Top 10 Biggest Startup Acquisitions of 2018
It’s the dream of every startup founder that a larger or leading company swoops in and buys out the whole startup company to acquire a creative idea, proprietary technology or just to wipe out the competition from the market. However, many startups are able to create their nascent business into a viable firm and fewer can attract an outside buyer. In 2018, these 10 lucky startups were able to transform their creative ideas and years of hard work into financial success.
1. Walmart Acquire Flipkart
India’s biggest startup success story, Flipkart, is considered as the Amazon of South Asia. With over $2.9 billion in annual revenue, it wasn’t a surprise when American retail giant Walmart decide to acquire Flipkart. Walmart decided and opted to purchase a 77% stake in Flipkart in $16 billion.
2. Alibaba Acquire Ele.me
Founded in 2008, Ele.me has quickly become of one of China’s most successful start-ups because a company is now serving over 2,000 major Chinese cities with its 30-minute food delivery guarantee. Attracted by this startup growth, Alibaba began investing in the company in 2016 later Alibaba decides to acquire the startup for $9.5 billion.
3. Roche Acquire Flatiron Health
Nat Turner and Zach Weinberg launched Flatiron Health startup in 2012. They hoped to use improved technology to parse oncology research across the United States. The Startup soon attracted investment of more than $130 million from venture capital firms like Google Ventures. Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, who grabbed this startup for $1.9 billion.
4. Recruit Holdings Acquire Glassdoor
The original idea behind Glassdoor was to build a Yelp for job hunters. Robert Hohman, Tim Besse, and Rich Barton launch this startup in 2007. Glassdoor soon had a thriving business across the world based on job recruiters and became one of the fastest growing career websites. Japanese conglomerate Recruit Holdings offered $1.2 billion for this startup in 2018.
5. Amazon Acquire Ring
James Siminoff founded smart doorbell company Doorbot in 2012 when he realized that he couldn’t hear his doorbell from the garage later he changed the startup’s name to Ring. By 2017, Ring manages to have more than 1 million customers and received almost $230 million from venture capital firms. Amazon after analyzing the benefits this startup could bring to their Amazon Prime delivery service acquired the startup for a $1 billion.
6. Didi Chuxing Acquire 99
Talking about Top 10 Biggest Startup Acquisitions of 2018. In July 2012, a trio of Brazilian entrepreneurs decided to launch their ride-hailing startup 99 and soon spread across the country. By 2016, the startup’s app was used to go on 4 million rides per month. Chinese ridesharing startup Didi Chuxing in January 2018 decides to acquire 99 for a whopping $1 billion.
7. S&P Global Acquire Kensho
Daniel Nadler and Pete Kruskall develop their own search engine software for the stock market. The tool was soon being used by major companies all over the United States. In March 2018, S&P Global acquired Kensho for $550 million, setting a new record for an A.I. acquisition.
8. WeWork Acquire Naked Hub
Grant Horsfield founded startup Naked Hub in 2015, soon it becomes one of the biggest coworking companies in Asia. The startup soon expanded into Hong Kong and Vietnam. Eager to enter in the Asian market, American competitor WeWork acquired Naked Hub for $400 million in 2018.
9. Oracle Acquire Grapeshot
John Snyder and Martin Porter founded startup Grapeshot in 2006. With Grapeshot, they hoped to use the new and latest technology to help any companies create targeted ad campaigns. Oracle acquired the company for $400 million in April 2018.
10. EMC Corporation Acquire Mozy
Mozy was started in 2005 by Josh Coates, It was early funded mainly by former NetWare developer Drew Major and Draper Associates. In 2007, EMC Corporation purchased the startup firm in February 2018 for $145.8 million.
so these are Top 10 Biggest Startup Acquisitions of 2018, Whether the above acquisitions make international headlines or the deal is quietly executed, these acquisitions gave investors some of the most profitable exits of the year. From e-commerce startup to ride-hailing startups, these 10 startups accomplished the dream goal of every startup founder: a successful and profitable acquisition.
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