companies in the Midwest and beyond. Their support validates our approach to reimagining how people form meaningful connections through technology and shared experiences.