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This Week in SaaS - Dec 22, 2025 - Jan 5, 2026

The top M&A deals, venture deals, news, and blog posts of the week

By
Ryan Allis
January 5, 2026

📚 New Blog Posts & Videos

  1. The Best Marketing Strategy for B2B SaaS in 2026
  2. If I Started a SaaS Business in 2026, I'd Do This First
  3. This SaaS Makes $100M... Here's How (Clay Video Case Study) 🎥

💸 Big SaaS VC Rounds 

  1. Moonshot AI (AI-driven autonomous website optimization platform; SaaS) – raised a $500M Series C at a $4.3B valuation on Jan 5, 2026; funds will accelerate development of its autonomous optimization platform, drive global enterprise adoption, and expand integrations that automatically improve web performance using advanced AI workflows.

  2. Rewaa (retail inventory management and operations platform; SaaS) – raised a $45M Series B on Jan 5, 2026; funds will support expansion of its unified inventory stack, accelerate AI capabilities for demand forecasting and stock optimization, and scale sales and partnership initiatives across global retail segments.

  3. DataLane (identity graph for local businesses; SaaS) – raised a $22.5M Series A on Dec 30, 2025; funds will accelerate development of its real-time local business identity graph, expand engineering and data teams, and support broader enterprise go-to-market expansion.

  4. Galatek (AI-driven automation platform for life sciences & semiconductor workflows; software/automation) – raised $30 M in a Series A on December 22, 2025; capital will accelerate product development and international expansion of AI-powered lab automation and semiconductor workflow software.

  5. ANNA Money (AI-powered business accounts, invoicing, payroll, tax & admin platform; fintech SaaS) – secured $12.6 M in growth debt financing on Dec 22 2025; the facility will scale its AI accounting and administrative SaaS platform ahead of major tax compliance shifts in the UK.

  6. BriefCatch (AI-assisted legal writing platform for law firms and courts; SaaS) – raised a $6M Series A on Dec 30, 2025; funds will expand product development and AI capabilities for legal drafting and editing workflows, support team growth, and scale adoption across legal organizations.

🤝 SaaS M&A Deals 

  1. Meta agreed to acquire Manus (~$2–3B reported valuation; AI agent SaaS platform with recurring subscriptions; US/Singapore) – announced on Dec 30, 2025; the acquisition strengthens Meta’s push into autonomous AI tools by integrating Manus’ subscription-based agent technology across its enterprise and consumer offerings.

  2. ZenaTech completed the acquisition of Holt Surveying & Mapping, Andrew Spiewak Land Surveyor & a Halifax commercial services firm (undisclosed terms; Drone-as-a-Service / enterprise SaaS–enabled services; US/Canada) – announced on Dec 30, 2025; these tuck-ins expand ZenaTech’s recurring drone service operations via SaaS-adjacent DaaS platforms and field service capabilities.

  3. Life360 completed the acquisition of Nativo (~$120M; adtech & content distribution SaaS platform; US) – announced on Jan 5, 2026; the integration expands Life360’s advertising technology stack and recurring monetization via Nativo’s publisher SaaS platform.

  4. BigBear.ai completed the acquisition of Ask Sage (~$250M; secure generative AI platform for government deployments; US) – completed on Jan 1, 2026; by acquiring Ask Sage’s secure AI software and certifications, BigBear.ai expands its recurring revenue portfolio and deepens its secure generative AI offering for defense and intelligence customers reliant on compliant SaaS AI tools.

  5. Nextech3D.ai to acquire Krafty Labs (~$1.2M YTD revenue; AI-augmented SaaS event engagement & experiential technology; Canada/US) – expected to close on Jan 2, 2026 (pending securities exchange approval); the deal adds enterprise-focused event engagement and experiential technology capabilities to Nextech3D.ai’s 3D asset generation and spatial computing software stack, expanding SaaS-oriented offerings into live/hybrid event workflows. 

🚀 SaaS IPOs & S-1 Filings 

  • Travelstack Tech (tech-enabled hospitality & travel platform software; India) – filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) for an IPO with the Securities and Exchange Board of India on Dec 18, 2025; the filing reflects Travelstack Tech’s intent to raise capital through a public offering combining a fresh issue and offer for sale, aiming to support expansion of its platform that powers FabHotels’ inventory, distribution, and tech operations for hospitality partners.
  • Signing Day Sports, Inc. (recruiting & athlete discovery platform software; US) – filed Form S-1 on Jan 5, 2026; the filing registers shares (and warrant-related shares) tied to a public offering structure, positioning the company to fund operations while advancing its athlete-recruitment digital platform that connects student-athletes with coaches and recruiters across multiple sports.
  • FreeCast, Inc. (technology-driven streaming aggregation platform, licensed to partners; US) – filed Form S-1/A (Amendment No. 10) on Dec 31, 2025; the amended registration supports a Nasdaq direct listing via resale registration, reflecting FreeCast’s plan to broaden public-market access while scaling a partner-licensed platform that organizes streaming content and integrates major apps into a unified guide-like experience. 

🧠 Key Takeaways

  • AI agents are redefining SaaS go-to-market and operating models. Recent founder commentary highlights a shift away from traditional, human-heavy sales and operations teams toward AI agents that can execute repeatable workflows at scale. Instead of hiring junior roles to perform scripted tasks, SaaS leaders are training AI on top-performer playbooks to deliver consistent output at lower cost. This signals a broader transition toward AI-first organizational design, where founders should evaluate which functions truly require human judgment and which can be automated without sacrificing quality or customer experience.

📰 Community News

See you next week with the next edition ofThis Week in SaaS.

-Ryan Allis, CEO of SaasRise