Lulu Garcia Navarro

The other thing about that period is that it also seems like a moment of tech optimism. All these apps were coming out. They were backed by incomprehensible amounts of money. They promised to solve so many of the world's problems. Did you believe that back then? Did you sort of feel like this was an incredible opportunity to really tackle things in a new way? Yeah, I did.

The other thing about that period is that it also seems like a moment of tech optimism. All these apps were coming out. They were backed by incomprehensible amounts of money. They promised to solve so many of the world's problems. Did you believe that back then? Did you sort of feel like this was an incredible opportunity to really tackle things in a new way? Yeah, I did.

The next era of Bumble, you had a lot of growth during the pandemic when everyone was stuck on their apps. It was a huge moment. You go public in 2021, ring the bell, baby on your hip. And the very next year, user growth starts to slow down. What do you think was happening then?

The next era of Bumble, you had a lot of growth during the pandemic when everyone was stuck on their apps. It was a huge moment. You go public in 2021, ring the bell, baby on your hip. And the very next year, user growth starts to slow down. What do you think was happening then?

So this is like users, how many people are joining the app, engagement, et cetera. The more, the merrier.

So this is like users, how many people are joining the app, engagement, et cetera. The more, the merrier.

So I'm interested in this because you're talking about the expectations on the street and investors as one of the reasons why this was a difficult period after this enormous growth during the pandemic. But one of the things that I was thinking about was that you were the age of the average user when you started Tinder and Bumble. This was millennials, right? The apps were new.

So I'm interested in this because you're talking about the expectations on the street and investors as one of the reasons why this was a difficult period after this enormous growth during the pandemic. But one of the things that I was thinking about was that you were the age of the average user when you started Tinder and Bumble. This was millennials, right? The apps were new.

We've talked about this. But Gen Z grew up with the apps, right? And the data says they are very much over them. 79% report dating app fatigue. We've seen that dating apps are highly generational. OKCupid, it's very different than Bumble. That seems challenging to constantly be chasing a new user base because this idea of, as you say, your members and the idea is helping them find love.

We've talked about this. But Gen Z grew up with the apps, right? And the data says they are very much over them. 79% report dating app fatigue. We've seen that dating apps are highly generational. OKCupid, it's very different than Bumble. That seems challenging to constantly be chasing a new user base because this idea of, as you say, your members and the idea is helping them find love.

Success obviously means that they no longer need the app.

Success obviously means that they no longer need the app.

I want to linger on this idea of what actually makes a successful company for Bumble, because if it's not user engagement and keeping people on the app and it's not having a big user base, then how do you monetize this? I mean, because it sounds great in theory. But you're also a business that has to actually give a return on investment.

I want to linger on this idea of what actually makes a successful company for Bumble, because if it's not user engagement and keeping people on the app and it's not having a big user base, then how do you monetize this? I mean, because it sounds great in theory. But you're also a business that has to actually give a return on investment.

I mean, you're quite bullish on AI. I've heard you talk about it. How are you imagining AI functioning in this next iteration of the app?

I mean, you're quite bullish on AI. I've heard you talk about it. How are you imagining AI functioning in this next iteration of the app?

So this will be an additional part of what Bumble would offer where you can have a sort of self-exploratory journey that can help you understand yourself better. That's right. Because it leads to better relationships. So I'm a bit of an AI skeptic. I've heard a lot of people say that it can be my own personal concierge and, you know, act as my personal assistant. Lord, may that day come.

So this will be an additional part of what Bumble would offer where you can have a sort of self-exploratory journey that can help you understand yourself better. That's right. Because it leads to better relationships. So I'm a bit of an AI skeptic. I've heard a lot of people say that it can be my own personal concierge and, you know, act as my personal assistant. Lord, may that day come.

Yeah, right. Yeah. But when we're discussing the human heart and we're discussing people's desire for actual connection, I do wonder how having an AI superintelligence mediating that is actually what people are wanting to spend their time on.

Yeah, right. Yeah. But when we're discussing the human heart and we're discussing people's desire for actual connection, I do wonder how having an AI superintelligence mediating that is actually what people are wanting to spend their time on.