Bumble CEO sidesteps going-private questions
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Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd dodged when asked if the dating app maker would consider going private, during a new episode of The Axios Show.
The big picture: Bumble has been getting pummeled by the public markets, down 95% from its 2021 IPO, and has private equity history with Blackstone.
- Wolfe Herd stepped down as CEO in early 2024, but returned 14 months later.
What she said: "We are always exploring what's best for the shareholders. I obviously cannot comment on what the structural future of the company would or would not be, but what I will say is I think the benefit that I have garnered over the last few years of being a public company CEO, is I'm tough as nails now. I mean you really can't hurt me ...
- Being a public company, CEO, whether this is forever or not, we'll see what's best for the company at the right time. And in the meantime we just keep delivering good product and working hard behind the scenes."
By the numbers: Blackstone valued Bumble at $3 billion when it invested in 2019, and still holds nearly a 23% ownership stake.
- Bumble went public at around a $7.7 billion valuation, but that's since been slashed to just around $1 billion.
