Bumble shares increase nearly 50% amid $1 billion acquisition talks

Shares in dating app company Bumble increased by almost 50% on Monday following a report that it is in advanced discussions for a potential acquisition valued at around $1 billion (£757 million). Technology holding company Ithaca may announce a deal to purchase the Texas-based firm as early as this week, according to the Wall Street Journal. The rise in Bumble's shares raised its market valuation to over $580 million, although this remains significantly lower than the peak valuation of over $14 billion it achieved after its Nasdaq listing in 2021. Bumble is recognized as one of the most downloaded dating apps, operating in a competitive market where growth has decelerated. The BBC has reached out to both Bumble and Ithaca for comments. Bumble was founded in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, who was also a co-founder of Tinder. Wolfe Herd developed Bumble's brand around a unique feature that allowed only women to initiate conversations with matches, a rule the company recently abandoned, leading to discussions among users about whether the app has lost its distinctiveness. Wolfe Herd stated in August, "Today, our community is asking for more flexibility, less pressure, and more opportunities to create real, meaningful connections and that is what this new experience provides." Dating apps like Bumble have faced challenges in recent years as some younger users have expressed dissatisfaction with the dating process. In 2025, Bumble announced plans to reduce its workforce by nearly a third as the industry faced what Wolfe Herd referred to as an "inflection point" in online dating. Investments in other dating companies have also declined as apps have had difficulty persuading users to pay for their services. Match Group, which owns Tinder, OkCupid, and Hinge, has also experienced a significant drop in share prices since its peak in 2021. A report by media watchdog Ofcom in 2025 indicated that adults in the UK were spending less time on dating apps compared to three years prior. Some individuals are opting for board game gatherings, book clubs, and other group activities as alternative ways to meet potential partners.