Gamma acquires design startup Lica to launch new AI research lab
August 26, 2026
Based on reporting from TechCrunch → — simplified & explained by VAIIYA.
Well-known AI presentation platform Gamma has acquired Accel-backed design startup Lica. With the acquisition, Gamma is setting up a new internal research lab that will be led by Lica's two co-founders. Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.
Lica was founded in 2023 by Priyaa Kalyanaraman and Purvanshi Mehta. The startup began with software that turns screenshots and screen recordings into visual project presentations and videos. A year after its founding, the company raised $4 million from investors including Accel, South Park Commons, and Village Global. More recently, Lica had been focusing mainly on the e-commerce sector with automated marketing videos that stay strictly within brand guidelines.
Bringing together research and reach
The acquisition stems from a shared network of investors and a similar vision for visual communication. Lica built specific AI models for video and design, but was looking for a larger platform to roll out that technology at scale. Gamma now has a user base of more than 100 million people.
With the new research lab, Gamma wants to look beyond traditional slideshows. Where the platform has so far focused on text-to-presentation and image generation, the new division is meant to explore how forms of communication can become more interactive and fluid.
According to Gamma CEO Grant Lee, the demand is shifting toward how users will engage with visual content in the future. The research lab will focus on personalizing presentation and communication styles within AI models, so that output is automatically tailored to the preferences of specific audiences.
Visible consolidation in the market
The Lica acquisition doesn't stand on its own and underscores a broader consolidation wave within the market for AI presentation tools. In recent years, a lot of capital has flowed into this segment. Competitor Prezent, for instance, already raised $50 million, and Gamma itself previously raised $68 million at a $2.1 billion valuation.
The market is now moving into a phase where larger players are swallowing up smaller tech companies to expand their functionality. Earlier this month, OpenAI acquired presentation startup NextSlide, further intensifying the battle for the smartest visual AI assistant.