Bumble bought for $1.3bn in ‘bet on the future of humanity’
Dating app Bumble has been bought for $1.3bn (£980m) in what the new owners called "a bet on the future of humanity".
Dating app Bumble has been acquired for $1.3 billion in what the new owners described as an investment in the future of humanity. Ithaca Holdings, the acquiring firm, will take control of the loss-making company, with Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman becoming co-chiefs. Bumble, known for its "women-first" chat rule, discontinued the feature in August.
Founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd will retain an active role in the business. Gupta and Hegeman, however, aim to leverage technology, particularly AI, to enhance human connection. The $1.3 billion investment marks a significant boost in valuation from Bumble's earlier $580 million. The dating app has seen AI features implemented recently, with CEO Lidiane Jones expressing optimism about AI's potential for safety in dating apps.
In 2025, Bumble announced plans to reduce its workforce by nearly a third as the industry faces an "inflexion point." Despite the acquisition, Bumble will continue to navigate challenges in a rapidly evolving industry, with some users seeking alternative methods for meeting potential partners.
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