Callstack vs KPMG

Apex Is Now Generally Available: Agentic Coding Model for Mobile and Web, Specialized in React

Apex is now publicly available. Built by Callstack, it brings React Native expertise to feature development, code reviews, debugging, and testing, with strong performance on Next.js tasks too.

Callstack Acquires Margelo for Over $20M

Polish software company Callstack is acquiring Vienna-based engineering firm Margelo in a deal valuing the latter at more than €20 million. Both companies specialize in React Native, a cross-platform framework for building mobile apps. Margelo is known for its open-source libraries (VisionCamera, react-native-mmkv, Nitro Modules) and contract development for clients like Discord, Coinbase, and Expensify. Callstack, founded in 2016, employs over 200 people and serves enterprise clients. The acquisition aims to expand Callstack's technology portfolio and support international growth. Founder Marc Rousavy will stay on and retain a significant stake. The deal follows a recent growth investment from Viking Global Investors that valued Callstack at around €120 million.

• Callstack is acquiring Margelo for a valuation exceeding €20 million.
• Margelo is known for open-source React Native libraries with over 420 million total npm downloads.
• Marc Rousavy will remain with the combined company as a significant shareholder.

Polish Callstack Acquires Vienna-Based React Native Firm Margelo

Polish software consultancy Callstack has acquired Vienna-based engineering firm Margelo in a transaction valuing Margelo at more than €20 million. Margelo is known for open-source React Native libraries such as Nitro Modules, VisionCamera, and react-native-mmkv, and lists Discord, Coinbase, Expensify, and VSCO as clients. Callstack, founded in 2016 in Wrocław, employs more than 200 people and serves over 100 enterprise customers. Margelo founder Marc Rousavy will remain on board and continue developing the libraries. The companies say AI is shifting software development toward architecture, performance, and secure releases. Callstack previously received a growth investment from Viking Global Investors in summer 2025, which valued the company at roughly €120 million. No closing date or regulatory approval details were disclosed.

• Callstack is acquiring Margelo, valuing the Vienna-based firm at over €20 million.
• Margelo's open-source libraries include Nitro Modules, VisionCamera, and react-native-mmkv.
• Margelo has about 39 senior developers and lists Discord, Coinbase, Expensify, and VSCO as clients.

Former KPMG CLO Mike Mather Joins Yoodli as Chief Learning Advisor

Yoodli, the AI platform for human skills, announced that Mike Mather, former Chief Learning Officer at KPMG US, has joined as Chief Learning Advisor. Mather will work with Yoodli customers and product teams to help organizations prepare their workforce for the AI era. He brings extensive experience from KPMG, EY, IBM, and PwC, where he advised Fortune 100 companies on HR and learning transformation. Yoodli is used by major firms like Google, Databricks, FranklinCovey, Korn Ferry, and Snowflake for AI training and coaching. Mather aims to help learning leaders demonstrate measurable behavior change and real business impact.

• Mike Mather, former Chief Learning Officer at KPMG US, joined Yoodli as Chief Learning Advisor.
• Mather served as KPMG's CLO from 2023 to September 2026.
• Yoodli is used by Google, Databricks, FranklinCovey, Korn Ferry, and Snowflake.

AI Pressure on Hourly Expertise Firms

Egan-Jones released a commentary analyzing how advances in artificial intelligence could compress margins at professional services firms that sell expertise by the hour, including audit, consulting, law, and engineering. The report highlights that small teams using AI can match the output of large practices, leading to significant price declines. It cites KPMG's 14% fee cut after client pressure as an example. The commentary also discusses the Model Context Protocol as an open standard that reduces the importance of software interfaces, eroding pricing power for legacy software and data providers. In private markets, AI enables startups to scale faster with less capital, compressing venture returns, which many limited partners have not priced in. Job losses among screen-based workers are expected to exert short-term downward pressure on housing prices, despite long-term urban land value. The commentary provides a framework for investors and risk managers.

• Egan-Jones released a commentary on AI's impact on hourly expertise firms.
• KPMG was pressured to cut fees by 14% due to AI savings.
• Model Context Protocol is cited as eroding software interface importance.

Global Fintech Investments Surpass $100 Billion in H1 2026

According to KPMG's 'Pulse of Fintech H1'26' study, global fintech investments reached $103.1 billion in the first half of 2026, a 43% increase from the previous six months. This growth was driven by a few large deals, with the top ten transactions accounting for $64 billion (62% of total). The United States dominated with $80.8 billion (78% of global capital). In Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), investments fell 37% to $11.3 billion, with Germany ranking second in the region at $1.6 billion, behind the UK's $2.5 billion. The payments segment attracted the most capital at $44.2 billion, largely due to Global Payments' $24.3 billion acquisition of Worldpay. AI-related fintech investments surged to $21.4 billion across 800 deals, nearly matching the full-year 2025 total of $23.6 billion. KPMG expects continued consolidation and a focus on scalable technologies and AI.

• Global fintech investments reached $103.1 billion in H1 2026, up 43% from H2 2025.
• The top 10 transactions totaled $64 billion, representing 62% of global investment volume.
• The US attracted $80.8 billion, accounting for 78% of global fintech investments.