Acqui-hire
Also called: talent acquisition
ELI5
A buyer purchases a startup mainly to hire its people.
Used in conversation
“The acqui-hire may not return invested capital.”
Definition
An acquisition made primarily to obtain a company's team rather than its product or business.
Here “Acqui-hire” means: An acquisition made primarily to obtain a company's team rather than its product or business.
Pitch context
You will see “Acqui-hire” in fundraising decks, data rooms, term sheets and investor conversations when the discussion reaches exits, liquidity & investor returns.
Why it matters: In exits, liquidity & investor returns, a loose definition can change rights, obligations, approval, disclosure or enforceability.
Caution
Meaning, enforceability and required process vary by jurisdiction and agreement; this definition is not legal advice.
Connected terms
- Talent acquisitionThe search label “talent acquisition” can route to both entries.
Sources & evidence · 6
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- National Venture Capital Association — Model Legal DocumentsDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Small Business Capital Formation GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- IFRS Foundation — IFRS GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Exempt OfferingsSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Safe financing documentsSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Series A Term Sheet TemplateSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16