PRWEEK – After more than 7 years leading global communications at Match Group, Justine Sacco has taken on a new challenge as Chief Communications Officer at Flo Health, the world’s leading women’s health app for menstrual and pregnancy tracking.
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INVESTING – At the Goldman Sachs conference, Match Group CEO Spencer Rascoff laid out a turnaround strategy centered on product innovation and efficiency. Tinder is being restructured with new leadership and small, agile teams to win back Gen Z users, while Hinge continues its international push with a goal of reaching $1 billion in revenue by 2027. AI already plays a central role, from improving matching algorithms to helping users create better profiles and chats, and it’s also boosting internal productivity. Match is balancing reinvestment in growth with a commitment to return 100% of free cash flow to shareholders. With 250M singles worldwide still not on dating apps, the company sees plenty of room to grow, even as it works to re-establish Tinder’s appeal and maintain Hinge’s momentum.
GEEKWIRE – On CNBC’s Squawk Box, Spencer Rascoff (former Zillow CEO and now leading Match Group) dismissed the idea of people dating AI. He said AI is a “wingman,” powering algorithms on apps like Tinder, Hinge, OKCupid, and Match.com to improve matching, enhance profiles, and suggest conversation starters. Rascoff described AI as “the beating heart of any dating app” that helps people reach real human connection faster. While co-host Andrew Ross Sorkin pressed him on whether AI could become a love interest, Rascoff called that a “dystopian future” and stressed that human connection is primal and irreplaceable.
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INVESTING – At Citi’s 2025 TMT Conference, Match Group CFO Steven Bailey said the company is shifting from short-term monetization to long-term user growth. He pointed to 250M active daters not yet using apps as the main opportunity. Tinder is the turnaround focus, with a new management team, weekly product updates, and $50M reinvested into features like Double Date and interactive matching. Hinge is expanding into Mexico and Brazil, optimizing pricing, and remains on track for $1B in revenue by 2027. Bailey said Match pays ~$700M a year in Apple and Google fees and expects $65M or more in savings from in-app payments starting next year. A 13% workforce cut has freed resources for reinvestment. AI is being deployed in recommendations, trust and safety, and new features across Tinder and Hinge, with 30 tools in testing company-wide. Bailey said performance will be judged on real-world outcomes like sustained conversations, which improve retention and word-of-mouth. The three-year turnaround remains on track, with resurgence expected in 2026–2027.
PR NEWSWIRE – Steven Bailey, CFO of Match Group, will participate in a fireside chat at the Citi Global TMT Conference on Wednesday, Sep 3rd at 10:50 a.m. EST. A live webcast and replay of the fireside chat will be available here.
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BUSINESS INSIDER – Hinge is using AI to improve matches and profiles, but rejects chatbot companionship. “I don’t think that an AI chatbot should be your friend or certainly not your boyfriend or girlfriend,” CEO Justin McLeod said on the “Rapid Response” podcast. In contrast, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg argued earlier this year that digital chatbots could help address America’s “loneliness epidemic.” Hinge’s AI tools suggest ways for users to add detail to prompts and encourage in-person meetings. Owned by Match Group, Hinge reported 1.7M paying users (up 18% YOY) and $168M in Q2 2025 revenue (up 25%).
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CONSUMER AFFAIRS – Match Group will pay $14M to settle U.S. FTC charges. The FTC said the company misled users about its "meet someone special" guarantee, made it hard to cancel, and locked accounts of customers who disputed charges. Under the settlement, Match must clearly explain guarantee rules, stop account lockouts over billing disputes, and make cancellations simple. The $14M will go to compensate affected customers once approved by a judge.
See full article at Consumer Affairs
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FORTUNE – Match Group is facing a shareholder lawsuit alleging its leadership failed to act on long-standing safety issues on Tinder and Hinge, allowing some users accused of sexual assault to remain active for months or years. The suit cites a Pulitzer Center investigation claiming Match has tracked reports of rape and assault across its apps since at least 2016 through a system called Sentinel, yet some offenders evaded removal. One cited case involved cardiologist Stephen Matthews, who was reported in 2020 but stayed on the platforms until his 2023 arrest. The lawsuit, filed ahead of strong earnings in which Match reported rising revenue and user growth, accuses executives and board members of breaches of fiduciary duty, securities violations, and inadequate risk oversight. It seeks corporate governance reforms, restitution of executive pay, and damages payable to the company. Match says it combats violence, removes violators, and invests in safety measures, but has yet to release a promised public safety report.
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TECH CRUNCH – CEO Spencer Rascoff said Tinder will debut “modes,” which will allow users to switch between different dating goals. A broader redesign will include features aimed at college students. Another new feature allows users to like specific parts of a profile and start conversations based on those likes, similar to Hinge. Q2 revenue was flat at $864M and earnings declined from $133M year-over-year to $122M. A better-than-expected Q3 outlook forecast revenue of $910-920M. Match will invest $50M in product development and experiment with AI matching on Tinder, which it debuted in New Zealand earlier this year with matches based on info from profiles and insights from camera roll photos. Tinder’s Double Date option, launched in June, lets users pair up with a friend to match with another couple.
See full article at Tech Crunch
Mark Brooks: The $50M in AI product development is the real news here. Match has the pockets to really deliver on AI-based disruption and meaningful product improvements.
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LINKEDIN – Amanda Bradford started The League in 2014 and grew it to $15M revenue and $6M EBITDA, with 300k MAU across 155 cities …with just a $2.3M seed round. Match Group acquired The League in July 2022 for $30M and she stayed on as CMO & CPO-building an upsell program and implementing Tinder’s safety systems.
Mark Brooks: Amanda built a unique dating property that fits nicely in the Match Group portfolio.
Curated by the Courtland Brooks team
