Crunchbase Predicts: Why The Race For Talent And Tech Could Accelerate Startup M&A In 2026 

In this Crunchbase News 2026 outlook article by Mary Ann Azevedo, Itay Sagie is quoted on how startup M&A pricing has split into two distinct markets: AI, where talent and IP often drive outsized valuations, and non-AI tech, where deals remain anchored in revenue, unit economics, and operational KPIs. The analysis builds on overlapping insights from Sagie’s earlier Crunchbase article on inflated valuations and the risks of hype-driven pricing, reinforcing the view that heading into 2026, financial discipline, sustainable P&Ls, and defensible unit economics will increasingly determine which companies successfully transact.

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