Stoke
In short: Stoke is a free dating and friendship app for adults aged 18 and over that connects people who are checked in at the same partner venue in Miami, Florida. It was founded in 2026 by Kevin Battista and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale. Venues pay Stoke rather than members, which makes it a notable test of a venue-funded model in dating.
Key facts
| Type | Dating app |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Fort Lauderdale, United States |
| Founded | 2026 |
| Founder | Kevin Battista |
| Founder | Kevin Battista is the founder and chief executive of Stoke [Global Dating Insights, 14 October 2026] |
| Headquarters | Stoke was founded in 2026 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida [Global Dating Insights, 14 October 2026] |
| Fact | Stoke is free for users; participating venues pay it for the customers it brings in [Dating Industry Insights, 13 October 2026] |
| Launch | A one-night pilot at five Wynwood venues comes first, followed by a wider Miami launch Battista wants in January 2027 with 60 venue partners [Global Dating Insights, 14 October 2026] |
| Funding | Stoke is raising a pre-seed round [Global Dating Insights, 14 October 2026] |
| Fact | Members check in at a venue, choose dating or friendship, and can chat only if both are interested; chat disappears when a member leaves the venue [Dating Industry Insights, 13 October 2026] |
About Stoke
Stoke is a free app for adults aged 18 and over that lets people in Miami meet for dating or friendship at partner bars, cafés and gyms. Members create a basic profile and see a map of participating venues, with the number of users at each. On arrival they check in, choose whether they want to date or make friends, and browse other people who are present. Chat switches on only if two people are both interested, and it disappears when a member leaves the venue.
Stoke is led by its founder and chief executive, Kevin Battista. The company was founded in 2026, is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is raising a pre-seed round. The app is free for members. Venues pay Stoke to bring in customers, according to Axios Miami.
A one-night pilot at five venues in Miami's Wynwood neighbourhood comes first. Axios reported the date as 7 November, while Stoke's own site showed 24 October, according to Dating Industry Insights. The company wants a wider Miami launch in January 2027 with 60 venue partners. At the time of writing Stoke had not launched publicly.
Stories about Stoke
- Miami startup Stoke plans venue-based dating and friendship app
Miami startup Stoke plans a five-venue Wynwood pilot for its free check-in dating app, then a January launch targeting 60 venue partners, Axios reports.
Questions about Stoke
Who founded Stoke?
Stoke was founded by Kevin Battista, who is also its chief executive. The company was founded in 2026.
How does Stoke make money?
Stoke is free for members. Participating venues pay Stoke for the customers it brings in, according to Axios Miami.
Where does Stoke operate?
Stoke is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is building its service around venues in Miami, starting with a pilot in Wynwood.
What is Stoke?
Stoke is a free dating and friendship app for adults aged 18 and over that connects people who are checked in at the same partner venue in Miami, Florida. It was founded in 2026 by Kevin Battista and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale.
Where is Stoke based?
Stoke is based in Fort Lauderdale, United States.
When was Stoke founded?
Stoke was founded in 2026.