Bill Shafton: Grindr’s $608M Sale, M&A & Compliance

Posted on November 12, 2026

LTR – What makes a dating company more valuable to potential buyers, and can compliance become a competitive advantage?

Mark Brooks sits down with Bill Shafton, Grindr’s first in-house lawyer and former Chief Legal Officer, to discuss Grindr’s $608M sale, its journey to becoming a public company, and the lessons dating entrepreneurs can learn from its M&A experience.

From preparing for acquisition to turning data privacy and regulatory compliance into business value, Bill shares his perspective on what it takes to build a dating business that buyers want.

A must-watch conversation for dating founders and executives navigating M&A and the future of the industry.

[**See the video here on YouTube**]

The August LTR was kindly sponsored by HubPeople, LeadThink and Courtland Brooks

CMB Report: 86% of Singles Prefer Financial Responsibility Over High Income

Posted on November 12, 2026
Coffee Meets Bagel

CMB – Coffee Meets Bagel’s 2026 Dating Realness Report found that 86% of singles would prefer a partner earning $70K who saves responsibly over one earning $250K who overspends. Financial red flags include overspending (63%) and expecting financial support (58%). Rising costs have affected dating for 51% of respondents, with 86% of those going on fewer dates or becoming more selective. Meanwhile, 52% favour splitting relationship expenses proportionally rather than equally, and 54% believe whoever initiates the first date should pay. The report surveyed 3,388 US users.

See full article at Coffee Meets Bagel website

Seeking Launches $50K Anti 50/50 Campaign With Julia Fox

Posted on November 11, 2026
Seeking logo

BUSINESSWIRE – Seeking has launched its Anti 50/50 Campaign featuring actress Julia Fox, offering a $50K fund to reimburse singles up to $50 if they were asked to split the bill on a date. Seeking’s research found that 61% of Gen Z women have been asked to split a first-date bill, while 75% of women prefer men to take the lead in planning and paying. The campaign runs until February 10, 2027, or until the fund is exhausted.

See full article at BusinessWire

Matrimony.com First-Half Profit Jumps 147% as Matchmaking Margins Rise

Posted on November 10, 2026
matrimony.com logo

MULTIBAGG – Matrimony.com reported net profit of Rs 39.8 crore ($4.2M) for the first half of FY27, up 146.6% YOY. Matchmaking revenue rose 15.7% to Rs 263.4 crore ($28M), while matchmaking EBITDA jumped 89.2% to Rs 74.7 crore ($8M). Paid subscriptions increased 14.6% to 570K, while marketing spending remained nearly flat at Rs 91.8 crore ($9.8M).

See full article at Multibagg.ai

Grindr Launches $120-a-Month Edge Tier With Membership Capped at 1%

Posted on November 10, 2026
Grindr Edge

WIRED – Grindr is rolling out its $120-a-month premium Edge subscription worldwide on November 17, with membership limited to 1% of its 16M monthly users. Edge includes AI-powered recommendations that assess compatibility and the likelihood of a reply, a feature for resurfacing past connections, and a separate design and interface. Grindr says it will deliberately limit membership to maintain exclusivity, with the potential for higher pricing over time. The global launch follows tests in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

See full article at Wired

Matrimony.com Takes Control of Astrology Firm Astro-Vision in $852K Deal

Posted on November 10, 2026
Matrimony.com and Astro-Vision logos

DEALROOM – Matrimony.com is acquiring an additional 50% stake in astrology software company Astro-Vision Futuretech for ₹8 crore ($852K), increasing its ownership from 26.09% to 76.09%. Astro-Vision provides astrology software and content in ~10 Indian languages and has generated ~110M horoscopes. Matrimony.com says many of its matchmaking customers already use Astro-Vision for horoscope predictions, and expects the acquisition to strengthen the integration of astrology into its services. The deal is expected to close within three months.

See full article at Dealroom

Leaked EU Digital Fairness Act Targets Dark Patterns and Subscriptions

Posted on November 10, 2026
Digital Fairness Act

HOGAN LOVELLS CADWALADER – A leaked draft of the EU’s Digital Fairness Act would introduce tougher consumer protection rules for digital businesses. Proposed measures include bans on dark patterns, restrictions on addictive design and personalised pricing, tighter rules for influencer marketing, and new protections around subscriptions, free trials and automatic renewals. Businesses could also be required to provide easy online cancellation and access to human customer service. The proposal, expected to be formally presented on November 11, would apply directly across EU member states and strengthen enforcement of unfair digital practices.

See full article at Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

Chapter 2 Raises $600K From Its Own Dating Community

Posted on November 10, 2026
Chapter 2 logo

FORBES – Chapter 2, the dating platform for widows and widowers founded by Nicky Wake, has grown to 25K members across the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada. Wake has raised ~$600K, largely from Chapter 2 users, and is preparing for another funding round. “Our biggest supporters are those who use the service,” she said. The platform charges $34.99 a month for messaging and requires members to verify their identity and widowed status. Chapter 2 has produced five marriages so far, while Wake is now adding in-person events and developing an AI companion for widows.

See full article at Forbes

Grindr Reports Third Quarter 2026 Revenue Growth of 22%

Posted on November 10, 2026
Grindr logo

GRINDR – Grindr reported Q3 2026 revenue of $141M, up 22%, and raised its full-year revenue forecast to $560M with adjusted EBITDA of $236M. The company expects at least $705M in revenue and $275M in adjusted EBITDA in 2027. Grindr is launching its new premium Edge tier this month and has completed its acquisition of Freddie parent PurposeMed, expanding its healthcare business.

See full article at Grindr website

Gamified Gen Z Dating App Genza Makes U.S. Debut in Los Angeles

Posted on November 10, 2026
Genza app

TECHBULLION – Genza has launched its gamified dating app in the U.S., starting in Los Angeles with an initial focus on UCLA and Westwood. Instead of swiping through photos, users create 3D avatars and complete interactive quests that build a “Vibe Code” based on their personality, values, and preferences. AI uses 30 personality traits to suggest two matches at a time, who can then chat and play games together before their photos are gradually revealed. Genza says its soft launch attracted more than 2,000 users, and the app is now available on iOS and Android.

See full article at TechBullion