Dating App Bumble Plans Major Layoffs To Boost Growth

Bumble plans to reduce its workforce by 30% to save $40 million annually, and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd will take charge of leading growth initiatives.

Bumble stock prices increased by 26% after the dating application company revealed its plan to eliminate 240 positions, which represents 30% of its workforce. The company predicts these layoffs will produce yearly savings of $40 million, as first reported by CNBC.

Bumble expects to spend between $13 million and $18 million on workforce reduction expenses, through severance payments and benefits, during the third and fourth quarters of 2025, as reported by CNBC. Despite these upfront costs, the company aims to strengthen its core business and invest the savings into new product and technology development.

A Bumble spokesperson said to CNBC, “Our focus now is on moving forward in a way that strengthens our core business, continues to serve our members effectively, and positions us for future growth.” The company described the layoffs as part of a plan to realign its operating structure to better focus on strategic priorities.

CNBC reports that Bumble’s shares had struggled since going public in 2021, with its market value dropping from $7.7 billion to about $538 million. Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, who stepped down as CEO early last year, returned to lead the company earlier this year.

Along with the layoffs, Bumble updated its financial forecast for the current quarter. It now expects revenue between $244 million and $249 million and adjusted EBITDA of $88 million to $93 million, higher than its earlier forecast, as noted by CNBC.

The company plans to follow local laws and consultation requirements during the workforce reduction, which could extend beyond 2025’s fourth quarter in some countries.

This move comes amid a broader wave of tech companies reducing staff, driven in large part by the growing impact of AI on workforce dynamics. Across the industry, companies are restructuring and cutting jobs, often citing the need for greater efficiency as AI technologies automate more tasks.

For example, Meta recently faced criticism after laying off about 3,600 employees, roughly 5% of its workforce, including some who were on parental or medical leave, sparking concerns about fairness and transparency.

As AI increasingly takes on roles traditionally performed by humans, tech firms are using these efficiency drives to justify workforce reductions, reshaping corporate cultures and raising questions about the future job security of tech workers.