Bending Spoons Leverages AI to Acquire and Transform Software Companies Amid Market Disruption

Bending Spoons Capitalizes on AI-Driven Market Shifts

Bending Spoons CEO Luca Ferrari is seizing opportunities created by AI disruption in the software industry, positioning his Milan-based company to acquire undervalued businesses at unprecedented scale1

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. The Italian tech firm closed its $1.285 billion all-cash acquisition of Airtable in September and agreed to purchase collaboration platform Miro for $1.36 billion that same month1

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. Ferrari attributes the favorable acquisition environment to what he calls the "SaaSpocalypse"—a broad selloff in software-as-a-service stocks driven by investor fears that AI tools could replace traditional SaaS products1

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. The S&P software and services index shed more than a quarter of its value between January 2026 and early April, creating falling valuations that Ferrari describes as now reasonable when measured against cash flow generation1

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AI Powers Aggressive Acquisition Strategy

Bending Spoons deploys AI across its entire operation, using it for at least 90% of code writing, product design, monetization optimization, and evaluating job applicants1

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. Ferrari emphasizes that AI's real value lies not in cost savings but in enabling the company to expand its acquisition strategy and improve acquired software companies at accelerated speeds1

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. The company's portfolio now includes high-profile brands like AOL, Vimeo, WeTransfer, and Evernote1

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. When Bending Spoons filed for its IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission in June, the company identified more than 1,000 digital businesses as potential acquisition targets, representing close to $400 billion in aggregate estimated annual revenue in 20252

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Strategic Overhaul Model Drives Portfolio Growth

Bending Spoons builds its portfolio by acquiring digital businesses, cutting costs, and deploying engineering resources to improve products1

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. The firm often boosts revenue per customer by cutting staff and raising subscription prices after acquisitions2

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. Ferrari stated that Bending Spoons plans to "invest substantially" in Miro's fundamentals, including performance, reliability, and functionality, when that deal finalizes2

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. The Airtable acquisition is particularly notable given the company once carried a valuation exceeding $11 billion at the height of the 2021 tech boom after securing more than $1.4 billion in venture funding1

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. Ferrari has emphasized that Bending Spoons has never sold an acquired business, positioning the company as a long-term steward for brands like AOL2

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Market Performance Signals Investor Confidence

Bending Spoons went public on Nasdaq in July, pricing its IPO at $29 per share—above its marketed range—and valuing the company at roughly $18.4 billion1

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. The company announced that gross proceeds from the offering totaled about $953.9 million2

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. Since listing, Bending Spoons stock has gained 31%, outperforming the broader software sector which has only recently clawed back into positive territory for the year1

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. In its IPO filing, Bending Spoons stated, "With AI as a potentially powerful tailwind, we believe we're well positioned to grow for years to come"2

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. Watch how Bending Spoons integrates AI to overhaul companies like Miro and whether its aggressive acquisition strategy continues as software valuations stabilize.