Playing cupid: Match Group’s reign over dating in the digital age

In this episode of Get the Check, the hosts dive into Match Group, the largest online dating company and parent of Tinder, Hinge, and more. They explore Match Group’s rise to dominance, including its aggressive acquisition strategy and its 9-figure payout to Tinder, as well as failed acquisition of Bumble. 

The discussion also tackles the current challenges facing the online dating industry, from stagnant revenue growth to a shrinking user base, and the paradox at the heart of Match’s business model: making money by keeping users engaged, while those same users hope to find love and leave the apps behind. 

The hosts then look at how AI is changing the dating game, with Grindr launching an AI "wingman" and Bumble rolling out virtual dating concierges. They question whether these new tech features truly foster connection—or if they might be leaving people feeling lonelier than ever. 

Wrapping up, the hosts share what online dating has been like for them and their friends in their mid-20s in San Francisco. You can follow @getthecheckpod on all socials. Stay tuned for next week’s episode on Scale AI!

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:42 History of Match Group

05:18 Tinder acquisition

10:28 Failed Bumble acquisition and lawsuit

15:28 Hinge acquisition

20:56 Industry financials

22:51 Dating apps contributing to the loneliness epidemic 

25:41 Integrating AI into dating apps

30:08 Future of dating apps

36:00 Restaurant pic of the week