Whitney Wolfe Herd: Founder & CEO at Bumble Inc. | Profile

Whitney Wolfe Herd

Founder and CEO / Bumble Inc.

Whitney Wolfe Herd is the founder and former CEO of Bumble, a popular dating app where women make the first move. She previously co-founded Tinder before launching Bumble in 2014. Under her leadership, Bumble grew to over 50 million active users, expanding into networking (Bumble Bizz) and friendship (Bumble BFF).

United States

Instagram281.2K

Entrepreneurship

281K

Instagram Followers

55M

Bumble Users

2014

Bumble Launch

150

Countries

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Career

Bumble Inc.

Founder & CEO (Returned) / Executive Chair

Mar 2025 - Present

Strategic Leadership Return

Returned to the CEO role to lead the company's next phase of growth, focusing on product innovation, AI integration, and expanding the platform's global reach. This transition followed a period of reflection on Bumble's core mission and its future in the evolving social networking landscape.

Ecosystem Management

Oversaw the continued development of the Bumble ecosystem, including the Badoo and Fruitz apps, ensuring alignment with the company's mission of fostering healthy and equitable relationships. Focused on maintaining the company's strong brand identity and user trust.

Board and Governance Oversight

Guided the company's strategic direction and corporate governance as a member of the Board of Directors, contributing to key decisions regarding market expansion and investor relations. Maintained oversight during the period she was not serving as CEO.

Bumble Inc.

Founder & CEO

2014 - Mar 2025

IPO and Public Company Leadership

Led the company through its successful Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2021, making her the youngest self-made female billionaire and CEO to take a company public in the US. This milestone validated the company's unique, women-first business model.

Global Expansion and Product Diversification

Grew Bumble into a global social networking platform with over 50.0M active users across 150 countries, expanding beyond dating to include Bumble BFF (friend-finding) and Bumble Bizz (professional networking).

Tinder

Co-Founder / VP of Marketing

~2012 - 2014

Co-founding and Early Marketing

Co-founded the highly popular dating application Tinder, playing a crucial role in its early development and marketing strategy, which led to rapid user adoption and market penetration.

Viral Growth Strategy

Credited with naming the app and driving its initial viral growth, particularly among college students, by leveraging her network and understanding of the target demographic.

Cardify / Help Us Project

Early Roles

2011 - ~2012

Early Startup Experience

Worked on a small company called Cardify in Los Angeles immediately after graduating from college, gaining early experience in the startup environment and business operations.

Philanthropic Initiative

Launched a non-profit initiative called the Help Us Project, which sold bamboo tote bags to benefit victims of the BP oil spill, demonstrating early entrepreneurial and philanthropic interests.

Education

Southern Methodist University

B.A. in International Studies

2007 - 2011

International Studies Focus

Completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies, providing a foundation in global affairs, cultural dynamics, and international business, which later informed her approach to building a global company like Bumble.

Campus Involvement

Was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, where she developed leadership skills and a strong network, which proved valuable in her early career and marketing efforts.

Domains

Audience Metrics

Top Countries

Top Cities

Age Distribution

Gender

US (63.4%)

New York (9.5%)

25-34 (53.9%)

Male (22.4%)

CA (5.4%)

Los Angeles (7.0%)

35-54 (35.7%)

Female (77.6%)

GB (4.4%)

Austin (3.8%)

18-24 (7.8%)

MY (3.9%)

Toronto (2.6%)

Social Metrics

What is her current role at Bumble Inc.?

She is the Founder and CEO of Bumble Inc., a role she has held since March 2025, following her tenure as CEO.

Did Whitney Wolfe Herd co-found Tinder?

Yes, she was a co-founder of the dating app Tinder, where she worked from approximately 2012 until 2014.

When did Whitney Wolfe Herd launch Bumble?

She launched the dating and networking app Bumble in 2014, after leaving Tinder.

How many active users does Bumble have?

Bumble has grown to over 55 million active users and operates in more than 150 countries globally.

Where did Whitney Wolfe Herd attend college?

She attended and graduated from Southern Methodist University, a key entity in her background.

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