Gamma Acquires Design Startup Lica to Expand Design Research Lab

Gamma, a presentation startup, has acquired Lica, an Accel-backed design startup, to build its own design research lab. Lica, founded in 2023 by Priyaa Kalyanaraman and Purvanshi Mehta, initially developed an app for creating project presentations from screenshots and recordings. The company later shifted focus to helping e-commerce sites create brand-compliant marketing videos. The acquisition aims to advance AI models for communication methods like video and design, aligning with Gamma’s vision to simplify visual communication. Gamma’s CEO, Lee Grant, emphasized the need for frontier research in accessible communication tools, while Lica’s co-founders highlighted the potential to customize AI models for different audiences. The move reflects broader trends in AI presentation startups, with Gamma planning to explore fluid, multimodal presentations and other communication formats. This acquisition underscores the growing interest in AI-driven design and communication solutions.