Key facts
- Bumble agreed to a $1.3 billion acquisition deal with Ithaca Holdings.
- The acquisition will take Bumble private.
- Bumble reported $211 million in second-quarter 2026 revenue, a 15.2% decrease year over year.
- The company's paying user base fell 16.4% to 3.2 million.
- Whitney Wolfe Herd will remain involved in the business.
- Bumble was founded in 2014 and went public in 2021 at a $14 billion valuation.
Bumble, the dating app known for its women-first approach, has agreed to be acquired by Ithaca Holdings for $1.3 billion. The deal, announced Tuesday, will take the company private, a move aimed at navigating challenges such as declining subscriber numbers and revenue.
Founded in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble differentiated itself by requiring women to make the first move. It went public in 2021 with a valuation of approximately $14 billion. However, the company has since faced increased competition and a shift in user preferences away from traditional swipe-based models.
In its second quarter of 2026, Bumble reported revenue of $211 million, a 15.2% decrease year over year, and its paying user base declined by 16.4% to about 3.2 million. The acquisition follows a strategic review by Bumble's board, with Wolfe Herd recusing herself from discussions and the vote.
Wolfe Herd stated that Ithaca Holdings shares Bumble's vision and commitment to its mission. She plans to remain actively involved in the business alongside Ithaca's Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman. Going private is expected to provide Bumble with greater flexibility to develop new features, such as AI-driven tools and offline connection initiatives like its 'Plans' feature, and to explore alternatives to the swipe-based model without the quarterly pressures of public markets.