Google-Wiz Completion Could Greenlight More Tech M&A
Google completed its $32 billion purchase of Wiz this week, finalizing a real windfall for those who invested in the cybersecurity startup.
But even the tech investors who missed out on backing Wiz stand to benefit.
After many years of regulatory challenges from the U.S. and abroad, the ability for a big tech company to complete a mega deal flashes a green light for others to follow.
It wasn’t a coincidence that Google announced its plan to buy Wiz in January 2025—just as Trump took office. The outgoing Biden administration had a reputation for opposing tech mergers, and his Federal Trade Commission chair, Lina Khan, had attempted to break up big tech companies such as Meta Platforms.
Just a year earlier, Wiz and Google had tried to reach an agreement, but the transaction never happened—partly because Wiz didn’t want to face the same regulatory hurdles that thwarted Adobe’s attempt to buy Figma in 2022. In the last administration, startups were sometimes turning down lucrative acquisition offers rather than roll the dice with the government.
It wasn’t just Google-Wiz that took advantage of the new climate. Last year, the value of North American tech company acquisitions surged 93% to $736 billion, according to a report from law firm Morrison Foerster. There were also a record number of tech deals valued over $10 billion, said the report.
Bryan Taylor, managing partner at Advent International and an investor in Wiz since leading a round in 2021, said it’s not just the changed regulatory environment that’s leading to more tech M&A. He said there’s a lot of promising assets for companies to buy, including AI startups that can improve innovation. He also pointed to market volatility, which creates an opportunity for buyers to get a deal on software businesses.
While the increase in acquisitions is welcomed by the venture industry, it’s not nearly enough. There are still more than 1,000 unicorns that have yet to exit.