When a venture-backed startup goes years without raising new capital, investors often assume its exit prospects have dimmed. But Crunchbase data reveals the opposite: several major acquisitions this year involved startups that hadn't disclosed investment in over four years. The standout is Uber's $2.3 billion cash purchase of ez Cater, a catering platform that raised its last round in late 2021.
Other boom-era unicorns like Airtable, Headspace, and Miro have recently sold to acquirers, often at valuations far below their 2021 peaks. Miro sold to Bending Spoons for $1.36 billion, down from its $17.5 billion peak, while Airtable fetched $1.28 billion versus its $11 billion valuation. These deals show that even aging startups can find acquirers, though typically below their former highs.
Source: Crunchbase News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing