After a summer run that pulled 11M views and 50K downloads, this VC-backed app built by four recent grads has entered its second act, one powered by drama-driven storytelling.

Cerca is a dating app that connects you with people already in your social circle. The concept is that you meet “mutuals” instead of complete strangers.

The app now ranks #98 in Social Networking, holding about 20,000 monthly downloads.

In the last 30 days, Cerca’s UGC network pulled in 6.3M views, bringing lifetime views to 29.3M.

The winning format: Bad Dates → Better App. The latest wave of UGC creators are sharing chaotic, confession-style storytelling “bad date” POVs.

Stage 1: The Hook

“Worst date ever 🚫” / “I went on a date and she made TikToks about it…”

Stage 2: The Punchline

Chaos, cheating, or cringe-worthy behavior.

Stage 3: Pivot

“Deleted Hinge. Might try Cerca.”

Some of their recent hits:

“Just went on a hinge date…I’m deleting” -> 1.2M views

“I went on a date and the girl made tik Tok’s about it…” -> 1M views

Some accounts are recent and not yet viral, but they’re replicating the same format:

“worst date ever” -> 2.3K views

Many use “.dates”, “.nycdates”, or “.matches”, signaling a unified dating-confession ecosystem.

You can check out all their accounts here: https://app.shortimize.com/c/2b10F4T9UcwVts