As enterprises continue their relentless push toward operational excellence, IPA has moved beyond its RPA roots to become a strategic pillar of digital transformation. Fueled by enterprise demand for end-to-end efficiency and the explosive rise of AI agents, the IPA market is entering its most dynamic phase yet.
This report explores how IPA is being redefined by “agentic AI”—autonomous, context-aware systems powered by LLMs and reinforcement learning. These next-gen AI agents are no longer just augmenting workflows—they are executing them, with 89% of CIOs now citing agent-based AI as a top strategic priority. In tandem, IPA is blending with technologies like low-code platforms, process mining, iPaaS, and decision intelligence, enabling automation to span across data silos, legacy infrastructure, and unstructured inputs with minimal human oversight.
The capital markets are responding. IPA M&A is rebounding, with $11.2B in disclosed deal value already in 2025—well above the 2022 peak—driven by transformative transactions such as Salesforce’s $8.1B acquisition of Informatica and ServiceNow’s $2.8B purchase of Moveworks. Unlike broader software categories where private equity often leads, public strategics like UiPath, SAP, and ServiceNow are dominating the field, racing to embed native AI capabilities through acquisition.
Private funding has stabilized since the 2021 surge, signaling a post-COVID equilibrium. However, AI-native IPA platforms are still commanding investor interest, as seen in recent rounds like Quantexa ($175M) and Instabase ($100M). These financings underscore the sector’s shift toward large, later-stage bets on differentiated platforms that can drive real enterprise ROI.
As automation becomes more intelligent, so too must its governance. Our report highlights how platform convergence—AI, RPA, BPM, and integration—is reshaping the enterprise stack, and how IPA leaders are embedding privacy, auditability, and risk controls to ensure automation at scale remains secure, ethical, and compliant.
At AGC, we remain highly active in the process automation software market and are deeply engaged with the top strategics, growth investors, and innovators driving the next wave of value creation.
© In the U.S., America’s Growth Capital, LLC dba AGC Partners, member FINRA/SIPC. In Europe, America’s Growth Capital Europe, LLP (Appointed Representative Alternatives St. James, LLP which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority). America’s Growth Capital Europe, LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership incorporated in England and Wales (OC368580). Its registered address is 6th Floor, 9 Appold Street, London EC2A 2AP. The testimonials contained herein may not be representative of the experience of other customers or clients. Testimonials are no guarantee of future performance or success. Deals marked with an “*” are non-AGC deals.
