Italian holding company Bending Spoons has acquired Airtable for $1.285 billion, folding the low-code database pioneer into a portfolio already heavy with struggling software brands. The deal marks one of the largest distressed tech acquisitions in recent memory, and it signals a sharp fall for a company once valued at $11.7 billion at its peak.
Airtable built its name on low-code and no-code database services aimed at non-technical staff. The software let marketing teams, operations groups, and other business units build custom applications without writing code. That pitch worked for years. But the rise of AI coding tools has changed the calculus. Those tools now offer non-technical employees more flexible ways to build business applications, and demand for Airtable's services has suffered as a result.
The company's troubles are part of a broader industry shakeout. Software vendors across the sector are facing what analysts describe as a "SaaS/AIpocalypse," with many struggling to justify subscription prices as AI replaces manual workflows. Airtable became one of the highest-profile casualties of that shift.
A Pattern of Buying and Turning Around
Bending Spoons has built a clear playbook. The company buys once-successful software firms that have struggled with competitors or failed to adapt to new technologies. Then it cuts costs and markets aggressively to return them to profitability. That strategy has been applied across a portfolio that now includes AOL, Evernote, WeTransfer, Brightcove, and Vimeo.
Each of those brands had a moment of dominance. Each also faced disruption, whether from nimbler rivals, shifting user habits, or technological change. Bending Spoons sees value in the underlying products and user bases, even when the original owners could not make the economics work.
Airtable fits that mold. The acquisition price of $1.285 billion is a far cry from the company's peak valuation of $11.7 billion, a gap that underscores how quickly its fortunes turned. The deal gives Bending Spoons another well-known name to add to its roster, and another turnaround project to manage.
Ferrari's Commitment to Airtable
Luca Ferrari, CEO and co-founder of Bending Spoons, framed the acquisition as a long-term bet. He called Airtable a "pioneering brand" and said the company plans to invest in it for years to come.
"We're committed to investing in Airtable for the long term," Ferrari said. "We plan to double down on its core strength: bringing teams and workflows together in one flexible workspace."
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Ferrari also outlined ambitions beyond the current product. He said Bending Spoons plans to expand what can be done across the full spectrum of work and make Airtable more valuable to customers at every scale. That suggests the company sees room to grow the platform, not just stabilize it.
The comments echo the approach Bending Spoons has taken with other acquisitions. The holding company typically keeps products alive, trims overhead, and pushes harder on marketing. Whether that formula works for Airtable remains to be seen, but Ferrari's tone suggests a patient approach.
The AI Disruption Behind the Deal
The acquisition is a direct consequence of the AI coding boom. Tools that generate code from plain-language prompts have made it easier for non-technical staff to build their own applications. That undercuts the core value proposition of low-code and no-code platforms like Airtable.
Why pay for a structured database tool when an AI assistant can spin up a custom app on demand? That question has haunted Airtable and its peers. The company's financial difficulties are attributed directly to these AI coding tools, which offer more flexible alternatives for the same audience Airtable once served.
The broader software industry is watching closely. If a company that reached an $11.7 billion valuation can be acquired for $1.285 billion just a few years later, other vendors in similar positions may face the same fate. Bending Spoons has positioned itself as the buyer of choice for those situations, and its portfolio keeps growing.
What Comes Next for Airtable
The deal closed with no public details on how Bending Spoons will restructure Airtable's operations. Based on past acquisitions, cost-cutting is likely. The holding company has a reputation for trimming workforces and consolidating teams after deals close.
The article first appeared on InfoWorld and was published by Computerworld. A related article dated Jul 31, 2026, covered Dubai's AI, server farms, and optimism, written by Agam Shah. The image credit goes to Peter Sayer / Foundry.