Bumble Inc., the parent company of Bumble and Badoo, has acquired Fruitz, a rapidly growing dating app in Europe and Canada. Fruitz has gained popularity among Gen Z users and is known for its light-hearted and freemium approach to dating.
Fruitz was co-founded in 2017 by Julian Kabab (CEO), Fabrice Bascoulergue (CTO), and Arnaud Ruols (CFO) who have led the app’s growth into a significant player in the dating category. The founders of Fruitz will continue leading the app within Bumble’s organization. This acquisition aligns with Bumble’s mission of fostering healthy and equitable relationships. By leveraging Bumble’s technology and marketing resources, Fruitz’s growth is expected to be accelerated. Both Bumble and Fruitz were created to address important issues in the dating world, with Bumble empowering women to make the first move and Fruitz promoting open communication of dating intentions through playful fruit metaphors.
“Fruitz is a brand and leadership team that I’ve been following for years,” said Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble Founder & CEO. “Julian, Fabrice, and Arnaud are dynamic and brilliant leaders who have built a unique product that has struck a powerful chord with consumers in France and across Europe. By plugging Fruitz into our technology and data science platform, community support, brand and growth marketing, we can accelerate Fruitz’s growth.”
Fruitz CEO Julian Kabab adds: “Bumble’s vision and product has been an inspiration to us from day one. We’re so excited with the opportunity to grow as part of Bumble Inc., and work toward empowering more healthy relationships. The idea for Fruitz came from my very first experience with dating apps which was a disaster. Simply put, the lovely person I met had a very different intention to mine. Expressing what you’re looking for is not easy because we’re fearful of being judged. As a result, no one was being honest with their intentions and everyone was wasting each other’s time.”
With this acquisition, Bumble Inc. will expand its product offerings and combine Fruitz’s Gen Z-oriented approach with its existing platforms and resources. Bumble Inc. now includes Bumble, Badoo, and Fruitz apps, employing over 800 people across multiple locations.
