Bending Spoons goes public, acquiring AOL and Vimeo with a market cap of $25 billion

Bending Spoons, the Milan-based tech conglomerate known for acquiring brands like AOL and Vimeo, went public on the Nasdaq on Friday, reaching a market capitalization of over $25 billion. While its stock has seen a slight decline, the company’s market cap remains significantly higher than its private valuation of $11 billion, reflecting strong investor interest in its diverse portfolio.

Bending Spoons' Acquisition Strategy

Bending Spoons employs a strategy akin to private equity but with a twist: it retains the brands it acquires and aims to enhance their financial performance. The company’s portfolio includes well-known digital brands such as Meetup, Eventbrite, and WeTransfer. Co-founder and chief product officer Matteo Danieli noted that while some changes have sparked controversy, customer retention remains stable.

“Old internet brands is the wrong frame,” said Joe Hyrkin, an entrepreneur who sold his platform Issuu to Bending Spoons. He emphasized that the company acquires products with real customer engagement and integrates them into a unified system that focuses on product improvement and AI.

Growth and User Base Expansion

Since its inception, Bending Spoons has witnessed substantial growth, particularly in the last couple of years. As of March 2026, the company serves over 500 million monthly active users and more than 9 million monthly paying customers. This growth contradicts the narrative that Bending Spoons targets failing companies.

• 2025 Revenue: $1.31 billion
• Market Capitalization: $25 billion
• Private Valuation: $11 billion

Recent Acquisitions and Market Impact

Bending Spoons has made several high-profile acquisitions, including Filmic in 2022 and Evernote in early 2023. These acquisitions have often been followed by layoffs and restructuring. The company acquired Meetup, Mosaic Group, and StreamYard in a flurry of activity during the first half of 2024. In November 2024, it announced a $233 million all-cash take-private deal for Brightcove.

Recently, Bending Spoons confirmed plans to acquire Vimeo for $1.38 billion and AOL from Yahoo for an undisclosed amount. The company is also set to acquire Eventbrite for approximately $500 million, a significant drop from its peak valuation of $1.76 billion in 2018.