# Bumble: Whitney Wolfe (2017)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2019-04-22
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-04-22-bumble-whitney-wolfe-2017

## Summary

Whitney Wolfe Herd, co-founder of Tinder and founder of Bumble, recounts her journey from a college dropout to launching a billion-dollar dating app. She details the intense cyberbullying and trauma she faced after leaving Tinder, which inspired her to build Bumble with Andrei Andreev of Badoo to create a safer, women-first dating experience. The episode covers Bumble's early growth hacking strategies at SMU, its unique product mechanics, and the challenges of moderating hate speech while scaling to 20 million users.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-04-22-bumble-whitney-wolfe-2017#t=0) Introduction: Whitney Wolfe and the Birth of Tinder
- [3:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-04-22-bumble-whitney-wolfe-2017#t=213) Tinder's Origin and SMU Launch Strategy
- [14:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-04-22-bumble-whitney-wolfe-2017#t=894) Trauma, Lawsuits, and Cyberbullying After Tinder
- [21:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-04-22-bumble-whitney-wolfe-2017#t=1275) Partnering with Andrei Andreev and Badoo
- [24:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-04-22-bumble-whitney-wolfe-2017#t=1450) Designing Bumble's Women-First Product Mechanics
- [29:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-04-22-bumble-whitney-wolfe-2017#t=1753) Growth Hacking, Branding, and Scaling Bumble
- [32:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-04-22-bumble-whitney-wolfe-2017#t=1928) Moderation, Hate Speech, and Future Vision
- [37:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-04-22-bumble-whitney-wolfe-2017#t=2234) Postscript: Mobile Vinyl Recorders

## 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)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Tinder (product)
- Bumble (product)
- Badoo (company)
- Cardify (product)
- Match.com (product)
- Instagram (product)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Mobile Vinyl Recorders (company)

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- [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)
- [The Pilot: Unveiling the Blueprint of "The Builder Circle"](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2023-05-13-the-pilot-unveiling-the-blueprint-of-the-builder-circle) (The Builder Circle)
- [Investor Spotlight: Deborah Benton of Willow Growth Partners](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-08-investor-spotlight-deborah-benton-of-willow-growth-partners) (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)

## Citing this page

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