Bumble shares soar after report dating firm in $1bn takeover talks

Bumble's shares jumped over 50% on Monday following reports of advanced takeover talks worth approximately $1 billion. Ithaca, a technology holding company, may announce a deal to acquire the Texas-based dating app company as early as this week, according to the Wall Street Journal. This surge in Bumble's shares pushed its market valuation to over $580 million, though this is still a far cry from its peak of more than $14 billion reached after listing on the Nasdaq in 2021.

Bumble is among the most widely downloaded dating apps globally, operating in a competitive market where growth has slowed. The BBC has reached out to Bumble and Ithaca for comment. Bumble was founded in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, who was also a co-founder of Tinder. Wolfe Herd established Bumble's brand around a unique feature that only allowed women to initiate conversations with matches. Recently, the company abandoned this rule, sparking debate among users about whether the app had lost its distinguishing factor.

In August, Wolfe Herd acknowledged that the community is seeking more flexibility, less pressure, and more opportunities to form real, meaningful connections. She made this statement in August. Dating apps like Bumble have faced increasing pressure in recent years as younger users have become disillusioned with the dating browsing experience.

In 2025, Bumble announced plans to reduce its workforce by nearly a third as the industry grappled with what Wolfe Herd termed an "inflection point" in online dating. Furthermore, investments in other dating companies have also turned sour as apps struggle to convince users to pay for their services.

Match Group, which owns popular dating apps such as Tinder, OkCupid, and Hinge, has also experienced a sharp decline in its shares following their peak in 2021. The BBC has reported that according to a 2025 report by media watchdog Ofcom, adults in the UK are spending less time on dating apps compared to three years earlier. Some single individuals are turning to alternative group activities, such as board game gatherings and book clubs, in hopes of finding a partner.