Who Owns Badoo?

Badoo was founded in 2006 by Russian entrepreneur Andrey Andreev, launching as one of the first social discovery platforms focused on connecting people for dating and social networking. The platform quickly gained popularity in Europe and international markets, distinguishing itself from traditional dating sites with its social discovery approach.

Throughout the late 2000s and 2010s, Badoo expanded rapidly across global markets, particularly in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The platform was among the first to embrace mobile technology, developing apps for early smartphones and adapting to the shift from desktop to mobile usage.

In 2014, Andrey Andreev supported Whitney Wolfe Herd in founding Bumble, bringing both platforms under his broader corporate umbrella. The companies operated separately but shared technological resources and expertise.

The most significant change came in 2019 when Blackstone acquired MagicLab, Andreev's holding company that owned both Badoo and Bumble. This acquisition valued the combined entity at approximately $3 billion and brought in new leadership and resources.

In 2021, the combined entity completed its IPO as Bumble Inc., marking Badoo's transition to being part of a publicly traded company. Despite these corporate changes, Badoo has maintained its distinct brand identity and focus on international markets.