Dating app operator Bumble is in advanced talks to be taken private by Ithaca Holdings in a deal that would value the company at about $1bn, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The proposed deal comes as the company battles declining paying subscribers, falling revenue and growing dissatisfaction among younger users with traditional dating apps.
Bumble’s shares surged about 50 per cent on Monday to close at $3.80, marking their biggest-ever percentage gain in a single trading session. The company had a market value of approximately $389m at Friday’s close.
Bumble and Ithaca Holdings, 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 had reported in June that Bumble was exploring a possible sale amid slowing growth across the online dating industry.
The potential buyout follows a difficult period for Bumble and rival Match Group, which owns dating platforms Tinder and Hinge. Both companies have faced pressure as younger users, particularly those in Generation Z, grow disillusioned with endless swiping and show weaker engagement with dating apps.
Founded in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble gained prominence through its women-first approach to online dating. The company made a high-profile Nasdaq debut in 2021, reaching a valuation of about $14bn, but has since struggled with a post-pandemic slowdown in growth.
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Wolfe Herd returned as chief executive in March 2025 after stepping down from the role in January 2024. Under her leadership, Bumble has introduced artificial intelligence-powered features and new ways for users to connect in an effort to revive growth.
However, the company’s financial performance has continued to weaken. Its total number of paying users fell by more than 11 per cent to approximately 3.7 million in 2025, while annual revenue dropped nearly 10 per cent to about $966m.
In the second quarter of 2026, paying users declined by 16.4 per cent to 3.2 million.
PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore said a move to private ownership would not automatically resolve the company’s underlying problems, arguing that Bumble needed to give consumers stronger reasons to return to the platform and pay for its services.
The proposed transaction would mark a major shift for a company that went public at a multibillion-dollar valuation just five years ago. However, the discussions remain ongoing, and no completed deal has been announced.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
