Salesforce to buy military AI startup Rune in reported $375m deal
Salesforce has agreed to buy Rune Technologies, a startup that builds artificial intelligence software to help the United States military forecast supply needs and manage logistics from the field. The price was reported at $375 million in cash and stock, although Salesforce itself has not disclosed the terms.
Salesforce announced on 29 October that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Rune. The startup’s software helps frontline teams forecast what they will need, plan how to use resources, and decide where to send supplies — including in places with little or no network connection. Salesforce said the technology is already used by the US Army and the US Marine Corps.
The $375 million figure was reported by Resilience Media on 30 October, citing two people familiar with the deal, and was picked up by TechCrunch the same day. Reuters reported on 29 October that the financial terms had not been disclosed, so the price remains reported rather than confirmed.
Rune was founded in 2024 by David Tuttle and Peter Goldsborough, who previously held leadership roles at defence technology company Anduril. The startup has raised $30 million in total from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Point72 Ventures and IQT, the CIA-backed venture firm formerly known as In-Q-Tel. It was last valued at about $127 million, according to PitchBook.
Why it matters
The deal deepens Salesforce’s push into defence technology. Rune will join Missionforce, the company’s business unit serving national security and defence agencies, which Salesforce said has grown 80% year over year since launching a year ago, with customers across all six branches of the US military.
Salesforce called Rune its most significant national security acquisition so far. It also fits a busy year of deal-making, including the agreed $3.6 billion purchase of AI agent platform Fin and the $1.2 billion purchase of Qualified. A 10-year US Army contract with a $5.6 billion ceiling underlines how large the defence opportunity has become for the software giant.
What happens next
Salesforce said it expects the acquisition to close in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year 2027, subject to customary closing conditions. Until then, the reported price and the timing remain provisional, and investors will watch for an updated filing or announcement confirming the terms.
Sources
- https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/30/salesforces-ma-spree-continues-with-a-reported-375m-deal-for-defense-tech-startup-rune/ (TechCrunch, 30 October 2026)
- https://www.salesforce.com/news/stories/salesforce-signs-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-rune-technologies/?utm_campaign=amer_cbaw&utm_content=salesforce__sprout-1793304085&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_source=twitter (Salesforce, 29 October 2026)
- https://ktwb.com/2026/10/29/salesforce-to-buy-defense-tech-firm-rune-in-military-business-push/ (Reuters, 29 October 2026)
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
