Whitney Wolfe Herd

Whitney Wolfe Herd
Name	Whitney Wolfe Herd
Caption	Wolfe Herd in 2021
Birth date	1 July 1989
Birth place	Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Education	Southern Methodist University (BA)
Occupation	Business executive
Known for	Founder of Bumble
Spouse	Michael Herd, 2017

Whitney Wolfe Herd is an American entrepreneur and business executive who founded the social networking and dating application Bumble. She launched the company in 2014 after previously co-founding the rival dating app Tinder, and under her leadership, Bumble Inc. became a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq in 2021, making her the youngest woman to take a company public in the United States at that time. Wolfe Herd's business model, which requires women to make the first move in heterosexual matches, has been influential in the online dating industry and has positioned Bumble as a major competitor to Match Group. Beyond Bumble, she is involved in venture capital through the Bumble Fund and is a noted philanthropist, focusing on initiatives supporting women and combating online harassment.

Early life and education

Whitney Wolfe was born on July 1, 1989, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was raised there. She attended the Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas, for part of her high school education before graduating from Judge Memorial Catholic High School. For her undergraduate studies, she enrolled at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, where she pursued a degree in International Studies. During her time at SMU, she studied abroad in Paris and launched a business selling bamboo tote bags to aid areas affected by the BP oil spill, an early demonstration of her entrepreneurial drive. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2011.

Career before Bumble

After graduating, Wolfe Herd moved to Los Angeles and became involved with the startup Cardify, a customer loyalty platform. Her work there led her to join Hatch Labs, an incubator backed by IAC, where she began collaborating with Sean Rad and others. This collaboration resulted in the creation of the dating app Tinder in 2012, where she served as Vice President of Marketing. Wolfe Herd played a key role in the app's early growth and branding, particularly by promoting it on college campuses. She left Tinder in 2014 and subsequently filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the company, which was settled out of court. This experience directly informed her vision for creating a more women-centric platform.

Founding and leadership of Bumble

In 2014, with the backing of Andrey Andreev, the founder of Badoo, Wolfe Herd founded Bumble Inc. and launched the Bumble app. The company's headquarters were established in Austin, Texas. Bumble's defining feature required women to initiate conversations in heterosexual matches, a design intended to create a safer and more respectful environment. The app quickly gained significant market share, challenging established players like Match Group's Tinder and OkCupid. Under Wolfe Herd's leadership as CEO, the company expanded its offerings to include Bumble BFF for friendships and Bumble Bizz for professional networking. In February 2021, she led Bumble Inc. through a highly publicized initial public offering on the Nasdaq, valuing the company at over $13 billion.

Other ventures and investments

Beyond the core Bumble app, Wolfe Herd has expanded her business interests through various ventures. She oversees the Bumble Fund, a venture capital fund that invests early in businesses founded by women of color and underrepresented groups. She has also been involved in the restaurant industry, co-founding the Italian restaurant chain Milo with locations in Austin and Corpus Christi. Her investment portfolio and advisory roles often focus on supporting female entrepreneurs and technology startups that align with her mission of fostering healthy relationships, both online and offline.

Personal life and philanthropy

Whitney Wolfe married Texas oil heir Michael Herd in 2017 in a ceremony in Positano, Italy. The couple has two sons and resides in Austin, Texas. Her philanthropic efforts are closely tied to her business ethos, with a focus on empowering women and promoting safety. She has been a vocal advocate for legislation like the Texas law banning the unsolicited sending of lewd images and has supported organizations working against domestic violence and online harassment. Wolfe Herd and Bumble have also provided financial support to causes such as Vital Voices and the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

Recognition and awards

Wolfe Herd has received numerous accolades for her impact on business and technology. In 2017, she was named to Forbes' "30 Under 30" list in the consumer technology category. The following year, she was included in Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People" list. Her leadership in taking Bumble public earned her recognition as one of Fortune's "Most Powerful Women" and a spot on the cover of Forbes magazine. She has also received honors from institutions like the University of Texas at Austin and has been a featured speaker at major events including the Forbes Women's Summit and the Code Conference.

Category:American technology company founders Category:American women chief executives Category:1989 births Category:Living people