Tech CEOs Flock to Goldman Sachs Conference Amid Record Deal Activity

CEOs and investors are set to gather at Goldman Sachs' Communacopia & Technology Conference 2025, with a focus on potential future deals in the tech industry. The sector has seen a surge in deals this year, with $645 billion in transactions year-to-date, surpassing 2021 levels. The artificial intelligence arms race is seen as a catalyst for big-ticket M&A, with dealmakers predicting transactions that will "defy our imagination" within the broader AI spectrum.

CEOs, investors, and analysts are converging at Goldman Sachs' Communacopia & Technology Conference 2025, held this week in San Francisco, to discuss potential future deals in the tech sector. The event, which kicks off Monday at the city’s Palace Hotel, is a gathering place for companies to outline their priorities and set the stage for potential future mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

The tech industry has seen a surge in deals this year, with transactions totaling $645 billion year-to-date, surpassing 2021 levels [1]. Notable deals include Meta Platforms Inc.'s $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI Inc., Salesforce Inc.'s acquisition of Informatica Inc., and Nvidia Corp.'s multimillion-dollar deal for startup Solver Inc. [1].

The artificial intelligence (AI) arms race is seen as a catalyst for big-ticket M&A deals. Dealers predict transactions that will "defy our imagination" within the broader AI spectrum. Andrew Woeber, Barclays Plc’s top M&A banker, expects a $100 billion plus deal within the next year [1].

Goldman Sachs expects 2026 to be a record year for global M&A, with deal flows potentially rising as high as $3.9 trillion to surpass the $3.6 trillion generated in 2021 [1]. Additionally, Christina Minnis, Goldman Sachs' global head of credit finance, anticipates a significant boom in AI-related infrastructure financing, driven by the need for data centers, electricity suppliers, and communications networks [2].

The AI boom is expected to drive a decade of significant capital raising, with regulation in Europe potentially constraining banks' traditional role as infrastructure financiers and pushing more financing into capital markets [2]. This shift is anticipated to have a significant impact on the financing landscape in the region.

Goldman Sachs also forecasts substantial growth in the music industry, with revenue nearly doubling from $105 billion in 2024 to $200 billion by 2035, driven by streaming subscription price hikes, growth across recorded music, publishing, and live performances [2].

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-07/ceos-eyeing-tech-deals-record-flock-to-key-goldman-confab
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/goldman-sachs-predicts-boom-ai-driven-infrastructure-financing-2509/