Gamma Acquires Lica to Launch New AI Research Division
Gamma acquires Lica in a strategic move to build out its own design research lab, TechCrunch has learned exclusively. The presentation startup has acquired the Accel-backed design company to strengthen its capabilities in visual communication and AI-driven content creation.
Lica’s Origins and Funding
Lica launched in 2023 as an app that turned screenshots and recordings into project presentations and videos. Founded by Priyaa Kalyanaraman and Purvanshi Mehta, the company raised $4 million within its first year from investors including Accel, South Park Commons, and Village Global. More recently, Lica focused on helping e-commerce sites produce marketing videos that follow strict brand guidelines.
Why Gamma Acquires Lica
Kalyanaraman explained that Lica wanted to build AI models around communication methods like video and design. Both companies share investors in Accel and South Park Commons, which helped open conversations with Gamma’s CEO, Grant Lee. Those discussions eventually led to the decision that Gamma acquires Lica.
“We have a very similar North Star vision of wanting to make visual communication easy,” Kalyanaraman told TechCrunch. “We focused a lot on frontier research and making sure that became accessible to users. But that’s just one part of the solution. 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.”
What the Acquisition Means for Gamma
Gamma will continue helping users build presentations while expanding into image generation, much like other design companies. With the new research division, the company plans to explore different formats of communication beyond traditional slides.
“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?” said Lee. “What visuals are possible? How interactive are they? These all require us to think deeply about the core responsibility of communication. This is why we’re excited to invest in this area, because we don’t think anybody else is thinking at that level.”
Lica’s Role in the New Research Lab
Lica’s Mehta said the new research division will customize presentation and communication styles for different audiences and tastes. The team plans to personalize AI models so outputs can be edited for various demographic groups and business needs.
“The point of the presentation is to communicate a large goal,” Mehta said. “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.”
Future Products and Industry Trends
Gamma hasn’t disclosed specific products yet, but the company aims to create fluid, multimodal presentations and other communication formats. The startup already serves over 100 million users.
AI presentation tools have drawn major investor attention recently. Prezent raised $50 million across two rounds, Gamma raised $68 million at a $2.1 billion valuation, and Presentations.ai also received Accel backing. Consolidation is also underway — OpenAI acquired NextSlide earlier this month.
Now, as Gamma acquires Lica, the combined entity is positioned to lead in AI-powered visual communication. The acquisition brings together Gamma’s massive distribution and Lica’s frontier research, creating a stronger platform for users and businesses alike.
Key Leadership
Priyaa Kalyanaraman — Lica co-founder, now leading Gamma’s research division
Purvanshi Mehta — Lica co-founder, joining Gamma’s new research lab
Grant Lee — Gamma CEO, overseeing integration and strategy
What This Means for Users
For Gamma’s 100 million-plus users, this acquisition could bring smarter design tools, better brand-aligned video creation, and more interactive presentations. The research division will explore how people engage with visual content and develop formats that adapt to different audiences.
As AI reshapes how businesses communicate, Gamma acquires Lica to stay at the forefront of that transformation. With shared vision and complementary strengths, the two companies aim to make visual communication more accessible, personalized, and effective.
