Bending Spoons Snaps Up Miro in $1.4B Deal: What It Means for Startups

Jan de Vries · 2026-09-10

### A Blockbuster Deal in the Works Picture this: a Milan-based tech giant quietly buying up some of the most recognizable digital tools you use every day. That's Bending Spoons for you. And now, they've set their sights on Miro, the AI-powered collaboration workspace that teams around the globe rely on. The deal? A cool $1.4 billion (€1.7 billion) in cash. That's right, Bending Spoons is acquiring 100% of Miro's shares. The boards of both companies have already given the thumbs up, but the deal still needs regulatory approval. If all goes well, it should close in the fourth quarter of 2026. ### Why Miro? Why Now? Miro isn't just another whiteboard app. It's where over 250,000 organizations brainstorm, plan, and execute their biggest ideas. With around $600 million in annual recurring revenue—nearly 90% from business and enterprise customers—it's a cash-generating machine. But Bending Spoons sees even more potential. "After closing, we plan to invest substantially in the fundamentals that its customers value: performance, reliability, and functionality that supports critical collaborative work," says Luca Ferrari, CEO and co-founder of Bending Spoons. "We acquire businesses with the intention of owning and operating them for the long term, and Miro will be no exception." That's a big promise. Bending Spoons is known for buying underperforming digital products and whipping them into shape using AI-driven automation and aggressive cost optimization. They've done it over 50 times, with brands like Eventbrite, Vimeo, WeTransfer, Evernote, and AOL. Earlier this year, they even filed for an IPO on the NASDAQ. ### What This Means for the European Startup Scene For European startups, this acquisition is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it shows that European tech companies can scale and attract massive exits. Miro, founded in 2011, grew from a small startup to a global powerhouse with nearly 4 million paying users. That's inspiring. On the other hand, it highlights a recurring theme: European startups often get acquired by larger conglomerates before they can become independent giants. Bending Spoons, despite being Italian, is now a major player in the global tech landscape, but it's still a consolidation play. Andrey Khusid, CEO and co-founder of Miro, sees it as a positive step. "The best version of Miro is still ahead of us," he says. "Partnering with Bending Spoons lets us deliver on that vision with ambition, for the customers who count on us." He also expressed gratitude to the "Mironeers" and everyone who's been part of the journey. ### The Bending Spoons Playbook If you're not familiar with Bending Spoons, here's the gist: they buy established digital platforms that might be underperforming, then use AI and automation to cut costs and boost revenue. They've been on a buying spree lately. In August 2025, they raised over $540 million (€500 million) in debt financing to fuel more acquisitions. Just weeks later, they snapped up Vimeo for $1.2 billion (€1.1 billion). Now, with Miro, they're adding a collaborative tool that's deeply integrated into the workflows of companies like Cisco, Dell, and Nike. It's a strategic move to diversify their portfolio beyond media and productivity apps. > "We started Miro fifteen years ago to give teams one place to think together and bring ideas to life. It has become something more: an AI-first workspace that teams run their most important work through." – Andrey Khusid, CEO of Miro ### What Happens Next? Until the deal closes, both companies will operate independently. That means no immediate changes for Miro users. But once the ink dries, expect Bending Spoons to start tinkering. They'll likely focus on performance, reliability, and features that matter to enterprise customers. For the European startup ecosystem, this is another sign that the continent's tech scene is maturing. Companies are scaling, attracting big exits, and proving that you can build world-class products outside of Silicon Valley. But it also raises questions about whether Europe can retain its tech champions or if they'll continue to be absorbed by larger players. Either way, one thing's clear: Bending Spoons is playing the long game, and Miro is now part of it.