Italian mobile app maker Bending Spoons announced a $1.28 billion cash acquisition of spreadsheet and database startup Airtable, marking its first deal since going public.

Italian mobile‑app powerhouse Bending Spoons has agreed to acquire cloud‑based spreadsheet and database platform Airtable for $1.28 billion in cash, marking the first merger since the company went public earlier this year.

Deal Overview

The transaction, valued at $1.28 billion, will be settled entirely in cash and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals and shareholder consent.

Bending Spoons, known for its portfolio of popular consumer apps, aims to broaden its enterprise offering by integrating Airtable’s low‑code database tools with its existing mobile ecosystem.

Strategic Rationale

The acquisition aligns with Bending Spoons’ strategy to diversify beyond consumer‑facing products and tap into the growing demand for collaborative, no‑code solutions among small and medium‑size businesses.

Airtable’s flexible workspace, which combines spreadsheet familiarity with relational database capabilities, complements Bending Spoons’ expertise in user‑centric design and rapid product iteration.

Financial Implications

The $1.28 billion price tag represents a premium over Airtable’s last private‑market valuation, reflecting confidence in the combined entity’s potential to generate cross‑selling opportunities and higher recurring revenue.

Analysts note that the cash‑only structure underscores Bending Spoons’ strong balance sheet, bolstered by its recent public offering that raised over $600 million.

  • Expanded product suite for enterprise customers
  • Access to Airtable’s existing user base of over 250,000 organizations
  • Potential integration of AI‑driven features across both platforms
  • Increased recurring revenue through subscription models

Market Reaction

Investors responded positively, with Bending Spoons’ shares rising modestly in after‑hours trading. Industry observers view the move as a signal that European tech firms are increasingly targeting the lucrative SaaS market.

“This acquisition positions Bending Spoons to compete directly with the likes of Notion and Monday.com in the collaborative workspace arena,” said a market analyst at a leading European research firm.

The deal also highlights a broader trend of mobile‑first companies expanding into cloud‑based productivity tools, blurring the lines between consumer and enterprise software.

TechCrunch coverage of Bending Spoons’ acquisition of Airtable