FINANCIAL TIMES – Grindr plans to make more money from wealthy users through higher-priced subscriptions. It is testing Edge, an AI-powered service costing up to $350 a month, and developing an even more expensive lifestyle and experiences product. Grindr had 15M monthly active users in Q2 2026, but only 1.4M were paying customers. The company expects at least $540M in revenue and $232M in adjusted earnings this year.
THE GUARDIAN – Bumble has removed its requirement for women to initiate conversations and is preparing to replace swiping. The company is developing an AI matchmaking assistant called Bee, while Tinder is testing its AI-powered Chemistry system and Grindr is becoming an “AI-first” platform. Startups including Fate are also replacing profile browsing with AI-led matching. Researchers argue that AI may not address users’ underlying concerns about poor matches, monetization practices, privacy and the growing use of AI communication. They suggest that better moderation, clearer policies and greater user control could be more effective than adding AI to the existing dating-app model.
GRINDR – Grindr’s Q2 revenue rose 33% to $138M. Net income reached $18M, while adjusted EBITDA was $58M. The company raised its full-year revenue forecast to ~$540M. Grindr credited strong user engagement, product improvements and its Madonna partnership for the growth.
WALL STREET JOURNAL – New AI dating apps are offering alternatives to swiping. Amata, a chatbot-based matchmaking app, interviews users and charges about $20 to arrange a date, while Known, an AI matchmaking service supported by human matchmakers, recommends compatible partners. Volar, a now-closed AI dating app, previously tested virtual versions of users that went on simulated dates for them. Established platforms are also experimenting with AI: Grindr is developing its gAI assistant, Bumble is testing its Bee matchmaker, and Tinder and Hinge are introducing tools that help users improve profiles and start conversations.
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.