Suvechha Sarkar
It has become quite challenging in the modern dating world to find meaningful connections. While countless dating applications rely on algorithms and surface-level preferences, they often lack the element that sparks real-life familiarity. That is where the Left Field dating app stepped in with a new take on modern dating, designed to feel like being set up by a friend. The application matches users based on overlaps in favorite spots, same hometowns, and so on. Both the founders of the dating app appeared on the season 17, episode 10 of ABC’s ‘Shark Tank,’ where they presented their vision for turning dating into a more community-driven experience.
Left Field Dating App: Who Are They and What Do They Do?
Left Field dating application was founded by Samantha Martin and Kate Sieler. The former earned her high school diploma from The College Preparatory School in June 2019. Two months later, she began pursuing higher education at Georgetown University. Following her graduation in June 2020, Samantha enrolled at Brown University for a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, focusing on Sustainable Development, and to earn an Entrepreneurship Certificate. She ultimately completed her academic journey in 2023. She began her professional trajectory in May 2022 as a Consulting Intern for Nonprofit Strategy at Almora Advisors, before leaving the role five months later. Samantha eventually tapped into her entrepreneurial spirit in November 2022, becoming the co-founder of EcoForm, a biocomposite manufacturing company.
While working there, Samantha joined the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) as the Energy Policy and Politics Teaching Assistant in January 2023. While she left that position in May 2023, she left EcoForm the following month. In August of that same year, she became a Strategy Associate at Capital One and continued serving there till August 2024. It was around then that Samantha and Kate began to get tired of the dating scene in New York. They realized that modern dating is currently limited to swiping on dating applications. Hence, they decided to build a dating app of their own to reintroduce it in an old-fashioned way, leading to the launch of Left Field in September 2024. While Samantha took on the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kate became the Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Before Kate brought Left Field dating app to life, she graduated from the Seattle Academy with high honors in 2018. Following that, she enrolled at Boston University to study Political Science and Government and completed her degree in 2019. She then enrolled at Brown University to pursue a degree in science, technology, and society, before graduating in 2022. Her career began as an Assistant Director for the Brown University Motion Pictures in February 2020. She worked there for four months and eventually took on several internships to hone her skills. From May to August 2020, Kate worked as a Research Intern at Jane Doe Films. She served as a Strategy Intern at Almora Advisors from May to August 2021. It was followed by another internship at Workbud as a Content Manager from January to May 2022.
Kate became an Associate at Almora Advisors in July 2022, where her dedication and skills didn’t go unnoticed. She was soon promoted to Engagement Manager, and she continued working there until May 2023. Three months later, she stepped into the role of an Associate Consultant at The Bridgespan Group and left in January 2025. It was while working in that position that Kate proudly became a co-founder of Left Field. Both the founders were also joined by a technical co-founder, Sean Miller, in February 2025. Left Field is a dating application that introduces individuals to potential partners, but it doesn’t offer a swipe feature. Instead, it matches others based on shared interests, similar restaurants, favorite spots to visit, or mutuals. It uses location-based notifications that encourage real-world encounters rather than digital conversations.
Related
Left Field Dating App: Where Are They Now?
Following the launch of the Left Field Dating App in September 2024, Samantha and Kate have continued to interact with users to expand the range of their location-based notifications. Their vision truly began to take shape in New York, where the app made its public debut on the App Store in February 2025. Rather than relying solely on digital ads, the founders immersed themselves in the local scene, partnering with neighborhood bars and comedy events to introduce Left Field in places where connections naturally spark. By the following May, they had further agreed to launch several ambassador programs for college students. Interested individuals can easily download the app and enter their basic details, just like any other dating app.
After that, you can simply enable location services, which will notify you if you cross someone using the application. However, if a person prefers to turn off their location services, it can also be easily done through the website. The concept of Left Field dating app has even earned them notable features in major news outlets and magazines such as Business Insider, Fast Company, and Dazed. Users can contact them seamlessly through their app or website if they face any issues. The company has also taken to social media, especially Instagram and TikTok, where they set people up on the app in real time. As of writing, the founders of the Left Field dating app are working diligently to reach out to more interested individuals who are ready to set up a date in an almost old-fashioned manner.
