# Bumble: Whitney Wolfe

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2017-10-16
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-10-16-bumble-whitney-wolfe

## Summary

Whitney Wolfe, who helped launch Tinder and later founded Bumble, explains how severe online harassment and a sexual harassment lawsuit at Tinder inspired her to build a dating app where women make the first move. She details the pivot from a concept called 'Mercy' to Bumble, leveraging resources from Andre Andreev’s Badoo to launch the product. The episode also covers the postscript story of Michelle Innis, who invented De-Fishing soap to solve a specific household problem, and how she sold the business to David Leon and Nate, leading to its distribution in Walmart.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-10-16-bumble-whitney-wolfe#t=0) Introduction: Whitney Wolfe and the Bumble Origin Story
- [3:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-10-16-bumble-whitney-wolfe#t=186) Whitney’s Early Career at Tinder and Cardify
- [8:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-10-16-bumble-whitney-wolfe#t=513) Tinder’s Launch Strategy and SMU Rollout
- [14:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-10-16-bumble-whitney-wolfe#t=867) The Trauma of Leaving Tinder and Online Abuse
- [20:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-10-16-bumble-whitney-wolfe#t=1243) Founding Bumble with Andre Andreev and Product Design
- [28:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-10-16-bumble-whitney-wolfe#t=1721) Bumble’s Growth Hacking and Branding
- [37:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-10-16-bumble-whitney-wolfe#t=2275) Postscript: Michelle Innis and De-Fishing Soap
- [39:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-10-16-bumble-whitney-wolfe#t=2367) Selling De-Fishing Soap to Walmart

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Tinder (product)
- Bumble (product)
- Badoo (company)
- Cardify (product)
- Match.com (company)
- De-Fishing soap (product)
- Walmart (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Founder Feature: JoLynn Henke and Peter Clarkson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-05-24-founder-feature-jolynn-henke-and-peter-clarkson) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Zoe Levin of Bim Bam Boo](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-03-21-founder-feature-zoe-levin-of-bim-bam-boo) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Veena Krishnan and Whitney McElwain of Daybird](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-08-10-founder-feature-veena-krishnan-and-whitney-mcelwain-of-daybird) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [019: Organic haircare products with Susana Stewart & Caroline Maina of Fro Butter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-20-019-organic-haircare-products-with-susana-stewart-caroline-maina-of-fro-butter) (Product Startup)
- [Dip Into Paradise with Founder Emily Edwards](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2021-03-01-dip-into-paradise-with-founder-emily-edwards) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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