Replit CEO Amjad Masad addressed acquisition speculation at TechCrunch's StrictlyVC event in San Francisco. The question loomed large after reports surfaced that rival Cursor is negotiating a $60 billion acquisition by SpaceX. Masad made his position clear. He plans to keep Replit independent rather than pursue a sale.
The comments come as the AI coding assistant market heats up. Cursor has attracted significant investor attention and reportedly valuations in the tens of billions. Replit, which offers a browser-based IDE and collaborative coding platform, competes directly in this space.
Masad discussed the broader competitive landscape and Replit's strategy moving forward. He touched on challenges facing the company, including competition from well-funded rivals and pressure from major tech companies like Apple. The CEO emphasized Replit's commitment to building for developers and maintaining its position as an independent player.
The event drew a packed audience of venture capitalists, founders, and industry observers tracking the rapid consolidation in AI-powered developer tools. Masad's willingness to stay private reflects confidence in Replit's trajectory and the company's ability to compete without a major acquisition or deep-pocketed acquirer backing it.