In brief
Shares of dating app Bumble rocketed nearly 50% after a report that tech group Ithaca is in advanced talks to acquire the company for about $1bn. The move lifted Bumble’s market cap to $580m, still shy of its $14bn peak in 2021. Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd built the brand on women‑initiated chats, though the app recently relaxed that rule. The dating‑app industry faces slowing growth, prompting workforce cuts and declining user engagement. Investors are watching closely as the deal could reshape the online‑dating landscape.
Shares in dating app company Bumble surged by almost 50% on Monday after a report that it is in advanced talks to be bought for about $1bn (£757m).
Technology holding company Ithaca could announce a deal to buy the Texas-based firm as early as this week, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The jump in Bumble's shares pushed its market valuation to over $580m but that is still far below a peak of more than $14bn it reached after its 2021 Nasdaq listing.
Bumble operates in a crowded dating‑app market where growth has slowed. The BBC has contacted both companies for comment.
Founded in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, co‑founder of Tinder, Bumble built its brand on a rule that only women could initiate conversations, a feature it has now relaxed.
The change sparked debate among users about the app’s unique identity, while the industry faces shrinking user engagement and workforce cuts.
Competitors such as Match Group have seen their shares fall from their 2021 highs, illustrating sector pressure.
A 2025 Ofcom report noted UK adults were spending less time on dating apps, leading some to seek connections through group activities instead.
