The popular dating app Bumble has acquired Geneva, an online platform designed for creating groups and clubs. The company stated that the deal aims to help expand its focus from “one-on-one connections to groups and communities,” in other words, friendships.
Until now, Bumble has been cautious about partnerships or acquisitions. However, two years ago, it acquired the French friendship app Fruitz, and last year, it bought the couples app Official for $10 million.
Future Trend: Friendship Groups
While Bumble is best known for its dating app, it has recently shifted its focus due to financial losses. According to the company, friendship groups will attract more interest in the future. Although Bumble initially started as a dating app, it now also has a separate app designed for meeting people and making friends.
Bumble CEO Jones, who oversaw the acquisition of Geneva, stated that the plan moving forward is to “accelerate our friendship product using Geneva’s strong technology platform.” Here are some known statistics about the two apps:
| Feature/Statistic | Bumble | Geneva |
|---|---|---|
| Founding Year | 2014 | 2019 |
| Founders | Whitney Wolfe Herd | A team in New York |
| Main Function | Online dating and finding friends | Creating real-world groups and clubs |
| Total Investment | $2.2 billion | $36 million |
| Popular Features | One-on-one connections, BFF | Creating groups based on local interests |
| User Count | 42 million (global) | – |
Bumble has come under fire for its ads. What does it say in the ads that belittle singleness? Details in our news
What is Geneva? What Kind of App is it?
Geneva, founded in 2019 in New York, is an app designed to help people create groups and clubs in the real world. It enables users to meet people with similar interests in their area.
For example, it can be used to organize activities such as running clubs or discussing recent books. The platform has raised around $36 million in funding from notable investors like Coatue, Instagram founders Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom, Sequoia’s Michael Moritz, and Patreon co-founder Jack Conte. Bumble has acquired Geneva, but the transaction will be completed in the third quarter of 2024. It is still unclear what will happen to Geneva after the acquisition.
So, what do you think about Bumble’s acquisition of Geneva?
