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Salesforce’s M&A spree continues with a reported $375M deal for defense tech startup Rune
AI1 min read
Salesforce has agreed to buy Rune Technologies, a startup that makes AI software for the U.S. military, in a deal reported at $375 million. The deal is another step in Salesforce's growing work in defense technology.
What happened
Salesforce agreed to acquire Rune Technologies for $375 million in cash and stock. Rune builds AI software that helps the U.S. military predict what supplies it will need and manage logistics, which means moving and tracking supplies, in the field. The report came from Resilience Media. Salesforce did not respond to a request for comment.
Key numbers
- Deal value: reported at $375 million in cash and stock
- Missionforce business growth: 80% year over year since it launched last year
- Missionforce's 10-year contract with the U.S. Army: $5.6 billion
- Rune's total funding raised since its founding in 2024: $30 million
- Rune's last valuation: $127 million, in a Series A led by Human Capital last year
Background
Missionforce is Salesforce's business unit that serves national security and defense agencies. Rune's software is meant to help Missionforce go beyond office-style planning and support work on the battlefield. Salesforce has also been buying many companies this year. These include AI agent platform Fin (formerly Intercom) for $3.6 billion, Qualified for $1.2 billion, and Listen Labs.
Why it matters
This deal shows that a big software company is moving hard into defense technology. Military buyers are spending on AI tools, and Salesforce wants a bigger role there. For startups, it shows that defense software can attract large buyers. For the military, it could mean better tools for getting supplies to troops.
What to watch
- Whether Salesforce confirms the $375 million price
- How Rune's logistics data is added to Missionforce's products
- Whether Missionforce keeps growing after the deal
- Whether Salesforce buys more companies this year
Glossary
- Salesforce
- A company that sells software for managing customers and sales, and now also works with defense agencies.
- Missionforce
- Salesforce's business unit that serves national security and defense agencies.
- Rune Technologies
- A startup that builds AI software to help the military predict supply needs and manage logistics.
- Series A
- An early round of funding in which a startup sells some of its ownership to investors to raise money to grow.