Company Overview - Bending Spoons, founded by Luca Ferrari and his cofounders in 2014, has grown to be valued at over $11 billion following a recent funding round [1][3] - The company has become one of Italy's most valuable private companies and is recognized as a significant player in the tech industry [4][9] Financial Highlights - The latest funding round raised $270 million from investors including T. Rowe Price and existing investors such as Baillie Gifford and Fidelity [3] - A secondary share sale by existing shareholders amounted to $440 million [3] - Bending Spoons is projected to generate $1.2 billion in revenue this year [5] Strategic Acquisitions - The company has made several strategic acquisitions, including AOL, Brightcove, Komoot, and Vimeo, with the latter being a $1.38 billion deal [4][5] - Bending Spoons employs a strategy of acquiring apps and products with healthy revenue but stalled growth, often utilizing debt to finance these acquisitions [7][8] Ownership and Stake Valuation - Luca Ferrari's stake in Bending Spoons is estimated to be worth $1.4 billion, while his cofounders each hold stakes valued at $1.3 billion [2] - The company has drawn comparisons to buyout funds and software consolidators, but it operates its digital applications with a focus on profitable growth [8] Market Position - If Bending Spoons were to be listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, its valuation would place it among the top companies in the FTSE MIB index [9] - The startup is noted for being the largest to emerge from Italy's small startup ecosystem, with only a few others achieving unicorn status [10]