Bending Spoons, a Milan-based tech conglomerate, recently saw its four cofounders ascend to billionaire status. CEO Luca Ferrari’s stake in the company is now valued at $1.4 billion, while cofounders Matteo Danieli, Luca Querella, and Francesco Patarnello each hold stakes worth $1.3 billion.
This surge in wealth follows Bending Spoons’ most recent funding round, which brought in $270 million from investors like T. Rowe Price and earlier backers Baillie Gifford, Cox Enterprises, Durable Capital Partners, and Fidelity. Additionally, a $440 million secondary share sale by existing shareholders took place, although it’s unclear if any of the cofounders participated in this transaction.
Despite its low profile, Bending Spoons has been making waves in the tech industry by acquiring underperforming but popular tech brands and revamping them to better serve users. The company has a track record of restructuring acquired companies, often resulting in layoffs or controversial changes to products like Evernote and WeTransfer.
Bending Spoons’ portfolio includes products that have collectively reached over a billion users, with 300 million monthly active users and 10 million paying customers. The company’s unique approach to acquiring and transforming digital businesses sets it apart from traditional private equity firms.
Founded out of the remnants of Evertale, a failed startup, Bending Spoons initially focused on in-house apps before transitioning to acquisitions. The company’s strategy involves identifying successful products that can be enhanced and purchased from owners looking to move on.
Recent acquisitions by Bending Spoons include Filmic, Evernote, Meetup, Mosaic Group, Hopin’s StreamYard, Issuu, WeTransfer, Brightcove, Komoot, and Harvest. The company has also announced plans to acquire Vimeo and AOL in multi-billion-dollar deals.
With a valuation of $2.8 billion as of October 2025, Bending Spoons is considered a rare tech decacorn in Europe. The company has attracted investments from prominent figures like Andre Agassi, Bradley Cooper, Eric Schmidt, and The Weeknd.
Looking ahead, Bending Spoons aims to continue expanding its portfolio through strategic acquisitions. The company has job openings in various locations and has received over 600,000 job applications in 2025, indicating its growing presence in the tech industry.