Nice article of CB Insights data on acquihires between 2012 and 2013 to see trends in this relatively new type of exit. It is worth noting that acqui-hires are hard to isolate & identify. Expect many more to come in FinTech areas helping banks and insurers to build new capabilities
Acqui-hired companies have typically raised less than $5 million and last raised a funding round 14-15 months before acquisition. Mobile talent is clearly what acquirers are looking for. Want to identify acqui-hire targets? Get our list of dying tech companies. The acqui-hire (aka acquihire) is a relatively recent phenomena that describes when a struggling company (generally but not always an early stage startup) is acquired primarily for its talent. Instead of buying companies for their products, or even potential financial contribution, acquirers who are leading the acqui-hire movement are now purchasing teams of smart people (generally engineers) who have a history of working well together with the hope that dropping in these teams might accelerate and advance their own businesses.
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