Happn Aims to Drive Global Expansion After Hello Group Acquisition

French dating app Happn has been fully acquired by Hello Group, the Beijing-based social and dating app operator behind Momo and Tantan, as part of a push to accelerate international growth. The deal, signed on September 2, 2025, will support Happn’s expansion into Asia and Africa while reinforcing its presence in established markets such as Europe, Latin America, India, and Turkey.

Launched in 2014, Happn built its reputation around geolocation-based features that connect users with people they encounter in daily life. The app reports more than 170 million registered users worldwide, with strong footholds in France, Brazil, Turkey, and India. The new ownership, Happn says, will help scale its vision of “local and authentic dating” in untapped markets.

“I am incredibly proud of this new step forwards,” said Karima Ben Abdelmalek, president of Happn. “The synergy with Hello Group will boost our international development with a strong local presence combining our complementary expertise, while continuing to serve a product that is unique on the dating market.”

Hello Group, listed on Nasdaq under the ticker MOMO, has positioned itself as a leading player in social connection, operating a portfolio of apps including Momo, Tantan, and Soulchill. “The synergy with Happn was obvious: the similarity of our missions and our international ambitions is what enabled the new chapter we are starting today,” said Sichuan Zhang, COO of Hello Group.

The acquisition caps a multi-year strategic shift for Happn under Abdelmalek, who introduced the “Smart Dating” plan in 2021 to rebrand the platform and emphasize technology-driven, locally grounded encounters. According to company statements, profits have tripled since 2022, aided by repositioning efforts in India and Turkey.

For Hello Group, the move strengthens its international portfolio at a time when the global dating app industry faces declining engagement and “dating fatigue.” By combining Happn’s location-driven matching with Hello’s experience in Asia-Pacific markets, the companies aim to diversify offerings and maintain relevance in an increasingly competitive space.