BrowserStack Acquires Bug Reporting Platform Bird Eats Bug for $20 Million: Aiming for a Unified Testing Experience
Software-as-a-service unicorn BrowserStack, last valued at about $4 billion in 2021, has acquired Berlin-based advanced bug reporting tool Bird Eats Bug, it said in a statement on Tuesday.
As part of the deal, BrowserStack will incorporate European venture capital firm Nauta Capital-backed Bird Eats Bug’s capabilities in its ecosystem and launch a manual testing solution Bug Capture.
The companies didn’t disclose the deal value but media reports pegged it at $20 million.
“This acquisition marks a significant step towards our goal of providing developer and quality assurance teams with a unified, seamless testing experience,” said Ritesh Arora, chief executive and co-founder of BrowserStack.
“By integrating Bug Capture’s innovative approach to bug reporting into our platform, we’re not just streamlining workflows; we’re boosting development teams’ productivity so they can focus more on building great products and less on managing the intricacies of the testing process,” he added.
Bug Capture allows faster debugging of programs with features such as instant replays, screen recording, and comprehensive auto-captured technical logs, such as console and network logs, system details, and steps to reproduce.
BrowserStack: A Testing Platform with Growing Footprint
Founded in Mumbai in 2011 by serial entrepreneurs Ritesh Arora and Nakul Aggarwal, BrowserStack offers developers instant access to a cloud platform that allows them to test their websites and mobile applications, replacing the need for teams to own and manage an in-house test infrastructure.
It last raised $200 million in a Series B funding round led by former Kleiner Perkins partner Mary Meeker’s investment firm BOND. Venture capital firm Accel and Insight Partners also took part in the round. Previously, the company secured $50 million in a Series A round in January 2018 to expand its team and build a brand presence.
Acquisition Highlights a Trend of Consolidation in SaaS
“This acquisition marks a significant step towards our goal of providing developer and QA teams with a unified, seamless testing experience,” said Ritesh Arora, CEO and co-founder of BrowserStack.
The firm said in a statement that $20 million includes acquisition cost as well as future investments on Bird Eats Bug product.
“BrowserStack has acquired Bird Eats Bug and committed a total of $20 million to the deal. This investment includes upfront cash, stock, and future investment for product development, “ The firm's statement said.
Bird Eats Bug: A Tool for Faster Bug Resolution
Bird Eats Bug is a SaaS tool that helps companies save time on fixing technical issues. The firm in 2021 raised a €1.5 million seed round, led by Nauta Capital.
Founded in 2020, Bird Eats Bug has built a SaaS tool that allows even non-technical people to create data-rich bug reports that can save companies expensive engineering time.
“By integrating Bug Capture's innovative approach to bug reporting into our platform, we're not just streamlining workflows; we're boosting development teams' productivity so they can focus more on building great products and less on managing the intricacies of the testing process, “ Arora added.
Bird Eats Bug marks BrowserStack's fifth acquisition since Percy, a visual testing platform, in 2020.
BrowserStack's Continued Growth
BrowserStack is presently valued at above $4 billion after it raised $200 million in its Series B funding round led by Mary Meeker's BOND, with participation from Insight Partners and existing investor Accel.
BrowserStack, which helps developers test for bugs and glitches across multiple desktops and mobiles, has more than 60-70 percent market share in India, according to market estimates. In fact, BrowserStack was the most valued SaaS firm from India until Freshworks was listed on Nasdaq.
The Future of Software Testing: A Unified Approach
The acquisition of Bird Eats Bug by BrowserStack signifies a key development in the software testing landscape. As the software development process becomes increasingly complex, a unified and seamless testing experience becomes crucial for developers and QA teams. BrowserStack's acquisition of Bird Eats Bug demonstrates its commitment to providing a comprehensive and efficient testing solution to address the growing demands of the industry. This strategic move is likely to fuel further innovation and accelerate the development of more advanced testing tools in the future.
