1st10 Podcast

The Wild World of AI M&A: Inside Silicon Valley's Billion-Dollar Talent War with M&A Expert Sara Ali

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Sep 21, 2025
Sara Ali, Senior Director of Corporate Development & Strategy at Yahoo, shares insights from over 12 years in M&A with giants like Google and Microsoft. She discusses the current AI M&A landscape, explaining how 'scarcity multiples' are driving talent acquisitions while traditional revenue measures fade. Sara reveals creative deal structures that bypass regulatory scrutiny and how acquired talent can earn vastly more than their traditionally-hired counterparts. Plus, her bold prediction that GPUs will become a valuable deal currency. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating the tech industry!
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ADVICE

Use M&A To Leapfrog Product Roadmaps

  • Use acquisitions to accelerate roadmap where organic work is slow or costly.
  • Acquire IP or teams to free your company to prioritize other initiatives.
INSIGHT

Scarcity Drives AI Dealmaking

  • AI M&A is chaotic but driven by clear intent: talent scarcity and speed.
  • Companies use creative structures to lock talent before competitors do.
INSIGHT

Partial Stakes Bypass Regulatory Friction

  • Meta bought 49% non-voting stake in Scale AI to secure talent and capacity.
  • That structure gave Meta benefits without triggering typical regulatory review.
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