Sonder
In short: Sonder is a London dating app, launched in June 2025, that replaces prompts with an unstructured mood-board style profile and holds in-person events. Its founders include Mehedi Hassan and Lenard Pratt. TechCrunch reported about 6,500 London users in April 2026, and the founders refuse AI profile-generation tools.
Key facts
| Type | Dating app |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Headquarters | Sonder is a dating app based in London [TechCrunch, 1 April 2026] |
| Launch | Sonder launched in June 2025 [Global Dating Insights, 10 October 2025] |
| Users | Sonder had about 6,500 users in London, acquired without paid marketing [TechCrunch, 1 April 2026] |
| Funding | Sonder had not raised outside funding and its founders worked on it part-time [TechCrunch, 1 April 2026] |
| Founder | Mehedi Hassan and Lenard Pratt are named as founders, with Helen Sun and Hannah Kin also on the team [Global Dating Insights, 10 October 2025] |
| Fact | Sonder hosts recurring in-person events including Speed Drawing, Presentation Night and a Performative Male Contest [TechCrunch, 1 April 2026] |
About Sonder
Sonder is a dating app based in London. Instead of structured prompts, members build an unstructured profile that works like a mood board or digital collage. Global Dating Insights reported that it launched in June 2025, was free with no subscription tiers, and was available on iOS only at that time.
The team behind the app includes Mehedi Hassan and Lenard Pratt, named as founders in Global Dating Insights, with Helen Sun and Hannah Kin also named. TechCrunch described all four as friends in their mid-twenties who were working on Sonder part-time alongside other jobs. In April 2026 TechCrunch reported about 6,500 users in London, acquired without paid marketing, and said Sonder had not raised outside funding. Hassan said he hoped to secure funding and make it a full-time effort while staying in London.
Sonder deliberately keeps sign-up demanding. Hassan said he refuses to add AI tools that generate profiles, because he wants an actual person putting their own effort in. TechCrunch reported that Sonder does use a large language model to analyse screenshots of user profiles and suggest matches. The company also hosts recurring in-person events, such as Speed Drawing, Presentation Night and a Performative Male Contest, which are open to platonic and romantic connections.
Stories about Sonder
- Sonder's Anti-AI Bet: Friction as a Feature, Not a Bug
Sonder, a London dating app, says it has 6,500 users without paid acquisition, using a sign-up that takes 45 minutes to two hours. - Sonder's Mood Boards: Aesthetic Nostalgia or Prompt Fatigue Solution?
London dating app Sonder has replaced text prompts with visual mood boards and has no subscription tiers, but has not disclosed how it will earn money.
Questions about Sonder
What is Sonder?
Sonder is a London dating app where profiles are unstructured mood boards rather than prompts, supported by in-person events.
Who founded Sonder?
Mehedi Hassan and Lenard Pratt are named as founders, with Helen Sun and Hannah Kin on the team.
How many users does Sonder have?
TechCrunch reported about 6,500 users in London in April 2026.
Where is Sonder based?
Sonder is based in London, United Kingdom.
When was Sonder founded?
Sonder was founded in 2025.
Also known as: Sonder dating app.