Bending Spoons agrees $1.28 billion cash acquisition of Airtable
Bending Spoons has agreed to acquire spreadsheet and database startup Airtable for $1.28 billion in cash. Announced on Tuesday, the transaction is the Italian technology company's first acquisition since it went public in July at an $18 billion valuation.
Airtable said in January that it served more than 500,000 organizations, including 80% of the Fortune 100. Its annual recurring revenue reached approximately $480 million as of June 2026, representing growth of more than 20% year over year, Bending Spoons founder Luca Ferrrai said.
A steep reset from Airtable's peak valuation
Founded in 2013, Airtable has raised more than $1.4 billion across multiple funding rounds. Its private valuation exceeded $11 billion during the 2021 technology boom, while its shares were reportedly trading on secondary markets at a $4 billion valuation earlier in 2026.
Bending Spoons said Airtable is now valued at about $2.25 billion when its current net cash and cash equivalents are included. That distinction separates the stated cash purchase price from the value attributed to the underlying business after its cash position is considered.
“Airtable is a pioneering brand reshaping how teams organize data and manage critical workflows,” Ferrrai said, adding that joining Bending Spoons would accelerate innovation.
AI orchestration expands the product context
Airtable's offering extends beyond its familiar combination of spreadsheets and databases. In January, the company introduced Superagent, an orchestration platform designed to let users assemble teams of AI agents to perform tasks.
The platform gives the acquisition an AI and workflow-automation dimension alongside Airtable's established role in organizing business data. Its large organizational customer base and reported Fortune 100 penetration also make product continuity relevant to enterprise users.
Bending Spoons applies its acquisition model
The deal follows Bending Spoons' pre-IPO subscription and AI strategy, which placed subscriptions, AI and operating discipline at the centre of the company's growth strategy before its US listing. The flotation has now been followed by a large cash acquisition within a month.
Bending Spoons has typically bought companies at substantial discounts to their former private valuations, reduced staffing, streamlined product portfolios and sought profitable operation. Its acquired brands include Evernote, WeTransfer, Eventbrite and Vimeo.
For businesses using Airtable, the practical issue is not the gap between the purchase price and the 2021 valuation by itself. Procurement and technology leaders should track changes to product investment, support, pricing, integrations and the Superagent roadmap as Bending Spoons brings Airtable into its operating model.