4 million total users is what Figma is reported to have.
400 million was the projected revenue for 2022.
333 million was the reported total raised, making it valued at 10 billion in 2021.
Today, Figma sold to Abobe for 20 billion dollars, 5 years after the official release.
Big question, did Adobe make the right choice?
First up, simplest explanation of Figma as possible.
Software for prototype, graphic and other forms of design, which is web based and capable of easily doing team projects on.
This is a direct competitor to Adobe, making photoshop, illustrator, premiere and other products Figma does or can eventually do.
For financials on Adobe, a basic breakdown.
144 billion dollar market cap.
15.8 billion in revenue for 2021.
4.8 billion in profit.
26 million users on Adobe Creative Cloud, which is the biggest product of focus and most clear Figma competitor.
Comparing Figma’s financials to Adobe, at 20 billion dollars, they are selling at 50x 2022 revenue.
Adobe is valued at 9.1x revenue.
This seems like a big gap, but Figma has this intense rapid growth. I couldn’t find a clear quote for 2021 revenue, but most places are saying 50-80 million dollars.
Which shows clear growth.
Another factor is Figma in 2021 said 83% of users are outside the US, making it the most used design software internationally.
Going into the core question though of good or bad buyout for Adobe, I’d probably say yes.
The reason being that it was the fastest growing competitor of Adobe and it seems like an upsell business, where many Adobe users have illustrator, premiere and many other products. Something Figma could have also easily done.
Final thoughts
Ten years ago almost to the day, I was walking in NYC at an event. The eventual founder to Figma, Dylan Field was there and we casually talked for a few minutes. He told me he was working on a design software using the cloud and I responded “I feel like Adobe or Microsoft would just rip that off overnight”.
20 billion dollars later, I can confidently say, I’ve never been more wrong on anything in my life.