Bumble, the popular dating app, announced a significant move on Wednesday—laying off 30% of its workforce, affecting around 240 employees. The company explained that this decision is part of a strategic effort to realign its operating structure and better focus on its core priorities.
This workforce reduction is expected to save Bumble approximately $40 million annually, with most of these savings planned to be reinvested into product innovation and technology development. Despite the tough news for employees, Bumble’s shares responded positively, climbing about 20% following the announcement.
The company also revealed that it will incur around $13 million to $18 million in non-recurring charges, mainly related to severance and benefits for the impacted staff during the second half of 2025.
Interestingly, this isn’t Bumble’s first round of layoffs this year. Back in January 2024, the company cut about 350 jobs, also representing roughly 30% of its workforce.
In addition to the layoffs, Bumble is optimistic about its financial outlook. The company has raised its second-quarter revenue forecast to between $244 million and $249 million, surpassing previous estimates of $235 million to $243 million.
These developments come amid a period of leadership change and market challenges. Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd returned as CEO in March after stepping down in 2023, signaling her commitment to steer Bumble through these turbulent times.
Despite facing some setbacks, including a 7.7% drop in first-quarter earnings, Herd emphasized her dedication to the company’s revival, telling The New York Times, “Bumble needs me back. It’s an extension of me to some degree, and watching it fall from its peak has been very hard.”
Meanwhile, rival dating platforms like Tinder and Hinge, owned by Match Group, are also grappling with user retention issues. Match Group announced a 13% reduction in staff in May as part of efforts to cut costs and streamline operations.
As Bumble navigates these challenging times, its strategic layoffs and leadership shifts highlight a broader industry trend of companies adjusting to a rapidly changing digital dating landscape.
