BARRON’S – Grindr shares rose after Morgan Stanley upgraded the company to Overweight and raised its price target from $15 to $18. Analyst Nathan Feather cited confidence in Grindr’s upcoming products, including its Woodwork telehealth brand and the premium Edge subscription tier, saying they could improve monetization.
BLOOMBERG – Grindr CEO George Arison said the company is evolving beyond dating to become a “global gayborhood,” as the platform continues to expand its role in helping users connect for relationships, friendships, and community. Arison said Grindr has delivered ~25% annual growth over the last four years and claimed that 50% of gay relationships now start on the app. He also said attitudes toward long-term relationships are changing, with more gay men seeking serious relationships than in previous years. According to Grindr’s research, more than half of gay men under 35 say they want a long-term relationship, while 25% want children, a shift he attributed in part to the growing recognition of same-sex marriage. Arison highlighted AI as a major investment area for the company and said 80% of Grindr’s code is now generated by AI. He also discussed the role Grindr plays in countries where LGBTQ+ people face restrictions.
DS DIGITAL SHIELD – A hacker claims to be selling a database containing information on ~15 M Grindr users. The data is said to include names, email addresses, account details, location data, physical attributes, sexual orientation, gender, date of birth, and HIV-related information. The alleged database is being offered for $400 on a dark web forum. The claims have not been independently verified, and Grindr had not publicly commented at the time of publication.
PRESS RELEASE – Grindr reported strong first-quarter 2026 results, with revenue rising 38% YOY to $130M. Net income reached $27M, while adjusted EBITDA grew to $58M, representing a 45% margin. CEO George Arison said the company is continuing to invest in product growth, including new features and the upcoming global launch of its “Edge” platform. Grindr also raised its full-year 2026 outlook and now expects ~$535M in revenue and $227M in adjusted EBITDA. The company said growth is being driven by stronger user engagement, platform expansion, and efforts to broaden Grindr’s role beyond dating into a larger LGBTQ+ social and cultural platform.
FAST COMPANY – Madonna is promoting her new album Confessions II by partnering with Grindr, placing her profile directly in users’ grids. Tapping it reveals a voice message, exclusive content, and a limited-edition vinyl preorder. The campaign, Grindr’s largest so far, will roll out more content over time and targets its highly engaged LGBTQ audience.
NEW YORK POST – George Arison, CEO of Grindr, has endorsed moderate San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and donated $7K to his campaign. Arison stirred controversy in 2022 when he became CEO, and past tweets resurfaced in which he described himself as conservative. Those comments have since been deleted. It’s unclear if Arison is still conservative. But he doesn’t like how California is being run, suggesting the state should have a smaller government or more services.
RFI – France has signed a charter with major dating apps, including Tinder, Grindr, Bumble, and Happn, to combat rising homophobic ambushes, where victims are lured by fake profiles and attacked. The agreement focuses on three pillars: prevent, report, and protect. Platforms will improve reporting tools, retain and share data with law enforcement (even after account deletion), promote verified profiles, and strengthen bans. France positions this as a first-of-its-kind coordinated effort between government, tech platforms, and advocacy groups to tackle targeted anti-LGBT+ violence.
GRINDR – Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court ruled that same-sex marriages performed in other EU countries must be recognized in Poland, giving legal status to an estimated 30K–40K Polish couples married abroad. The ruling follows advocacy from local organizations, supported by Grindr for Equality through campaigns and partner initiatives. Full marriage equality remains the goal.
GRINDR – Grindr shared its 2026 product roadmap, and it’s clearly moving beyond just a dating app. At the center is its AI system, gAI™, which is now built into the whole app. It helps with better matches, improved search (even inside chats), and a Smart Inbox that highlights the conversations most likely to go somewhere. The idea is simple: less time wasted, better results. One of the main features is “Right Now,” focused on instant connections. It shows nearby users who are ready to meet and includes options like discreet posting for more privacy. Grindr is also expanding its premium offering with EDGE, an AI-powered tier that gives more personalized matches, compatibility insights, and tools to reconnect with past chats. Beyond dating, the app is adding more real-world features. Maps will show nearby places like bars and gyms, and they’re testing hotel bookings. There’s also a new Health Center with sexual health and wellness content and services.
LOS ANGELES TIMES – Grindr is rolling out an AI-powered premium tier focused on faster, more personalized matching, with features like curated daily matches, compatibility insights, and chat summaries, while also expanding AI across safety, inbox prioritization, and search; the move is part of a broader shift to become an AI-first company, as competitors like Bumble and Tinder push similar AI-driven tools to attract users.