Bumble goes private in a $1.3 billion deal, a tenth of its IPO value

Bumble, the dating app where women make the first move, is leaving the stock market. The company agreed on Tuesday to be bought by Ithaca Holdings in an all-cash deal that values it at $1.3 billion. When Bumble went public in 2021, it was valued at about $14 billion, TechCrunch reports.

The deal

• Price: $6.05 in cash per share, Bumble says in its announcement.
• Premium: about 138% above the share price on October 9, before the news, and about 119% above the 30-day average.
• Already approved by the big holders. Blackstone affiliates and founder Whitney Wolfe Herd approved it by written consent, which gives the needed shareholder approval. Regulatory approvals are still required, and Bumble has not given a closing date.
• Founder stays. Wolfe Herd stepped out of the board's vote but plans to stay closely involved, working with Ithaca's Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman. "A partner who shares our vision, believes in our women-first mission," she said of Ithaca.

Why go private

Bumble's revenue and paying users are both shrinking, as people tire of swiping. Off the stock market, Bumble can try bigger changes without answering to investors every three months, TechCrunch notes. It is already building AI features and pushing people to meet offline, including a Plans app launched in July, and Wolfe Herd has talked about a new way to connect that could eventually replace swiping.

What it means for shareholders

If the deal closes, Class A shareholders get $6.05 a share in cash and Bumble stops trading. Anyone who bought near the 2021 listing is still far underwater; anyone who bought last week more than doubled their money.

Not financial advice. This is a summary of public reporting and company statements.

Sources

• Bumble agrees to a $1.3B acquisition deal as online dating faces a reset, TechCrunch, Oct 13, 2026
• Bumble Inc. to Be Acquired by Ithaca Holdings, Bumble press release via SEC, Oct 13, 2026