{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/651b0df875e52b001192e36d/6a10c4a59feea1b67e83feb9?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"E64: Anthropic Just Pulled Off Competitive Denial M&A + KPMG M&A Market Update","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/651b0df875e52b001192e36d/1779483575778-b146dc5d-f782-4d60-a727-33a99f71d063.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Most AI acquisitions add a layer. This one removed a layer — for everyone else.</p><p><br></p><p>Anthropic acquired Stainless, the developer tools company that built SDKs for OpenAI, Google, Cloudflare, Perplexity, and dozens of other AI and fintech platforms. Then they wound down all hosted Stainless products. The shared supplier is no longer neutral. The tollbooth just changed hands.</p><p><br></p><p>Christian and Ayelet break down what happened, why it matters for every agency and AI startup in the market, and what the KPMG Q1 2026 M&amp;A data actually says about where deal activity is heading.</p><p><br></p><p>One deal. One market update. Fifteen minutes. (Plus some Riverside FM chaos.)</p><p><br></p><p>TIMESTAMPS</p><p>0:00 — Welcome back, noisy week, Publicis/LiveRamp hangover</p><p>0:45 — KPMG Q1 2026 M&amp;A report: deal values up 88.3% to $446B, deal count down</p><p>2:30 — Strategic vs. PE deal activity: 864 strategic, 495 PE in Q1 2026</p><p>3:23 — Advertising sector: 145 deals in Q1 2026, flat to slightly up</p><p>4:00 — Why Christian is predicting a Q2 uptick in strategic activity</p><p>4:42 — The deals happening behind closed doors that don't show in the data</p><p>5:01 — Deal: Anthropic acquires Stainless — $300M+ for the SDK plumbing of the AI industry</p><p>5:45 — What Stainless actually does: API specs into ready-to-use SDKs across languages</p><p>6:10 — The competitive denial angle: Stainless built SDKs for OpenAI, Google, Cloudflare, Perplexity</p><p>6:30 — What \"winding down hosted products\" actually means for Stainless customers</p><p>7:44 — Deal terms: $300M+ reported, ~2x the December 2024 Series A valuation of $150M</p><p>8:00 — Anthropic's acquisition pattern: Wunderkind, Intercepted, Coefficient Bio, now Stainless</p><p>9:00 — The through line: small specialized teams making Claude better — except Stainless is different</p><p>9:16 — If you're a shared supplier to competing platforms, you are an acquisition target</p><p>10:03 — Why this matters for every agency and commerce business building on AI</p><p>10:30 — The MCP angle: Model Context Protocol and why connectivity is the next battleground</p><p>12:29 — Why Anthropic investing in Stainless is probably also an aggressive MCP build</p><p>13:46 — The AI exit multiple conversation: how the timeline is compressing</p><p>14:25 — Grapevine AI / New Engine: outsized early exit with real AI capability</p><p>15:05 — \"Capture the flag\" — why traditional grow-then-sell timelines no longer apply</p><p>15:21 — Wrap, Memorial Day wishes, and please someone recommend an alternative to Riverside</p><p><br></p><p>Link to the KPMG report: https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/mergers-acquisitions-trends-tech-media-telecom.html</p><p><br></p><p>🔔 Live every Friday — subscribe so you don't miss the big announcement</p><p>💬 Drop your guesses on the mystery buyer in the comments</p><p><br></p><p>Connect with Christian and Ayelet</p><p>Ayelet’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/</p><p>Christian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/</p><p>Web: https://www.inorganicpodcast.co</p>","author_name":"Christian Hassold & Ayelet Shipley"}