Grindr Got Over $1 Million For Small Business Pandemic Relief

Even though it was just bought for $608 million, looks like Grindr needed a little more cash. According to reports, the tech company that revolutionized the way queer men meet up, was one of many big businesses to nab a bit of dough from Donald Trump's $660 billion paycheck protection program.

According to a report by the New York Post, Grindr received between $1 million and $2 million in loans. They attribute that to keeping 69 people on their payroll. In its inception, the protection program was aimed specifically at small businesses that had to shut down because of social distancing. As a tech company, Grindr which keeps people connected virtually, Grindr absolutely did not shut down. In fact, they took quarantine as the prime opportunity to launch a web browser version of their app.

This influx of cash by the government -- which we should point out still makes up only a fraction of one percent of what the company is worth -- comes after the company changed ownership. Previously owned by Kunlun Tech, this summer Grindr officially became the property of San Vicente Acquisition and put in place Jeff Bonforte and Rick Marini, two cisgender, heterosexual, self-proclaimed allies, as CEO and COO respectively.

Coming in, the company was reportedly doing well. Marini told the LA Times that the business was bringing in "well over $100 million of revenue" annually and was "growing quickly." With all of that growth, it was important for the company to apply for and take the cash that was supposed to be earmarked for actual small businesses. Interesting.

They aren't the only ones of course. Grindr is joined by businesses like Kanye West's Yeezy, the Whitney Museum of Art, SoHo House, Alexander Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, and more.

There's room for everybody apparently!

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