A new deal structure has emerged specifically to navigate regulatory constraints: the “License & Lift” playbook. IP access + talent migration without formal acquisition.
FTC/DOJ have limited jurisdiction over hiring decisions
Perpetual license provides functional IP control without ownership
Competitor neutralized regardless of technical structure
Why Both Sides Accept
Acquirers: Antitrust avoidance is the primary driver. There are perhaps 10,000 people in the world who can meaningfully advance frontier AI research — talent scarcity makes creative structures necessary.
Founders: Economics often comparable to acquisition, talent joins a platform with resources to ship, and the alternative (grinding against hyperscaler competition) is increasingly unattractive.
Gennaro is the creator of FourWeekMBA, which reached about four million business people, comprising C-level executives, investors, analysts, product managers, and aspiring digital entrepreneurs in 2022 alone | He is also Director of Sales for a high-tech scaleup in the AI Industry | In 2012, Gennaro earned an International MBA with emphasis on Corporate Finance and Business Strategy.
