Scruff owner buys bear dating app Growlr, plans multi-million rebuild
What's the deal? Perry Street Software (PSS), the independent queer app company behind SCRUFFDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Jack'd, has acquired GrowlrDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a social networking app for bears and their admirers. It bought the app from The Meet Group, a dating and social discovery publisher based in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Terms were not disclosed.
What's the endgame? PSS plans a multi-million-dollar, multi-year investment to completely rebuild Growlr, modernise its design, and expand its presence in the bear community. An all-new version is expected to launch in early 2027.
What changes? The rebuild includes a redesigned profile page, new chat sharing, and a refreshed logo. Early additions bring back Flashes, a profile boost, and expand Shouts, which let members message multiple people within a set radius. PSS also says it will strip out bots and spam accounts.
Why now? PSS points to growth in the bear community as the rationale. "We're seeing significant growth in the bear community, and we know the deep affection held by bears for Growlr," co-founder John Skandros said.
Beyond the app, PSS plans to expand Growlr's sponsorship of bear events and Bear Weeks in the US and abroad ahead of 2027, grow its social media presence, and launch merchandise and an apparel line. The company also acquired the Growlr web domain, previously held by another entity.
The pitch: CEO Eric Silverberg framed independence as the differentiator. "PSS doesn't sell user data to third-party data brokers. We don't let our apps get overrun by spammers or bots," he said, adding that the company serves "queer-first ads" rather than full-screen takeovers.
The signal: The deal consolidates another niche LGBTQ+ app under an independent owner that already runs SCRUFF and Jack'd, moving it out of a mainstream dating conglomerate. For users, the bet is that community ownership — not scale — defines the product.
Read more: outinperth.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
