Francesco Patarnello

Co-founder & Head of M&A, Bending Spoons

Search every verified Francesco Patarnello interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Francesco Patarnello, co-founder and head of M&A at Bending Spoons, discussed the company's acquisition strategy and portfolio in a September 2026 interview. He stated that Bending Spoons acquires companies and does not sell them, noting that the company has spent approximately $2.6 billion since its Nasdaq listing in July 2026. Patarnello described the company's approach as agnostic to vertical and category, with capabilities expanding from mobile B2C products into broader B2B and enterprise areas. He contrasted Bending Spoons with private equity acquirers, saying that founders selling to Bending Spoons are not required to remain involved for several years after the sale. Patarnello also commented on specific portfolio companies, describing AOL as a healthy business with millions of active and engaged users at the time of acquisition. He said he looked forward to completing AOL's carveout process and focusing on product improvements, adding that he believed there were opportunities to grow AOL through synergies with other Bending Spoons products. He emphasized the company's goal of allowing employees to work across different products and grow quickly based on performance, describing a founding ambition to create a company where people can fulfill their potential.