Contributed by: Lisa on Saturday, October 25 2025 @ 10:07 am
Last modified on Saturday, October 25 2025 @ 10:16 am
The majority shareholders of Grindr, board members George Raymond Zage III and James Lu, have submitted a proposal to acquire the company for about $3.46 billion, or roughly $18 per share. The offer represents a 51% premium over the closing price on October 10 according to a report Reuters report[*1] .
The deal would give Zage and Lu, together holding over 60% of the company, full control and remove Grindr from the scrutiny of public markets. The proposal gains momentum after filings showed they secured strong expressions of interest for financing and equity contributions. A special committee of independent directors has been formed to review the bid.
While Grindr’s recent performance has been mixed, the shareholders believe the business is undervalued. The board members say they are “strong believers in the long-term outlook” and have personally invested hundreds of millions of dollars to support the company’s growth. Simultaneously, the online dating sector faces rising challenges—from “swipe fatigue” among younger users to increasing competition from niche and AI-powered platforms.
So what does all this mean if you’re a Grindr user (or could be)? Here are a few ways this transaction might affect your experience:
In short: Grindr going private doesn’t mean you lose your profile, but it could mean the platform changes in ways you don’t expect. For more on this gay dating app, check our our Grindr review.