tech

February 14, 2026

A Stanford grad student created an algorithm to help his classmates find love; now, Date Drop is the basis of his new startup

"Our matches convert to actual dates at about 10x the rate of Tinder," Weng told TechCrunch.

A Stanford grad student created an algorithm to help his classmates find love; now, Date Drop is the basis of his new startup

TL;DR

  • Date Drop is a dating service created by Stanford graduate student Henry Weng, which pairs users with one compatible match weekly based on questionnaire responses.
  • The service claims a success rate for actual dates that is 10 times higher than Tinder, attributing this to a focus on deep compatibility rather than swiping.
  • Launched at Stanford, Date Drop has expanded to 10 other universities and plans broader city rollouts, with over 5,000 Stanford students using it.
  • Weng's startup, The Relationship Company, is a public benefit corporation with a long-term vision to facilitate all meaningful relationships, including friendships and professional connections.
  • Date Drop's matching model incorporates thorough questionnaires, open-ended responses, voice conversations, and data from actual date outcomes to predict compatibility.
  • Weng's academic background in matching theory and even a 'Intro to Clown' class have informed his approach to building the service and managing the startup.
  • The Relationship Company offers employees a monthly 'relationship stipend' to encourage the deepening of important relationships.

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