Korean company Curelation, the operator of KRUSH, a dating community app for Asians, announced on the it has recently received seed funding from Mashup Ventures. While the exact investment amount remains undisclosed, the funding is expected to fuel the platform’s growth and expansion into new markets.
KRUSH currently operates in major U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and offers unique features designed for Asian users. These include facial recognition-based matching, personalized interest-based recommendations, and offline gatherings—a trend gaining popularity in the U.S.
More Than Just a Dating App
KRUSH positions itself as a platform for cultural exchange, integrating features like fortune-telling, friend recommendations, mystery matching, and anonymous community boards. These functions aim to create a safe and engaging space for Asians living abroad to connect and interact.
“KRUSH is not just about dating,” said CEO Moon Kyung-shin. “It’s about building a community where Asians overseas can meet and communicate authentically.”
Experienced Leadership Driving Innovation
The app was co-founded by Moon Kyung-shin and Hong Sung-min, who bring a wealth of global experience. Moon, with a background at Amazon and Samsung Electronics, holds an MBA from Columbia University, while Hong, an NYU computer science graduate, has worked at international startups such as TuSimple and ProtoPie.
The two founders created KRUSH after experiencing firsthand the challenges of social interaction while studying abroad. Their shared vision was to develop a platform where Asians living overseas could build meaningful connections.
Rapid Growth and User Engagement
Since its launch, KRUSH has shown impressive growth. Daily visitors have increased tenfold, with 35% of users returning for five consecutive days, signaling strong customer satisfaction. The platform has also been actively engaging its user base through regular events, including well-attended parties in New York, and has partnered with Lotte Chilsung Beverage to promote its KRUSH beer.
Future Expansion Plans
With Mashup Ventures‘ backing, KRUSH aims to expand its services to other countries with significant Asian populations, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
“KRUSH is built on a deep understanding of Asian culture and values,” said Brian Yu, venture partner at Mashup Ventures. “We see its potential to grow beyond dating into a global community for Asian cultural exchange.”
As KRUSH continues to bridge the gap between dating and community, its growth trajectory indicates its potential to become a hub for Asians abroad to connect and engage.
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