MSU Student Launched Global Dating App Ember

The economics senior developed the platform to help students connect across language and cultural barriers.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Romance

Bold vector editorial illustration of two glowing speech bubbles interconnected by light particles, symbolizing global communication and digital language translation. — Michigan State University senior David Harrison has launched Ember, a global dating app that uses live translation to help students build long-term relationships. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Michigan State University senior David Harrison has developed Ember, a new international dating app. Designed to foster long-term relationships, the app connects users across 177 countries with live translation for over 100 languages.

Why it matters

The platform addresses the specific challenges faced by international students seeking meaningful connections while navigating language and cultural differences. Harrison created the app to bridge these communication gaps through integrated technology.

Ember provides access to 177 countries and includes live translation for over 100 languages. The app is currently available for download on Google Play.

The players

David Harrison

He is an economics senior at Michigan State University who developed the dating app Ember.

The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

This institution provided the support and resources necessary for the development of the Ember app.

The details

Developed with support from The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the app requires users to verify their identities using a government ID and a live selfie to prevent banned users from returning. Harrison leveraged skills from his data analysis coursework to build the platform.

Fall 2026: Harrison is rolling out the app to the Michigan State University campus.

Culture Shift

The emergence of Ember reflects a broader cultural movement toward niche, security-focused dating applications that prioritize long-term compatibility over casual swiping. This trend mirrors the increasing demand for verified identity protocols in digital social spaces.

Students at Michigan State University can now download the app via Google Play during the current fall 2026 semester rollout. Users should be prepared to provide a government ID and a live selfie to complete the mandatory identity verification process.

The takeaway

The development of Ember highlights how students can use academic resources to solve specific communication challenges in their personal lives. Users should ensure they have their government identification ready to meet the app's security requirements during setup.