The good pals over at Mind the Bridge have ranked the top 25 companies with the most startup acquisitions between 2000 to 2024. The data shows that 18 of these top 25 companies are based in the USA. The biggest company with most startup acquisitions is Alphabet with 222 acquisitions. It is followed by Microsoft with 140 acquisitions.
Coming in third position with 140 acquisitions is Cisco Systems which is also based in the USA. The fourth position goes to Accenture, an Irish company, with 119 acquisitions. Accenture is the only company in the top ten which isn't based in the USA. While most top companies are in the USA, like Apple, Meta, IBM, Amazon and Oracle.
Siemens, based in Germany, has 40 acquisitions making it the top 13th company with the most acquisitions. Roche Group (Switzerland) and Samsung Electronics (South Korea) are the top fourteenth and fifteenth companies with most acquisitions respectively. Accenture is the only non-tech company in the top ten. Ireland, Germany, Switzerland and South Korea are the only non-American companies in the top fifteen companies.
Coming in third position with 140 acquisitions is Cisco Systems which is also based in the USA. The fourth position goes to Accenture, an Irish company, with 119 acquisitions. Accenture is the only company in the top ten which isn't based in the USA. While most top companies are in the USA, like Apple, Meta, IBM, Amazon and Oracle.
Siemens, based in Germany, has 40 acquisitions making it the top 13th company with the most acquisitions. Roche Group (Switzerland) and Samsung Electronics (South Korea) are the top fourteenth and fifteenth companies with most acquisitions respectively. Accenture is the only non-tech company in the top ten. Ireland, Germany, Switzerland and South Korea are the only non-American companies in the top fifteen companies.
| Company (Country) | Startup Acquisitions | Total Deal Value |
|---|---|---|
| Alphabet (USA) | 222 | $16.6B |
| Microsoft (USA) | 140 | $50.1B |
| Cisco Systems (USA) | 134 | $59.8B |
| Accenture (Ireland) | 119 | Undisclosed |
| Apple (USA) | 102 | $6.5B |
| Meta Platforms (USA) | 98 | $23.5B |
| IBM (USA) | 93 | $21.5B |
| Amazon (USA) | 76 | $10.7B |
| Oracle (USA) | 76 | $7.6B |
| Salesforce (USA) | 63 | $61.5B |
| Intel (USA) | 57 | $4.9B |
| Siemens (Germany) | 40 | $2.5B |
| Qualcomm (USA) | 34 | $3.1B |
| Roche Group (Switzerland) | 32 | $20.3B |
| Samsung Electronics (South Korea) | 32 | $1B |
| Alibaba Group Holding (China) | 29 | $21B |
| Merck (USA) | 27 | $26.7B |
| Johnson & Johnson (USA) | 26 | $31.3B |
| HP (USA) | 25 | $5B |
| SAP (Germany) | 25 | $13.4B |
| Comcast (USA) | 24 | $0.3B |
| Novartis (Switzerland) | 24 | $20.8B |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific (USA) | 21 | $6.4B |
| Walmart (USA) | 21 | $21.7B |
| Broadcom (USA) | 20 | $1.8B |
Looking at the data above, one might ask: Why do U.S. companies dominate startup acquisitions?
Opportunity is everywhere. In the U.S., the startup ecosystem thrives. Here, innovation isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the lifeblood of business. Companies know that to stay ahead, they must acquire, not just compete.
Risk is embraced. American culture celebrates failure as a stepping stone. This mindset encourages entrepreneurs to take risks, leading to a wealth of startups ripe for acquisition.
Resources are abundant. With access to vast financial resources, U.S. companies can make bold moves. They don’t just wait for opportunities—they create them, scouring the landscape for the next big idea.
Collaboration is key. Partnerships between established firms and startups flourish, resulting in a continuous flow of innovation. The synergy enhances growth for both, creating a powerful ecosystem.
Speed and agility define today’s landscape, and the U.S. leads the way. It’s about more than acquisitions; it’s about creating a future. The winners? They see possibilities where others see risks.
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