Figma has officially acquired the team behind Bud (formerly Orchids), a startup developing a "vibe-coding" platform and automated AI agents. This acquisition is Figma's latest move to expand its boundaries from a pure design tool to a direct application development space. Under the deal, the Y Combinator-backed startup will shut down its existing services on July 18, 2026.
Background & Origin
Bud originally started as a vibe-coding platform that allowed users to quickly spin up apps for mobile, web, Slack, and browsers using natural language. The company later rebranded as Bud, focusing on building AI agents capable of accessing multiple services, browsing the web, and writing code to automate tasks. However, the startup also faced challenges. According to a BBC report citing a security researcher, apps built on the Orchids platform were previously found to be susceptible to cyberattacks.
Technical & Technology Analysis
Bud's vibe-coding technology and AI agent system represent the trend of natural language programming, where AI handles code generation based on abstract user ideas. Figma has been continuously integrating AI into its canvas, notably launching Figma Make last year and partnering with OpenAI to support Codex and Claude Code earlier this year. Acquiring Bud's team is expected to help Figma optimize its internal AI agents, enabling the direct translation of static design drafts into interactive real-time prototypes through AI-generated code.
Expert Opinions & Insights
Bud's CEO, Kevin Lu, shared on social media platform X that Figma is one of the defining product companies of our time to capitalize on this exciting new era of work. Industry analysts note that Figma's decision to shut down Bud's service and only acquire the team (acquihire) suggests they are interested in the engineering talent specializing in AI agents, rather than maintaining a commercial product with security concerns.
Impact & Future
This acquisition highlights that the boundary between design and development is becoming increasingly blurred thanks to AI. For the tech community, this trend opens up opportunities to rapidly materialize ideas without being restricted by coding syntax. Figma is proving it does not want to remain a static canvas, but rather aims to become a comprehensive application development environment where ideas are designed and run in tandem using AI.