Bumble Considering an Initial Public Offering, Says Wolfe Herd

Bumble reportedly has a range of options on the table for raising additional capital. It may consider a “change of control”.

Whitney Wolfe Herd has outlined some of the possibilities in multiple interviews, emphasising that Bumble does not need Match Group to move forwards.

“We’re very excited about other opportunities,” she told Refinery29.

“We are in talks with several other, very interesting prospects for a potential change of control.

“I would stay on and take this to the next level whatever that looks like, potentially an IPO, whatever the best future is for us.

“[Match Group] was not our only option and we’re very excited about the other prospects at hand.”

Online publication recode also spoke to Wolfe Herd. There, she said Bumble was exploring different opportunities, adding that it was “healthy” to do so.

“The interest is there, the conversations are going great, and even though there’s been a lot of noise in the media from one of those parties, it has not terminated or caused conflict with any of the other ones”, the CEO claimed.

She also said that Bumble didn’t “need” immediate investment.

The news comes as Bumble faces a lawsuit from Match Group and Tinder for patent infringement and the misappropriation of trade secrets.

Bumble has responded to the allegations in a strongly worded open letter.

Read more here.