Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, September 2018. Credit: TechCrunch / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) Bumble has agreed to be acquired by Ithaca Holdings in an all-cash deal valuing the dating app at about $1.3 billion, the companies said on Tuesday. Ithaca will pay $6.05 per Bumble Class A share, about 138% more than the stock’s closing price on October 9, before reporting on Monday that the two sides were in advanced talks. The deal does not need a shareholder vote.
Funds linked to Blackstone and founder Whitney Wolfe Herd have already approved it in writing, giving it the backing it needs, according to a filing with US regulators. A committee of independent board members reviewed the offer and recommended it. Wolfe Herd, who is Bumble’s chief executive, did not take part in the board vote. Once the deal closes, Ithaca’s co-chief executives, Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman, will also serve as co-CEOs of Bumble.
Wolfe Herd will stay closely involved, the companies said, and Bumble will remain based in Austin, Texas. The companies did not say when they expect the deal to close. “Bumble was founded on a simple belief: meaningful relationships are essential to a healthy, happy life,” Wolfe Herd said. “I am incredibly grateful to the entire Bumble team, whose dedication and belief in our mission have made this company what it is today. In Ithaca, we have found a partner who shares our vision, believes in our women-first mission, and is committed to investing in Bumble’s future. I am grateful to the Special Committee for their thoughtful work and am pleased to support this transaction based on the Board’s recommendation.” Gupta and Hegeman said they “see huge potential to take it into the next era together”. “Bumble has a unique combination of essential attributes, including its trusted brand and loyal community.
As technology and dating habits evolve, we see huge potential to take it into the next era together, building on the foundation Whitney and the talented Bumble team have built. Whitney has a clear vision and strong principles, and we’re grateful for her partnership as we carry her mission forward together.” The sale ends five years into Bumble’s stock market listing, when it was valued at $14 billion when it listed on the Nasdaq in 2021. Its business has shrunk since. In the second quarter of 2026, revenue fell 15.2% from the prior year to $211 million, and paying users dropped 16.4% to about 3.2 million.
Under Wolfe Herd, who returned as CEO in March 2025, Bumble has tried to win users back. This year, it launched an AI dating assistant called Bee, and in August it began allowing men to send the first message. Bumble will not publish a results release or hold an earnings call for the third quarter, and it will file its quarterly report by November 9. Get the TNW newsletter ✕ Close Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
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