Shares in Bumble, the Texas‑based dating app, leapt almost 50% on Monday after a report that technology holding company Ithaca is in advanced talks to acquire the firm for roughly $1bn (£757m). The surge pushed Bumble’s market value to just over $580m, still a fraction of the more than $14bn valuation it achieved at its 2021 Nasdaq listing.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Ithaca could announce a deal as early as this week. The move comes as Bumble, one of the world’s most downloaded dating apps, faces a crowded market where growth has slowed. The company recently abandoned its signature rule that only women could initiate conversations, sparking debate among users about what set it apart from rivals.
Founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd said in August that the new experience offers “more flexibility, less pressure, and more opportunities to create real, meaningful connections.” Bumble had warned in 2025 that it would cut almost a third of its workforce as the industry grappled with an “inflection point” in online dating.
Other dating firms have struggled to convince users to pay for services. Match Group, owner of Tinder, OkCupid and Hinge, has seen its shares fall sharply from their 2021 peak. A 2025 Ofcom report noted that UK adults were spending less time on dating apps than three years earlier, with some turning to group activities such as board game nights and book clubs to meet partners.
Investors will be watching closely to see if Ithaca’s bid proceeds and how a potential acquisition could reshape Bumble’s strategy in a tightening market.
