Gamma acquires Accel-backed design startup Lica to build a research division

Presentation startup Gamma has acquired Accel-backed design startup Lica, Bitcoin World has exclusively learned, in a move to establish its own design research lab. Lica’s co-founders will lead the new division, which aims to expand Gamma’s focus beyond presentations into broader visual communication formats.

Background and acquisition details

Lica was founded in 2023 by Priyaa Kalyanaraman and Purvanshi Mehta. The startup initially developed an app that converted screenshots and recordings into project presentations and videos. A year later, it raised $4 million from investors including Accel, South Park Commons, and Village Global. Over the past two years, Lica pivoted to helping e-commerce sites produce marketing videos that adhere to brand guidelines.

Kalyanaraman said Lica aimed to build AI models around communication methods, including video and design. The founders were familiar with Gamma’s CEO, Lee Grant, as both companies share investors in Accel and South Park Commons. Those connections eventually led to the acquisition. “We have a very similar North Star vision of wanting to make visual communication easy,” Kalyanaraman told Bitcoin World. “Gamma had focused a lot on building distribution, taking the application to 100 million-plus users. Given how fast things are moving, we decided to join forces.”

Strategic rationale and future plans

Gamma will continue to help users create presentations, but it has also started offering image generation. The company now wants to explore different communication formats through its new research division. “Presentations for us are today a core use case, but how do we expand what presentations look and feel like, and how do people engage with them in the future? What visuals are possible? How interactive are they?” Lee said. “These questions all require us to think deeply about the core responsibility of communication.”

Lica’s Mehta said the research division would focus on customizing AI models’ presentation and communication styles for different audiences and tastes. “The point of the presentation is to communicate a large goal. We are thinking about building a platform where these two goals can be personalized to such an extent that you just get a really good output, and then you’re able to edit for different audiences,” she said.

Market context and consolidation trend

The acquisition comes amid growing investor interest in AI presentation tools. Prezent raised $50 million in two rounds, and Gamma itself secured $68 million at a $2.1 billion valuation. Presentations.ai also received backing from Accel. The category is seeing consolidation: earlier this month, OpenAI acquired NextSlide.

For Gamma, this acquisition strengthens its position in a competitive market by adding research capabilities and specialized talent. It also signals a broader shift toward multimodal communication tools that go beyond traditional slide decks.

Conclusion

Gamma’s acquisition of Lica underscores the rapid evolution of AI-driven design and presentation software. By establishing a dedicated research division, Gamma aims to lead in creating more fluid, interactive, and personalized communication tools. The deal reflects a broader industry trend toward consolidation and innovation in AI-powered creativity.

FAQs

Q1: What is Gamma’s core product?
Gamma is a presentation startup that helps users create slide decks and other visual content using AI. It has expanded to include image generation and now plans to explore new communication formats.

Q2: What did Lica do before the acquisition?
Lica initially developed an app for turning screenshots and recordings into presentations and videos. It later focused on helping e-commerce sites create brand-consistent marketing videos.

Q3: Who are the key people involved?
Lica was founded by Priyaa Kalyanaraman and Purvanshi Mehta, who will lead Gamma’s new research division. Gamma’s CEO is Lee Grant.