Meta acquired an AI application developer at a multi-billion dollar price at the end of December. This deal became the third-largest acquisition in Meta's history, only behind the acquisitions of WhatsApp and a leading AI company.

Interestingly, the deal was completed at an astonishing speed. It is reported that just before the acquisition, the AI company was still raising funds at a $2 billion valuation, and the entire negotiation process took only a little over ten days. A partner from ZhenFund joked, "It was so fast that we even wondered if it was a fake offer."

The founding team was initially hesitant, but the conditions and long-term vision offered by Meta's founder and CEO ultimately convinced them. Interestingly, the CEO and several core managers of Meta are actually experienced users of this AI application and are very familiar with the product itself. After the deal was completed, the founders took on roles as Meta Vice Presidents, and the company maintained a relatively independent operation. Such cases are quite common in mergers and acquisitions by large tech companies—quick action, reasonable valuation, and retaining the founding team’s independence are key factors that attract entrepreneurs.