Bumble Shares Jump as Ithaca Pursues $1bn Takeover Deal

Shares of dating app company Bumble surged on October 13, 2026, after reports said Ithaca Holdings was in advanced talks to acquire the Texas-based business in a deal valued at $1bn, as the company faces a challenging online dating market.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Ithaca Holdings could announce the agreement as early as this week. The rise lifted Bumble's market value above $580m, although it remained below its 2021 peak of more than $14bn after its Nasdaq listing.

Bumble was launched in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, who previously co-founded Tinder. The company became known for a feature that initially allowed only women to start conversations with matches.

The company later changed that rule after users discussed whether the adjustment affected Bumble's identity. In August, Wolfe Herd explained the change as a response to community feedback.

"Today, our community is asking for more flexibility, less pressure, and more opportunities to create real, meaningful connections and that is what this new experience provides," said Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of Bumble.

Bumble has faced pressure as growth in the dating app sector slowed. According to the company, it planned to cut almost a third of its workforce in 2025 as the industry reached what Wolfe Herd described as an "inflection point" in online dating.

Other dating companies have also struggled as users became less willing to pay for services. According to Ofcom's 2025 report, adults in the UK spent less time on dating apps compared with three years earlier.

Match Group, which owns Tinder, OkCupid and Hinge, also saw its shares decline significantly from their 2021 peak, according to the source report.