Vibecoding is becoming a deal-breaker test for software acquisitions

Consulting firm Bain & Company is now using AI-driven software replication, referred to as vibecoding, to evaluate potential acquisition targets. By attempting to recreate a company’s product using automated tools, investors can better assess the true technical moat and proprietary value of a startup. This approach shifts acquisition due diligence toward testing how easily a business’s core software can be replicated, potentially devaluing companies that rely on code easily generated by AI.