Grindr

Grindr is a location-based social networking and dating app aimed at gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people. Launched in 2009 by Joel Simkhai, it uses a phone's location to show a grid of nearby users, letting people message and meet with unusual speed. It became one of the most widely used LGBTQ+ apps in the world, with millions of monthly users, and reshaped how many queer men connect socially and sexually. Alongside its reach, Grindr has drawn scrutiny over privacy, data sharing, safety, and racism in user filters and messaging. The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2022.