Grindr Shareholders Propose $3.46 Billion Take-Private Deal

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.

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.

Why This Matters for You

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:

• Greater freedom for innovation: As a private company, Grindr might experiment more freely with features, pricing or safety tools—without the pressure of quarterly earnings.
• Potential changes in transparency: Public companies must disclose a lot—private ones less so. You might see shifts in policy, monetization or data practices with less public oversight.
• Continued focus—or retreat—from growth: The shareholders believe the app is undervalued, which could signal renewed investment. On the flip side, it could also mean a consolidation of features, fewer new users, or higher monetization.
• What to watch: Check for updates to terms of service, pricing changes, feature roll-outs or reduced transparency. If a company shifts significantly, it should still align with your values and comfort as a user.

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.