Dating app Bumble in advanced talks to go private at $1 billion valuation, source says

Oct 12 — Bumble is in advanced talks to be taken private ​by Ithaca Holdings in a deal that values the dating app operator at roughly $1 billion, a source familiar with ‌the matter told Reuters on Monday.

Shares of the Austin, Texas-based company, which had a market ⁠value of roughly $389 million through ​last close, surged around 50% ⁠to $3.81 following the report.

Bumble and Ithaca, a holding company for ‌technology businesses founded by ‌Silicon Valley executives Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman, did ⁠not immediately respond to Reuters' requests ⁠for comment.

Reuters exclusively reported earlier this year that Bumble was exploring a sale amid slowing growth in the online dating sector.

Bumble and larger rival Match Group, which owns Tinder, Hinge and OkCupid, have come under pressure in a crowded dating-app market, ‌particularly as younger Gen Z subscribers ​grow disillusioned with endless swiping, leading to softer user engagement.

Founded in 2014 by CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble pioneered the "women-first" approach to online dating.

Under Wolfe Herd, who returned to the CEO role in March last year after stepping down in January 2024, the company has rolled out AI-powered features and new ways ​for users to connect as it works to reinvigorate growth.

Total paying ‌users for Bumble ‌fell more ⁠than 11% in the full year 2025 to about 3.7 million, while annual revenue declined nearly 10% to about $966 million.

In the second quarter ended June 30, its total paying users decreased 16.4% to ‌3.2 million. Shares of ​the company have fallen around 29% ‌this year.

(Reporting by Milana ⁠Vinn in ​New York and Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Jonathan Ananda and ​Shilpi Majumdar)

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