Grindr Take-Private Talks Heat Up — Why Fortress Could Help Take It Private At $15/Share

Grindr Inc. surged nearly 10% after reports emerged that its majority owners — Raymond Zage and James Lu — are in advanced talks to take the LGBTQ+ dating platform private with debt financing support from Fortress Investment Group. According to Semafor, discussions have centered around a potential buyout price near $15 per share, valuing the company at roughly $2.24 billion. The timing comes amid a volatile market for tech valuations and follows a period of sustained profitability and accelerating monetization at Grindr. The company has been repurchasing shares aggressively, tightening its capital base and signaling confidence in long-term fundamentals. A take-private transaction would allow its leadership to execute product innovation — including its AI-native “gAI” stack and local mapping initiatives — without the short-term scrutiny of public markets. However, slowing user growth and intensifying competition pose material risks to the company’s future trajectory as a standalone or privately held entity.