FAST COMPANY – Bumble has spun off its friendship feature into a stand-alone app, BFF, positioning it as part of “The Great Frienaissance.” The app, now live in the U.S., uses interest-based matching, photo prompts, and a new Groups section powered by technology from community platform Geneva, which Bumble acquired in 2024. Research commissioned by Bumble shows 55% of young adults want more local friends, and one in four want friends to attend events with.
See full article at Fast Company
LITTLE BLACK BOOK – Grindr has launched Grindr Presents, an in-app content hub hosting uncensored podcasts, educational series, and cultural programming like Who’s the Asshole? and Daddy Lessons. Previously, content lived off-platform, leading to drop-offs. Now, with users spending about an hour a day in the app, Grindr sees this as a natural extension of its “Global Gaybourhood in Your Pocket” vision. SVP of Brand Marketing Tristan Piñeiro says the goal is to build authenticity and community beyond dating by offering raw, unfiltered storytelling that mainstream platforms censor. The hub has already drawn 36M+ views on social and positions Grindr as both a lifestyle destination and cultural space, while also opening doors for brand partnerships, sponsorships, and collaborations.
See full article at Little Black Book
DOU – Taimi, created by Ukrainian company appflame, is an LGBTQ+ dating app with ~31M users and a top-ten spot in US downloads. Available in 100 countries, it stands out by focusing on user experience instead of pushing aggressive monetization. The app runs on a freemium model with subscriptions and optional features. New members typically find a match within minutes, start conversations quickly, and are encouraged to take those connections offline. To boost engagement, Taimi has rolled out features like First Move, which lets users pre-set their opening message, and Taimi In Person, a program for LGBTQ+ community events that has already held ~30 gatherings in the US. Safety is a core part of the product: all protective features are free, from Face ID login and profile verification to stealth mode and 24/7 moderation. The company is currently focused on scaling in the US, backed by new cross-functional product teams and a Head of Product hired from New York with experience at Grindr and HBO Max. Brand-building has also become a major focus, with Taimi appearing in Netflix and Amazon Prime series, a Katy Perry music video, and on screens at Doja Cat concerts. In 2025, downloads climbed 32% YOY, and organic social reach jumped to 52M views. Taimi plans to expand further in Europe while cementing its role as a trusted platform for the global LGBTQ+ community.
See full article at DOU
PRESS RELEASE – French dating app happn has been fully acquired by HelloGroup, a major Asian social and dating app operator, under a deal signed on Sep 2, 2025. The acquisition aims to strengthen happn’s position in existing markets (Europe, Latin America, India, Turkey) and drive expansion into Asia and Africa. Founded in 2014, happn has ~170M users worldwide and tripled its profits between 2022 and 2025 under President Karima Ben Abdelmalek’s “Smart Dating” strategy. HelloGroup, which operates apps like Momo and TanTan, sees the acquisition as a way to combine expertise and accelerate international growth.
THE DRUM – Bumble’s “For The Love of Love” campaign shows soft-focus scenes of real couples, handholding, kitchen dancing, dinner parties, even a baby bump, to frame its £30–£40 subscriptions as an investment in future happiness. The strategy shifts the app from a short-term dopamine hit to a long-term identity-driven purchase, asking users to stay subscribed with the promise that patience will pay off. The campaign leans on System 2 storytelling, using romantic imagery and social proof to normalize delay, positioning subscriptions as comparable to a gym membership rather than an impulse buy.
See full article at The Drum
BUSINESS INSIDER – Business Insider reviewed pitch decks from 12 startups disrupting dating apps and social networking, many tackling loneliness, dating fatigue, and dissatisfaction with incumbents. Investors are backing both Big Tech alumni (e.g., Retro, PamPam) and Gen Z founders (e.g., Kndrd, Noplace). Notable raises include Posh ($22M Series A), Spoon Radio ($17M), Clyx ($14M), Pie ($11.5M), and Meet5 ($9M). Seed rounds went to apps like Hangout ($8.2M) and First Round’s On Me ($3M), while Series, an AI professional network for students, raised $3.1M pre-seed. Some startups are experimenting with freemium models or user-backed funding, but investors caution that not all are venture-scale.
See full article at Business Insider
WOMEN LOVE TECH – Lucia Haigh, CEO of RSVP, runs one of Australia’s longest-standing dating platforms, now serving a largely mature audience. RSVP differentiates itself from swipe-first apps by emphasizing detailed profiles and authenticity. The platform addresses ghosting with predefined responses, and works with local organizations on safety and scam prevention. Haigh views AI as central to improving matching, personalisation, and protection.
See full article at Women Love Tech
NET INFLUENCER – Tinder has launched “Double Date Island,” a YouTube reality show featuring social media creators to promote its new Double Date feature. The campaign targets Gen Z by leveraging creator-led content across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and BeReal, aligning with their social-first media habits.
See full article at Net Influencer
ASIA NEWS – Japanese municipalities are revamping matchmaking programs to attract Gen Z and address declining marriage rates. Events now use apps, AI-powered matching, and low-cost large gatherings, such as Tottori’s “Tottori model,” which achieved a 56% success rate and is spreading to other cities. As of 2023, 32 prefectures, including Tokyo, have adopted AI-based systems, with national subsidies for marriage support tripling since 2013. While many regions are expanding these efforts, some like Wakayama and Akitakata have ended programs, citing the rise of private apps or limited effectiveness.
See full article at Asia News
WJJY 106.7 – Grindr has partnered with Christina Aguilera for a limited feature tied to her appearance at the Portola festival in San Francisco. From Sept. 15 to 22, the app’s usual “bloop” notification sound will be replaced with a snippet of Aguilera’s Come On Over. The move is promoted with an Instagram video and marks a playful collaboration between the pop star and the LGBT+ dating app.
See full article at WJJY 106.7