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Bending Spoons Shock: Airtable Acquisita per $1,28 Mld – Il Colosso Italiano Colpisce Ancora
Bending Spoons Acquires Airtable: A Simple Guide to the Big Tech Deal
What Happened?
Bending Spoons — an Italian tech company that makes popular apps — just signed a deal to buy Airtable, a platform that helps teams organize work without writing code.
Think of it like this: Bending Spoons is buying a really powerful digital toolbox that lets regular people build custom work apps.
Who Are the Companies?
Bending Spoons
- Based in: Milan, Italy
- What they do: Make consumer apps like Remini (photo enhancer), Splice (video editor), and Evernote (notes)
- Big news: Recently listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange (that’s like the "major leagues" for tech stocks)
- This is their first acquisition since going public
Airtable
- Based in: San Francisco, USA
- What they do: A "no-code" platform — imagine a supercharged spreadsheet that can also act like a database, project manager, and app builder all in one
- Key feature: You drag, drop, and click to build custom workflows — zero programming required
- Customers: Teams at companies like Netflix, Shopify, and Time Magazine
The Deal in Simple Numbers
| Term | What It Means | The Number |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Value | Total price tag including debt | $1.285 billion |
| Net Cash | Money Airtable already has in the bank | (Not disclosed separately) |
| Equity Value | What shareholders actually get | ~$2.25 billion |
Important Point: The $2.25 billion equity value is higher than the enterprise value because Airtable has a lot of cash on hand. Buyers essentially pay $1.285B for the business but get the cash too, making the real value to owners much higher.
Why Does This Matter?
For Bending Spoons
- First big move as a public company — shows investors they’re serious about growth
- Enters the "B2B" (business-to-business) market — previously focused on consumer apps
- Gets a fast-growing revenue engine — Airtable’s recurring revenue grew >20% to ~$480M/year (as of June 2026)
For Airtable
- Gets deep pockets & long-term backing — no more pressure from venture capitalists to exit
- Can double down on AI — CEO Howie Liu wants to build the "AI-native platform of the future"
- Stays independent in spirit — leadership stays, vision continues
For Users Like You
- Airtable isn’t going away — it’ll keep running, likely get better with more resources
- More AI features coming — think: "Hey Airtable, build me a project tracker for my marketing campaign" → done in seconds
- Potential integration with Bending Spoons apps — imagine Remini’s AI photo magic inside your Airtable bases
How the Deal Works (Step by Step)
- Agreement Signed — Both sides shook hands on terms (announced publicly)
- Regulatory Review — Government checks for antitrust (usually routine for deals this size)
- Closing Conditions Met — Final paperwork, shareholder approvals
- Closing Expected by End of Year — Money moves, ownership transfers
- Integration Begins — Teams start collaborating on product roadmap
Who Helped Make This Happen?
Advisors (The "Deal Doctors"):
- Legal: Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Latham & Watkins
- Financial: Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Axom Partners
- Accounting/Tax: EY Advisory
These firms handle the complex legal, financial, and regulatory work so the CEOs can focus on strategy.
Summary
- Bending Spoons (Italian app maker) is buying Airtable (no-code work platform)
- All-cash deal: $1.285B enterprise value → ~$2.25B equity value for shareholders
- Airtable’s revenue: ~$480M/year, growing 20%+ annually
- Closing: Expected by end of 2026
- Big picture: Bending Spoons gets a B2B powerhouse; Airtable gets fuel for AI innovation
- For users: Business as usual — with likely more AI features coming soon
FAQ
Will Airtable change its name or branding?
No. Both CEOs emphasized this is a partnership. Airtable will keep its name, team, and mission — just with more resources.
Is my Airtable data safe?
Yes. The acquisition doesn’t change data ownership or privacy policies. If anything, Bending Spoons’ public-company scrutiny means stricter compliance.
Why is the equity value ($2.25B) higher than enterprise value ($1.285B)?
Simple math: Enterprise Value = Price of Business Operations. Equity Value = Enterprise Value + Cash in Bank – Debt. Airtable has lots of cash and little debt, so owners get more.
What does "AI-native platform" mean?
It means AI isn’t bolted on later — it’s built into the foundation. Future Airtable could let you describe a workflow in plain English and have it built automatically.
Should I start using Airtable now, or wait?
Start now! The platform is stable, the deal isn’t closed yet, and early adopters often get grandfathered into better pricing or early access to new AI features.
Want to stay updated? Follow both companies’ blogs — they’ll announce integration milestones as they happen.
