#acquisitions

#acquisitions

To sell or not to sell. That's the major dilemma founders around the world face: Once they've started to get big enough to attract the attention of buyers, they face the decision of whether to cash out now, or use the compliment as fuel to go even bigger. While it may seem like a no-brainer to say yes to an acquisition to the tune of millions-or even billions-it can be hard to later rest easy thinking about how much more you could have made independently.

You might say that the biggest AI startups are led by professionally unreliable narrators, who theorize about the future of their companies - and their industry, and humanity in general - with a variety of clear but sometimes conflicting biases. This can make it somewhat hard, from the outside, to figure out which vision investors are banking on, beyond a general fear of missing out: Mass labor automation? AI-assisted research? Mainstream search-like products that could unseat Google?

Disney's stock is down 11% over the past five years while the S&P 500 has risen 91%, highlighting significant struggles for Disney shareholders, largely under Bob Iger's management.

In Q4, revenue, gross margin and operating margin were at the high end of our guidance ranges, earnings per share was above the guidance range and we delivered solid operating cash flow.

"We're very open to [mergers and acquisitions]," Cook said at the time. "We basically ask ourselves whether a company can help us accelerate a roadmap. If they do, then we're interested."

Cursor is capitalizing on the disparity in the AI startup landscape by acquiring talent from startups like Koala to enhance its enterprise offerings and compete with major players.

Broadcom, with a current market cap of $1.3 trillion, aims for $2 trillion by 2026, requiring a 55% stock surge and significant AI revenue earnings.

Concentra Biosciences is rapidly acquiring struggling biotech companies, taking advantage of Bay Area firms' difficulties, including its recent purchase of Cargo Therapeutics, which faced severe setbacks this year.

The lender's robust performance is particularly notable given the turbulent backdrop of rising business taxes, persistent global tariffs, and slower-than-expected base rate cuts.

Cisco's investment strategy focuses on acquiring companies to enhance innovation rather than building completely from scratch, allowing rapid adaptation in the market.

Neri expressed optimism that the US Department of Justice will clear HPE's acquisition of Juniper Networks, while also preparing for alternative strategies if necessary.

"Rocket disclosed its proposed $1.75 billion acquisition of Redfin and $9.4 billion deal for Mr. Cooper in March, intending to boost its market presence."

Marriott has been expanding its reach through acquisitions and partnerships, reflecting a strategy to cater to travelers' growing hospitality needs.

Strava's acquisition of cycling app The Breakaway signals a strong interest in providing personalized training plans for users through innovative AI technology.

Stash, a personal investment platform, raised $146M in Series H funding led by Goodwater Capital, bringing its total equity funding to $666M.

Japanese firm Metaplanet's acquisition of Bitcoin and bond issuance highlights the rising trend of corporate Bitcoin adoption as a strategic asset.

Going through an acquisition is like being a kid who's moving to a new country and starting a new school - everything is different, and you're an outsider. While a lot of excitement comes with that, there's also a lot of anxiety for the individual.