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Tue, 13 Oct 2026

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 Bumble shares soar after report dating firm in $1bn takeover talks

The jump pushed Bumble's stock market valuation to more than $580m but that is still far below their peak of more than $14bn.

* Bumble's shares rose by almost 50% on Monday, reaching a valuation of over $580m.
* The dating app company is reportedly in advanced talks to be bought for around $1bn by technology holding company Ithaca.
* A deal could be announced as early as this week, according to the Wall Street Journal.
* Bumble's stock market value has increased significantly since its peak in 2021, when it reached over $14bn after listing on the Nasdaq.
* The company's valuation is still lower than its peak due to a crowded dating app market and slower growth.
* Bumble was founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd, who also co-founded Tinder.
* The company recently abandoned its unique feature of allowing only women to initiate conversations with matches, sparking debate among users.
* Dating apps have faced challenges in recent years as younger users have grown disillusioned with browsing for dates.
* Some users are turning to alternative social activities, such as board game get-togethers and book clubs, to find partners.