On Tuesday, Perry Street Software (PSS), the publisher of Scruff and Jack’d apps, announced that its acquisition of Growlr, the app designed for bears and their admirers. With that, plans are in place for a multi-million-dollar, multi-year investment in giving the app an overhaul by rebuilding its structure, modernize its design and expand its presence in the GBTQ+ bear community.
“We’re seeing significant growth in the bear community, and we know the deep affection held by bears for Growlr. We are going to reinvest in Growlr to cement its reputation as the best app for bears, and we will make sure Growlr shows up for the bear community everywhere it comes together in the real world,” Perry Street Software co-founder John Skandros said in a press release.
PSS acquired the app from publisher The Meet Group, a leader in interactive dating and social discovery apps based in New Hope, PA.
This puts the app directly into community hands.
Perry Street Software is gay-owned and the largest independent queer app publisher in the world, reaching more than 3M members each month since 2010.
“We were eager to bring Growlr into our family of apps that focus on communities within the broader LGBTQ+ world,” Perry Street Software CEO Eric Silverberg mentioned. “For us, the communities we serve are also communities we belong to, and that gives this work a personal significance and a real sense of responsibility. Our independence lets us set our own priorities.”
He continued, “PSS doesn’t sell user data to third-party data brokers. We don’t let our apps get overrun by spammers or bots. And we serve relevant, queer-first ads instead of glitchy, full-screen takeovers that crash the app. Those are choices only an independent company can make, because by being part of the community, we answer to our community.”
Growlr was founded in 2010 and has since become the most popular app in the bear community serving its nearly half-million members
For its new chapter, PSS plans to rebuild Growlr to modernize and evolve the platform with a new look and feel, a new logo, a redesigned profile page and new sharing capabilities in chat.
Early improvements include expanded Shouts, which let members send a single message to multiple people within a chosen radius; the return of Flashes, a profile boost that increases a member’s visibility nearby; as well as retooling its video content within the app. The company will also focus on aggressively clearing out bots and spammers so members can connect authentically in a safe digital space.
Beyond the app itself, PSS is launching a major expansion of Growlr’s sponsorship of bear events and Bear Weeks in the U.S. and around the world heading into 2027.
Growlr is relaunching its social media presence and partnering with bear influencers to spread the word about this reinvention. Growlr merchandise will be refreshed by teaming up with marquee fashion designers to introduce its first-ever bear-focused apparel line in Spring 2027.
There will also be development of Growlr-first content projects as part of a long-term roadmap.
“The bear community has always had its own distinct, vibrant culture that exists alongside, but apart from, mainstream queer culture,” Skandros added. “Growlr embraces a broader range of body types and ages, and offers a kind of appreciation and validation bears don’t find on other apps. We want members to be proud to represent themselves and their community when they show off the app and wear Growlr gear.”
PSS is also known for original content and programming created for the queer community, including a game show produced on Scruff and the current 2026 Jack’d Queer Film Festival, which showcases emerging work by queer filmmakers of color that streams directly in the app.
Members are invited help shape the app’s future by joining the Growlr beta program. Details will be shared in-app in the coming weeks. PSS has also acquired the Growlr domain, which will mark the first time in its history, Growlr owns and operates the domain that bears its name.
Pun intended.
The all-new version of Growlr is expected in early 2027.
–Rich Lopez