Bumble’s stock has been swiping left on success since the beginning… no love at first sight here. The once-hot IPO of 2021, boasting a $7.7 billion market cap, has now been ghosted down to an awkward $847 million. That’s an 89% drop for those keeping track of heartbreaks.

But what’s Bumble’s plan to swipe right on a comeback? Bring back founder Whitney Wolfe Herd as CEO in March, because apparently, when in doubt, the founder card is the saviour. And while you might expect me to roast this into oblivion, Bumble might actually have a shot here… if you’re willing to look past the bruises.

Listen, Bumble’s financials aren’t winning any beauty contests. Paying users climbed 13.9% to 4.1 million recently (yay?), but average revenue per paying user dropped 8% to $21.37. To make things worse, Bumble slashed its full-year growth expectations from 8%-11% to a dismal 1%-2%. So, what’s Bumble’s play? Bring back Whitney Wolfe Herd, the woman who built Bumble on the promise of empowering women to “make the first move.” After stepping down last year, she’s reclaiming the throne from Lidiane Jones, who’s leaving for “personal reasons” (aka… the board handed her a parting gift and gently suggested the door). And what do you know, shares popped 6% in premarket before falling back in the negative later.

(Source: The CEO Magazine)

Wolfe Herd’s return is more than just pumping up the stock temporarily. Under her leadership, Bumble went from a novel idea to a billion-dollar IPO. Her vision (combined with her ability to market Bumble as a mission-driven app for modern relationships) could reignite the spark that’s been missing. Ann Mather, Bumble’s lead director, called Wolfe Herd “a passionate and engaged founder” who’s ready to “accelerate the execution of Bumble’s strategy.” Again… they’re hoping she can pull a rabbit out of her hat.

And Bumble might just have some magic left. Despite the rough numbers, the company is trading at a dirt-cheap valuation… 0.77x forward sales, compared to an industry average of 7.12x. Match Group, the reigning champ of the dating world (Tinder’s parent company), trades at a much higher multiple. If Bumble can improve its margins and monetize its growing user base more effectively, there’s serious upside potential here.

Bumble isn’t sitting on its hands, either. The company is rolling out safety-focused features like ID verification and AI-powered photo selection, targeting its core Gen Z audience. At the same time, initiatives like Bumble BFF and Bumble Biz hint at a broader ambition: positioning Bumble as a “connection hub” for everything from friendships to networking (because why stop at awkward first dates when you can corner the market on awkward professional connections, too?).

Let’s not forget, the online dating industry is projected to grow at a 5.4% compound annual rate through 2028. With its Gen Z-heavy user base and focus on safety, Bumble is well-positioned to take advantage of everyone trying to find love. So yeah, if you believe in Bumble’s business model, then this is like getting a brand new iphone for $100. It’s practically a steal.

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