Bumble, an Austin-based dating app company and champion of a women-first approach to meeting, may be headed for an IPO.
The company, which planted its roots in north central Austin a few years ago, is making moves in advance of a potential initial public offering that could come early next year, Bloomberg reported Tuesday evening, citing sources familiar with the matter.
But the Bloomberg report noted that nothing is finalized just yet, and the company didn't comment on the news -- nor did its majority stake investor, private equity firm Blackstone Group.
The $6 billion to $8 billion valuation the company is said to fetch would represent a big boost from the also lofty valuations market observers and investors have placed on the company previously. Last fall, reports said Bumble could be worth well over $1 billion, with some suggesting $3 billion might be a fair valuation.
The rumored IPO comes as Bumble continues to invest in women led small businesses and expands its reach as a professional networking app, in addition to its initial pioneering efforts in the women-first dating app category.
Bumble, founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd in 2014, opened its brightly colored Austin HQ in 2017. Later that year, word first emerged that it might be an emerging unicorn. For years, it has reportedly declined acquisition offers in favor of walking its own path.
