Tinder CEO Revives Internship to Support Brand Growth

Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Match Group, has reversed his predecessor's cost-cutting decision to cancel Tinder's internship programme. The decision addresses a strategic need for brands targeting younger demographics to maintain direct access to their core audience.

Spencer discovered the programme had been discontinued after he took over as CEO in February 2025. According to Fortune, the former CEO Bernard Kim had closed the internship to reduce spending.

"Two or three months after I started, I called my head of HR and said, 'I'm just curious about the summer intern program. When do the interns arrive?'" he says. "And he's like, 'Oh, no, we can't. The last CEO cancelled the internship program last year to save money.'"

Spencer described this as "the craziest thing I've ever heard".

Accessing the target demographic

Match Group's dating apps are mainly used by Gen Z consumers.

"We build apps for Gen Z. Our main demographic audience is 18 to 22-year-olds – of course, we need as many of these folks around our halls as possible," Spencer says.

The Tindership programme runs from the beginning of June to the end of August. It offers 27 internship positions across various teams.

More than 30,000 candidates applied for the roles. Spencer believes the high application rate could be partially attributed to brand recognition among young people.

"It probably speaks a little bit to the challenges of job seeking among early career people, I'm sure," he says. "But I'd like to believe that it mostly speaks to the quality of the company that we're at. I'm so excited."

AI-native workforce strategy

According to Spencer, hiring younger talent provides access to workers who use AI tools as standard practice. This contrasts with a broader corporate trend to reduce early-career hiring.

"There is a trend in especially in technology – but really in corporate America – to hire fewer early-career people," Spencer says. "The thinking goes, 'AI can do much of the work of an early career professional.' Match Group has a very contrarian approach on that topic."

He tells Fortune he plans to recruit "more early-career people who are coming out of college as AI natives" because this group uses "AI for everything".

"I'd much rather have an early career person without fully-formed habits of being in the workplace for a long time without AI tools," he continues.

Direct employee feedback channel

Spencer has introduced an internal communication system called DM Me If. The system allows staff to message the CEO directly with feedback, questions or concerns.

In a LinkedIn post, he explains the process. Messages can be submitted anonymously or with attribution.

"I read every message," Spencer shares. "If someone includes their name, I follow up directly. If they choose to stay anonymous, I share responses more broadly with the company."

"Some of the most valuable insights I've received as CEO have come through this channel," he says.

One request came from an employee asking if the company's gen Z employee resource group could participate more in company-wide decision-making. Spencer has since established monthly meetings with the group.

These sessions have become "one of the most robust product strategy discussions I've had in months", he says.

The direct feedback mechanism reflects Spencer's approach to leadership since taking over the CEO role.