In a strategic move that has captured the attention of the global tech community, Bending Spoons, a Milan-based technology company, has agreed to acquire Eventbrite in a €430 million all-cash deal. Celebrated for its innovative digital tools and long-term investment approach, Bending Spoons has once again underlined its role as a consolidator of powerhouse tech platforms. This decision holds particular significance for European entrepreneurs striving to compete on the international stage.
Let’s unpack the elements of this deal and its implications for business strategy in today’s market.
Why This Deal Matters
For over 15 years, Eventbrite has been synonymous with live events, powering everything from small local gatherings to international festivals. In 2024 alone, the platform facilitated 4.7 million events globally, issuing 83 million tickets. These metrics indicate not only the scale of Eventbrite’s operation but also its dominance in the event management space.
Bending Spoons holds an impressive portfolio, having acquired digital giants like Evernote and Meetup. This deal marks a significant pivot, focusing on the experience economy, where live events offer fertile ground for growth.
What’s compelling about this strategy is Bending Spoons’ unique business model. Rather than flipping assets for a quick profit, the company nurtures acquired platforms, leveraging technology to transform them into high-performance, enduring products. It’s a playbook European businesses can learn from, particularly those under pressure to innovate while scaling.
Key Details of the Acquisition
- Purchase Amount: €430 million
- Shareholder Agreement: Eventbrite’s shareholders will be paid €3.87 per share, reflecting an 82% premium over the 60-day volume-weighted average share price as of December 1, 2025.
- Delisting: Eventbrite will transition to a privately held company upon completing the deal in the first half of 2026.
- Projected Outcomes: Bending Spoons aims to further develop Eventbrite’s features, with plans to integrate tools like AI-powered event recommendations and messaging systems.
Strategy Insights for Entrepreneurs
This kind of acquisition points to broader trends that startups and entrepreneurs can capitalize on. For instance:
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Prioritizing Established Brands for Acquisition: Buying platforms with built-in customer bases reduces risks, especially if those platforms still have untapped potential for growth or improved technology.
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Focus on Long-Term Value: Hold assets rather than aim for quick exits. Often, deeper product development and well-considered strategic shifts can yield far better results.
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Leverage Data: Platforms like Eventbrite are rich in user data. Acquirers can use these data sets to optimize customer journeys and expand market share, an essential lesson for startups beginning to explore analytics-driven growth.
How Can Smaller Players Adopt Bending Spoons’ Model?
For startup founders, following in the footsteps of a behemoth like Bending Spoons requires strategic precision. Here's how you can align your strategies with theirs:
- Identify Overlooked Value: Look at tools or platforms in undervalued industries. For instance, niches like creative content platforms or specialized SaaS products often have scalable potential.
- Invest in Tech Upgrades: Post-acquisition, integrate modern technological solutions such as AI and predictive analytics to improve usability and customer engagement.
- Take It Slow: Secure funding that allows for a multi-year improvement cycle rather than immediate profitability.
The Pitfalls to Avoid
While this acquisition is a textbook example of strategic scaling, mistakes can happen during integration. Entrepreneurs should steer clear of these common missteps:
- Overlooking Brand Identity: When acquiring or merging, remember that the community and ethos of your new business are critical. Don’t alienate loyal users with sweeping changes.
- Underestimating Product Development Costs: Many fail to allocate adequate funds for improving the technological backbone of an acquisition, especially if the platform is dated.
- Focusing on Short-Term Metrics: Resist being swayed by quarterly financial performance at the expense of laying a solid foundation for sustained growth.
Broader Lessons from this Deal
This acquisition underscores the growing power and competitiveness of European tech firms. Long overshadowed by larger U.S. entities, Bending Spoons exemplifies that Europe can act decisively and globally in the tech space. For ambitious founders, this deal is a rallying call to step up their focus on impactful, well-resourced strategies.
Recent figures show that Europe now hosts three times as many tech unicorns as it did a decade ago, a sign that firms such as Bending Spoons are adding credibility to the dream of building global successes from European soil. For freelancers or smaller startup teams dreaming big, this shows that playing the long game works.
Final Takeaway for Founders
Let’s be honest, running a startup is no easy ride. This deal, and the intricate web of strategy behind it, reminds us all that daring to scale isn’t about following someone else’s playbook to the letter. It’s about extracting lessons and applying them in ways that fit your unique context. Bending Spoons isn't acquiring tech assets on a whim. Instead, they're intentional, strategic, and patient.
That’s how big things happen. It starts with thinking bigger.
FAQ
1. Why is the acquisition of Eventbrite significant?
Eventbrite is a major player in the experience economy, facilitating 4.7 million events and issuing 83 million tickets in 2024. The acquisition highlights Bending Spoons' focus on consolidating established digital platforms to foster growth. Learn more about Eventbrite's impact
2. How much did Bending Spoons pay to acquire Eventbrite?
Bending Spoons paid €430 million in an all-cash transaction, offering Eventbrite shareholders €3.87 per share, representing an 82% premium over the 60-day average share price. Check out the acquisition details
3. When will the acquisition be completed?
The acquisition is expected to be finalized in the first half of 2026. Read more about the deal timeline
4. What plans does Bending Spoons have for Eventbrite?
Bending Spoons aims to introduce AI-powered event recommendations and messaging systems to enhance Eventbrite’s platform. Discover the planned innovations
5. Will Eventbrite remain a publicly traded company?
No, Eventbrite will be delisted and transitioned to a privately held company post-acquisition. Learn more about the delisting
6. What is Bending Spoons’ investment strategy?
Bending Spoons focuses on acquiring and nurturing established platforms for long-term growth, leveraging advanced technologies rather than aiming for quick profits. Learn about Bending Spoons' strategy
7. How does Bending Spoons differ from other tech acquirers?
Unlike venture funds that flip assets, Bending Spoons invests in post-acquisition tech developments, making acquired platforms more competitive and sustainable. Read about their unique approach
8. What other companies does Bending Spoons own?
Bending Spoons’ portfolio includes Evernote, Meetup, Vimeo, WeTransfer, Brightcove, komoot, and more, showcasing its focus on digital collaboration and creativity tools. Explore Bending Spoons' portfolio
9. How does this acquisition impact the European tech landscape?
This deal solidifies Bending Spoons as a leading European consolidator, demonstrating Europe’s growing competitiveness in the global tech arena. Check out insights on European tech
10. What can startup founders learn from this acquisition?
Startups can adopt aspects of Bending Spoons' model by prioritizing long-term growth, investing in technological upgrades post-acquisition, and leveraging data insights. Discover actionable lessons for founders
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.