Category: Grindr

Grindr Escapes Court Trial as Judge Sends 16-Year-Old’s Murder Case to Arbitration

Posted on November 4, 2025
Grindr

NBC MIAMI – A U.S. federal judge ruled that a wrongful-death lawsuit against Grindr over the murder of 16-year-old Miranda Corsette must go to arbitration rather than trial. Corsette was killed in Feb 2025 after meeting a man on the app, which explicitly bars minors. Despite this, Judge Tom Barber found that by creating a Grindr account, Corsette had agreed to the platform’s terms and conditions, including mandatory arbitration, three separate times. The victim’s estate argued that no valid contract could exist because she was underage and ineligible to use the service, but the court rejected that reasoning. Critics have called the decision disturbing, as it effectively holds a minor to fine-print terms on an app that legally should have excluded her in the first place.

See full article at NBC Miami

AI Takes Over Dating Apps as Companies Bet on Smarter Matchmaking

Posted on November 4, 2025
AI Takes Over Dating Apps as Companies Bet on Smarter Matchmaking

NEW YORK TIMES – Artificial intelligence is reshaping online dating. Startups like Known and major platforms such as Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr are replacing endless swiping with A.I. tools that offer curated matches and coaching. Users can pay per match or date instead of monthly subscriptions. Match Group’s new A.I. algorithms have increased matches on Hinge by 15%, while Tinder is testing “Chemistry,” an A.I. feature that analyzes photos to improve matching. Bumble and Grindr are developing similar tools. The shift comes as user satisfaction and paid subscriptions decline, prompting dating apps to bet on A.I. as the next phase of online matchmaking.

See full article at New York Times

Grindr for Equality 2025 Awards

Posted on October 28, 2025
Grindr for Equality 2025 Awards

GRINDR – Grindr for Equality has announced the 2025 Awards, supporting five partner organizations that advance LGBTQ+ health, rights, and safety worldwide by pairing community expertise with Grindr’s global reach. The partners include ITPC Global, addressing HIV prevention gaps across Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe; Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines, connecting users to HIV testing and mental health support; Freedom to Marry Global and Marriage For All Japan, leading marriage-equality efforts; and SAATHII in India, improving community safety and access to legal aid. The Awards are disbursed through the Grindr for Equality Fund at the Tides Foundation.

See full article at Grindr blog

Grindr Shareholders Offer to Take the Dating App Private for $3.46B

Posted on October 27, 2025
Grindr

REUTERS – Two major Grindr board members, Ray Zage and James Lu, who already control ~60% of the company, have proposed taking the LGBTQIA+ dating app private at a $3.46B valuation ($18 per share), a 51% premium over its Oct 10 price. The offer aims to consolidate control amid slowing user growth and “swiping fatigue” affecting the dating industry. Zage and Lu, who bought Grindr in 2020 and took it public in 2022, claim to have secured strong financing commitments. Grindr’s special committee of independent directors is currently reviewing the unsolicited offer.

See full article at Reuters

Norwegian Court Upholds €5.5M Fine Against Grindr for Illegal Data Sharing

Posted on October 22, 2025
A smartphone displaying the Grindr logo on a yellow background, placed on a laptop keyboard.

FORBRUKERRADET – Grindr’s appeal against a 65M NOK (€5.5M) fine has been rejected by Norway’s Court of Appeal, confirming that Grindr illegally shared users’ personal data with advertisers in violation of the GDPR. The case began in 2020 after the Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) revealed Grindr’s data-sharing with multiple commercial partners. NCC’s Director of Digital Policy, Finn Lützow-Holm Myrstad, welcomed the ruling, calling it a “strong signal” to the digital advertising industry. He urged companies to end uncontrolled data tracking and profiling, warning that misuse of such information can manipulate voters, exploit vulnerable users, and endanger minorities.

See full article at Forbrukerradet

Grindr’s Majority Owners Move to Take the Company Private After Stock Slide

Posted on October 17, 2025
Grindr

FAST COMPANY – Grindr’s largest shareholders, Raymond Zage and James Lu, are exploring a plan to take the company private again, just four years after it went public through a SPAC merger in 2021. The move follows a recent stock drop that led a lender to seize shares tied to a personal loan. Reports say Zage and Lu are in talks with Fortress Investment Group to finance a buyout at about $15 per share, compared to Grindr’s $12.72 closing price on October 15. The two control over 60% of Grindr’s stock, prompting the board to form an independent committee to review any offer. Grindr’s shares had peaked at $24.73 in June 2025 but have since fallen, partly after a Ningi Research report accused the company of inflating user numbers. Grindr denied comment on both the buyout and the allegations. Despite the volatility, the company’s Q2 revenue rose 27% YOY, and CEO George Arison has announced plans to expand AI-driven features and telehealth services such as Woodwork, its ED medication platform.

See full article at Fast Company

Grindr’s Owners Want to Take It Private

Posted on October 14, 2025
A smartphone displaying the Grindr app logo

SEMAFOR – Grindr’s two main owners, Raymond Zage and James Lu, might buy back the company and make it private again. They’re talking with Fortress Investment Group to borrow money for the deal. They’re considering paying ~$15 per share, which would value Grindr at $3B. Right now, the company is worth $2.4B on the stock market. Even though Grindr’s profits went up 25% last quarter, the stock price has dropped over 20% since September. The deal could attract national-security attention, since Grindr was once owned by a Chinese company and handles sensitive user data.

See full article at Semafor

Grindr CEO George Arison Pushes AI Matchmaking and Premium Tiers, Expands Into Telemedicine With Woodwork

Posted on October 9, 2025
Grindr CEO George Arison

BENZINGA – Grindr is moving to become an AI-native company, with CEO George Arison outlining plans for new premium tiers supported by AI features. The recently launched A-List tool already uses AI to summarize chats and highlight a user’s top potential matches. Future features will act as intelligent matchmaking assistants, designed to reduce the effort of searching and swiping while offering greater value that justifies higher pricing. Arison said these tools will cater to both users seeking quick connections and those building longer-term networks. Alongside AI, Grindr is expanding into new verticals with Woodwork, a telemedicine platform with future plans in health, travel, and lifestyle.

See full article at Benzinga

Grindr CEO George Arison: Over-Monetized Apps, Not Gen Z, Are Hurting Modern Dating

Posted on October 9, 2025
Grindr

BENZINGA – Grindr CEO George Arison says Gen Z isn’t abandoning dating but is being priced out by over-monetized apps that make free versions nearly unusable. He stressed that Grindr remains popular with young users because its free product is “extremely robust,” unlike competitors that limit messaging and features. Arison noted young people also use free alternatives like Instagram to connect.

See full article at Benzinga

Grindr Names Veteran Executive John North as Finance Chief

Posted on October 3, 2025
Grindr

REUTERS – Grindr has appointed John North as CFO, succeeding Vanna Krantz after her three-year tenure, which included the 2022 public listing. North brings over 20 years of experience, having previously served as CEO of Lazydays, CFO of Copart, and a board member at XPEL.

See full article at Reuters