# Dating app deals tracker: sales, closures, insolvencies 2024 to 2026

Published 2026-10-16. Updated 2026-10-16. https://www.datingapi.io/insights/dating-app-deals-tracker

**In short:** Between 2024 and October 2026 the dating industry saw a take-private of Bumble, the insolvency of Spark Networks' operating company, the closure and relaunch of EliteSingles, failed and successful buyouts, and a run of small app closures. Big groups are pruning brands, while specialists buy niche apps cheaply.

From January 2024 to October 2026, ownership in dating apps changed faster than at any time since the pandemic. Bumble agreed to be taken private for about $1.3 billion [1]. Spark Networks restructured in 2024 [24], then its Berlin operating company went into preliminary insolvency in January 2026 [3]. EliteSingles closed on 30 April 2026 and came back under a new owner four months later [5][6]. Match Group and Bumble closed apps they no longer wanted [8][14], while specialists such as Perry Street Software and CatholicMatch bought niche brands [18][19].

This tracker lists every deal, closure and insolvency in that period that we could confirm from a filing, a company statement or named trade press. Where a price was not published, we say so.

## The tracker

| Date | Company or app | Event | Counterparty | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Hakuna, Plenty of Fish live streaming | Match exits live streaming and sunsets Hakuna | None | Not a sale; about $60m of annual revenue lost [13] |
| 17 May 2024 | Spark Networks SE | German StaRUG restructuring recognised in the US; MGG becomes sole equity holder | MGG Investment Group | Over $100m of funded debt restructured [24] |
| 9 Jan 2025 | Thursday | Closes its dating app to focus on events | None | Not applicable [21] |
| 18 Feb 2025 | Fruitz, Official | Bumble decides to discontinue both apps | None | Not applicable [14] |
| 20 Mar 2025 | ParshipMeet Group | ProSiebenSat.1 agrees to buy General Atlantic's minority stake and become sole owner | General Atlantic | €10m cash, shares and a €50m exit payment [15] |
| 27 Jun 2025 | Meet Kinksters | Web platform closes after app assets sold | BeeDee | Not disclosed [22] |
| 19 Sep 2025 | happn | Acquired | Hello Group | Not disclosed [2] |
| 23 Oct 2025 | ProSiebenSat.1 | MFE holds over 75% and plans to sell side businesses including dating | MFE-MediaForEurope | Deal valued at €1.8bn [16] |
| 24 Oct 2025 | Grindr | Take-private proposal from its largest shareholders | Ray Zage and James Lu | $18.00 a share [10] |
| Nov 2025 | Grindr | Special committee ends talks over financing | Ray Zage and James Lu | About $3.46bn proposed [11] |
| 19 Nov 2025 | Aisle | Info Edge buys the last 3.65% and owns it outright | Info Edge (Jeevansathi) | Rs 5.50 crore [20] |
| 16 Jan 2026 | Spark Networks Services GmbH | Preliminary insolvency, Berlin | Court-appointed administrator | Not applicable [3] |
| Q1 2026 | Azar | Removed from Apple's App Store after a guideline change | Apple | $25.2m trade name impairment [23] |
| 30 Mar 2026 | Spark Networks Services GmbH | Seeks US Chapter 15 recognition and plans asset sales | MGG pulled funding in January | Not disclosed [4] |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Sniffies | Minority investment | Match Group | $100m [8] |
| 30 Apr 2026 | EliteSingles | Closes; accounts and conversations deleted | Spark Networks | Not applicable [5] |
| 17 Jun 2026 | Archer | Match Group closes the app | None | About $10m annual cost saving [8][9] |
| 1 Sep 2026 | EliteSingles | Relaunches with a new member database | SuccessfulMatch | Not disclosed [6] |
| 30 Sep 2026 | Freddie (PurposeMed) | Grindr agrees to acquire | Grindr | $250m plus up to $70m earn-out [12] |
| 2 Oct 2026 | Ágape | Acquired | CatholicMatch | Not disclosed [19] |
| 6 Oct 2026 | GROWLr | Acquired from The Meet Group | Perry Street Software | Not disclosed [18] |
| 13 Oct 2026 | Bumble, Badoo | Agreed take-private | Ithaca Holdings | $6.05 a share, about $1.3bn [1] |
| By Oct 2026 | Zoosk, JDate, JSwipe, Christian Mingle | Now listed as Black Cap brands | Black Cap | Date and price not published [7] |

Source: company filings and statements [1][8][10][12][13][14][15][23][24], court and legal reporting [3][4] and trade press [2][5][6][9][11][16][18][19][20][21][22]. Black Cap's portfolio is taken from its own help page [7].

## The three big stories

### Bumble goes private

Ithaca Holdings is paying $6.05 a share, a premium of about 138% to Bumble's closing price on 9 October 2026 [1]. Blackstone's affiliates and Whitney Wolfe Herd approved the deal by written consent, so no shareholder vote is needed [1]. Ithaca's co-chief executives, Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman, will run Bumble after closing [1]. Bumble said it will file its third quarter 10-Q but not publish an earnings release or hold a call [1].

For scale: Bumble's revenue in the three months to June 2026 was $210.5 million [25]. Multiplying that by four gives about $842 million a year, so the $1.3 billion price is roughly 1.5 times annualised revenue (our calculation from [1] and [25]).

### Spark Networks unwinds

Spark's problems started well before 2026. Its 2024 restructuring under Germany's StaRUG law dealt with over $100 million of funded debt and left lender MGG Investment Group as sole owner [24]. In January 2026 MGG pulled funding [4], and a Berlin court put Spark Networks Services GmbH, which ran key operations for Zoosk, EliteSingles, SilverSingles, Christian Mingle, JDate and JSwipe, under preliminary insolvency administration [3]. By the end of March it was seeking US recognition and planning to sell assets while trading [4].

The brands then went separate ways. EliteSingles closed with two days' notice to members [5] and was relaunched by SuccessfulMatch on a new database [6]. Zoosk, JDate, JSwipe and Christian Mingle now appear in Black Cap's portfolio [7]. We could not find a published date or price for that transfer. We cover the EliteSingles case in detail in [relaunching a dating brand](/insights/relaunching-a-dating-brand).

### Grindr: a buyout that didn't happen, and one that did

In October 2025 Grindr's two largest shareholders, who together own more than 60% of the company, proposed taking it private at $18.00 a share [10][11]. The special committee stopped talks in November, saying the buyers had not explained how the deal would be funded [11]. Global Dating Insights put the value of the proposal at about $3.46 billion [11]. That is more than two and a half times the price Ithaca agreed for Bumble a year later [1], even though Bumble had the larger revenue in the second quarter of 2026 [25].

Instead, Grindr became a buyer. On 30 September 2026 it agreed to pay $250 million for PurposeMed, the parent of the PrEP telehealth service Freddie, with up to $70 million more tied to 2027 targets [12]. Freddie expects 2026 revenue above $80 million [12].

## The patterns

- **Big groups are pruning.** Match left live streaming and closed Hakuna in 2024 [13], folded its Asia unit into its Everyone Everywhere business and closed Archer in 2026 [8]. Bumble shut Fruitz and Official [14]. Both are concentrating money on fewer apps.
- **Investing beats building for new audiences.** Match closed its own gay men's app, Archer, within weeks of putting $100 million into Sniffies [8][9]. Buying a stake in an app that already has members proved more attractive than growing one from scratch.
- **Specialists are buying niche brands.** Perry Street added GROWLr to SCRUFF and Jack'd [18]. CatholicMatch bought Brazil's largest Catholic app, according to CatholicMatch [19]. Black Cap built a faith-focused portfolio [7]. Prices in these deals were not disclosed.
- **Valuations are low for shrinking apps.** Bumble sold at about 1.5 times annualised revenue (our calculation, above) after paying members fell 16.4% in a year [25]. ProSiebenSat.1 decided to keep ParshipMeet for now, with one source pointing to its depressed valuation [17].
- **Insolvency hits members first.** EliteSingles members lost their accounts and conversations [5]. The relaunched brand started with an independent member database [6].

## What to watch next

- **Bumble's closing.** The deal has the shareholder approval it needs [1]. Bumble's third quarter 10-Q is due by 9 November 2026 [1].
- **ParshipMeet.** MFE wants ProSiebenSat.1 to sell side businesses including dating [16], but a sale is described as a longer-term goal [17]. ParshipMeet has already sold GROWLr [18].
- **Grindr's Freddie deal**, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026 [12].
- **App store risk as a deal factor.** Match recorded a $25.2 million impairment after Apple removed Azar following a February 2026 change to its guidelines [23]. Store status now belongs on every buyer's checklist.

## What it means for dating app operators

- **If you are buying, price the platform as well as the brand.** Many of these assets come with old technology and teams that have shrunk. The cost of keeping the app running and compliant after closing often decides whether a deal works. Our [build vs buy guide](/insights/build-vs-buy-dating-app) covers the options.
- **If you are selling, know what transfers.** Store listings, subscriptions and member data move in different ways. A buyer will pay more for a clean handover plan.
- **Plan for the worst case.** Spark's brands show that a funding decision by one lender can close an app within months [4][5]. Run-off terms, data portability and who holds the store accounts belong in every contract.
- **Expect fewer public numbers.** With Bumble going private, investors and operators will have one fewer set of quarterly results to benchmark against [1]. Our [revenue scorecard](/insights/top-dating-apps-by-revenue) will track what remains.

We update this tracker as deals close. If we have missed one you can source, tell us through the [contact page](/contact).

## Questions

**Who is buying Bumble?**

Ithaca Holdings agreed on 13 October 2026 to buy Bumble for $6.05 a share in cash, about $1.3 billion in total. Affiliates of Blackstone and Whitney Wolfe Herd approved the deal by written consent [1].

**What happened to Spark Networks?**

Its Berlin operating company, Spark Networks Services GmbH, was placed in preliminary insolvency on 16 January 2026 [3]. It sought US recognition of the German case in March 2026 and aimed to sell assets while continuing to operate [4].

**Did Grindr go private?**

No. Its two largest shareholders proposed $18.00 a share in October 2025 [10], but the board's special committee stopped talks in November 2025, citing uncertainty over financing [11].

**Who owns happn?**

Hello Group, the Beijing owner of Momo and Tantan. The acquisition was announced in September 2025 and the price was not disclosed [2].

## Sources

1. Bumble to be acquired by Ithaca Holdings, Bumble Inc (SEC filing), 2026-10-13. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001830043/000095010326015480/dp254907_ex9901.htm
2. happn acquired by Hello Group as CEO calls for industry reinvention, Global Dating Insights, 2025-09-19. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/featured/happn-acquired-by-hello-group-as-ceo-calls-for-industry-reinvention/
3. Dating provider Spark Networks enters preliminary insolvency, Global Dating Insights, 2026-01-21. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/featured/dating-provider-spark-networks-enters-preliminary-insolvency/
4. Christian Mingle, JDate owner brings German insolvency to US, Bloomberg Law, 2026-03-31. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/christian-mingle-jdate-owner-brings-german-insolvency-to-us
5. EliteSingles to suddenly shut down on April 30, Global Dating Insights, 2026-04-30. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/featured/elitesingles-to-suddenly-shut-down-on-april-30/
6. EliteSingles relaunches under new ownership, Global Dating Insights, 2026-09-01. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/featured/elitesingles-relaunches-under-new-ownership/
7. About Black Cap, JSwipe help centre, 2026-10-16. https://support.jswipeapp.com/hc/en-us/articles/51209753777556-About-Black-Cap
8. Match Group Q1 2026 shareholder letter, Match Group (SEC filing), 2026-05-05. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000891103/000089110326000072/mtch8-k20260505ex991.htm
9. Match Group prepares to shut down gay dating app Archer, Global Dating Insights, 2026-06-10. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/featured/match-group-prepares-to-shut-down-gay-dating-app-archer/
10. Grindr special committee confirms receipt of take-private proposal from large shareholders, Grindr Inc via Business Wire, 2025-10-24. https://www.01net.it/grindr-special-committee-confirms-receipt-of-take-private-proposal-from-large-shareholders
11. Grindr walks from proposed $3.46 billion take-private deal, Global Dating Insights, 2025-11-25. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/featured/grindr-walks-from-proposed-3-46-billion-take-private-deal/
12. Grindr to acquire PurposeMed, parent of Freddie, Grindr Inc (SEC filing), 2026-09-30. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001820144/000182014426000033/exhibit991-pressreleasedat.htm
13. Match Group Q2 2024 shareholder letter, Match Group (SEC filing), 2024-07-30. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000891103/000089110324000093/mtch8-k20240730ex991.htm
14. Bumble Inc. announces fourth quarter and full year 2024 results, Bumble Inc via Business Wire, 2025-02-18. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250218678439/en/Bumble-Inc.-Announces-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2024-Results
15. ProSiebenSat.1 approves proposed agreement with General Atlantic on the acquisition of its minority stakes in NuCom Group and ParshipMeet Group, ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, 2025-03-20. https://www.prosiebensat1.com/en/newsroom/prosiebensat1-approves-proposed-agreement-with-general-atlantic-on-the-acquisition-of-its-minority-stakes-in-nucom-group-and-parshipmeet-group-together-with-an-intended-sale-of-verivox-513729
16. ProSiebenSat.1 plans sale of dating platforms after takeover, Global Dating Insights, 2025-10-23. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/from-the-web/prosiebensat-1-plans-sale-of-dating-platforms-after-takeover/
17. ProSieben keeps ParshipMeet, Flaconi as it explores sale of other digital units, sources say, Reuters via Global Banking & Finance Review, 2026-03-10. https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/prosieben-keeps-parshipmeet-flaconi-explores-sale-digital/
18. Perry Street Software acquires gay bear dating app GROWLr from The Meet Group, Global Dating Insights, 2026-10-06. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/featured/perry-street-software-acquires-growlr/
19. CatholicMatch acquires Brazil's Ágape dating app, Global Dating Insights, 2026-10-02. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/uncategorised/catholicmatch-acquires-agape-brazil-dating-app/
20. Info Edge finalises acquisition of dating app operator Aisle, Global Dating Insights, 2025-11-19. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/featured/info-edge-finalizes-acquisition-of-dating-app-operator-aisle/
21. Thursday: Tinder and Hinge rival to shut app amid rapidly declining interest, City AM, 2025-01-09. https://www.cityam.com/?p=2296926
22. Meet Kinksters shuts down following BeeDee acquisition, Global Dating Insights, 2025-06-27. https://www.globaldatinginsights.com/featured/meet-kinksters-shuts-down-following-beedee-acquisition/
23. Match Group Inc. Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, Match Group (SEC filing), 2026-08-05. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/891103/000089110326000130/mtch-20260630.htm
24. Spark Networks: German StaRUG plan confirmed in first-ever cross-border restructuring, Jones Day, 2024-05-17. https://www.jonesday.com/en/practices/experience/2024/01/spark-networks-german-starug-plan-confirmed-in-firstever-crossborder-restructuring-under-german-starug-and-us-chapter-15
25. Bumble Inc. second quarter 2026 results, Bumble Inc (SEC filing), 2026-08-05. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001830043/000183004326000099/bmbl-ex991prxq22026.htm