Bumble to Cut 30% of Workforce as Part of Strategic Restructuring

Bumble is implementing another significant round of layoffs, announcing plans to cut approximately 30% of its workforce – impacting around 240 employees – as part of a broader effort to restructure operations and prioritize investment in product and technology. The news, disclosed in a securities filing on Wednesday, marks the second time in under two years the dating app company has made major staffing reductions, following a similar move in February 2024.

The company expects to save roughly $40 million annually through the latest workforce reduction and says most of that will be reinvested into areas aimed at strengthening its technology platform and product offerings. Bumble also expects to incur $13 million to $18 million in nonrecurring costs related to severance, benefits, and other expenses tied to the layoffs, which will primarily impact the third and fourth quarters of 2025.

This announcement comes amid a turbulent period for the dating app sector. Bumble’s decision to increase its second-quarter revenue guidance—now expected to fall between $244 million and $249 million, up from previous projections—appears to have reassured investors, with shares rising about 20% following the news.

The company has faced ongoing pressure to revive user growth and revenue, particularly after reporting a 7.7% year-over-year decline in first-quarter earnings. Bumble’s founder, Whitney Wolfe Herd, returned as CEO in March after stepping down in 2023, stating in a New York Times interview that the platform’s decline since its peak had been difficult to witness.

The layoffs also mirror broader trends in the dating app space. Match Group, which operates Tinder and Hinge, announced in May that it would reduce its workforce by 13%, citing similar goals of cost-cutting and organizational streamlining amid slowing user growth, especially among younger audiences.