Ancient Wisdom Modern Love
| Type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dating services, professional matchmaking |
| Founder | Cassindy Chao |
| Headquarters | Albany, California, United States |
| Area served | New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area |
| Key people | Cassindy Chao (Founder); Dana Sundblad; Soronny Lee |
| Services | Matchmaking, relationship coaching, date concierge |
| Slogan | Connecting Exceptional People |
| Website | awmlove.com |
Ancient Wisdom Modern Love (frequently abbreviated as AWM Love or AWML) is an exclusive dating and matchmaking agency based in the United States. Established by relationship expert and author Cassindy Chao, the boutique firm primarily caters to highly educated, affluent singles. While serving a diverse clientele, the company specializes in curating introductions for Asian and Asian-American professionals. AWM Love focuses its operations in three major metropolitan markets: the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and New York City.[1][2][3]
Business model and concept
Positioned as a high-end, luxury introductions agency, AWM Love bypasses algorithms and dating applications in favor of a highly personalized, human-driven matchmaking approach.[4][2] The firm explicitly targets high-net-worth individuals and ambitious career professionals who are actively seeking serious, long-term commitments.[1][2] The agency distinguishes itself from historical matchmaking practices by emphasizing that it facilitates modern romantic partnerships rather than traditional arranged family marriages, adopting the brand ethos that it is "not your grandmother's matchmaker."[1][5]
The agency's name is derived from Chao's publication, Ancient Wisdom Modern Love: Chinese Wisdom for Dating Success. The book utilizes traditional four-character Chinese idioms (chengyu) to deliver contemporary relationship guidance.[6] Chao, who comes from a family with a background in the practice, promotes herself as a third-generation traditional Chinese matchmaker (紅娘, hóngniáng).[1][7]
Company background
Founder Cassindy Chao initially explored matchmaking during her undergraduate years at Wellesley College, organizing dates for fellow students from her dorm room.[2][8] She subsequently spent years working in investment banking for major financial institutions including Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Bear Stearns. Following a stint in Hong Kong and time spent working at a Silicon Valley tech startup, Chao transitioned back to the dating industry. A 2021 feature in the Piedmont Exedra noted that she formalized her expertise by studying under relationship coach Rachel Greenwald before launching her professional agency.[8]
Her pivot from high finance to full-time matchmaking was later highlighted in a Business Insider profile.[9] To help scale the business, Chao partnered with Dana Sundblad, a former Wellesley classmate equipped with a Harvard MBA and extensive marketing experience.[2][10] According to the firm's promotional literature, the team brings over 15 years of industry experience and has successfully facilitated upward of 50 long-term partnerships or marriages.[2][7]
Offerings and methodology
AWM Love's portfolio of services ranges from top-tier VIP matchmaking to date coaching, traditional Chinese matching (紅娘), and bespoke date-concierge packages, as well as "dating readiness" programs.[1][2]
To maintain a high level of personalized attention, the boutique agency caps its active roster to a maximum of eight clients simultaneously. The founder directly manages client interviews and oversees the matching process.[2] Members generally sign on for six- or twelve-month commitments, which include the flexibility to pause the service if needed.[2]
The matchmaking pipeline begins with an intensive vetting phase, including detailed questionnaires and private, one-on-one interviews to deeply understand the client and their ideal partner.[4][2] AWM Love also provides supplementary services to enhance dating success, such as wardrobe styling, professional photography, curated date planning, and practice dates.[11][2] Active members typically receive two to four hand-picked introductions each month. The agency utilizes post-date feedback from both parties to continuously improve future matches. While the firm promises high-caliber introductions, it explicitly notes that it cannot guarantee marriages or permanent relationships.[2]
Media presence and events
AWM Love and its founder have garnered significant press attention. In addition to a January 2026 feature in Business Insider detailing Chao's career pivot, she was interviewed on NBC News Daily in late 2025 and appeared on NewsNation in early 2026.[1][9] Prior media spotlights include a 2024 piece in Voyage LA and a 2021 interview in the Piedmont Exedra.[8][3] Furthermore, the company actively engages with the local community by hosting social mixers and cultural events, such as mahjong gatherings in collaboration with groups like Asian Health Services.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Asian Matchmaker Cassindy Chao | SF, LA & NYC", AWM Love (awmlove.com). Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.awmlove.com/
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "VIP Matchmaking – How it Works / FAQ", AWM Love. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.awmlove.com/matchmaking
- ^ a b "Meet Cassindy Chao of Ancient Wisdom Modern Love", Voyage LA Magazine, 11 March 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-cassindy-chao-of-ancient-wisdom-modern-love/
- ^ a b "#1 Matchmaking in San Francisco, CA", AWM Love. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.awmlove.com/matchmaking-in-san-francisco
- ^ "Los Angeles Elite Matchmaker", AWM Love. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.awmlove.com/losangeles
- ^ "Ancient Wisdom Modern Love: Chinese Wisdom for Dating & Relationship Success" (book listing), Amazon. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Wisdom-Modern-Love-Relationship/dp/B0CKSG13VD
- ^ a b "About Cassindy Chao", cassindy.com. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.cassindy.com/about
- ^ a b c "The Dating Game: A professional matchmaker shares advice about finding your match", Piedmont Exedra, March 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://piedmontexedra.com/2021/03/the-dating-game-a-professional-matchmaker-shares-advice-about-finding-your-match
- ^ a b "How a Goldman Sachs banker became one of America's top Asian matchmakers", Business Insider, January 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.businessinsider.com/left-finance-side-hustle-matchmaking-54-ageism-2026-1
- ^ "Matchmaking & Speaking with Cassindy Chao", cassindy.com. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.cassindy.com/home
- ^ "Matchmaking in New York, NY", AWM Love. Retrieved 22 June 2026. https://www.awmlove.com/matchmaking-in-new-york-ny
