What Meta’s Ray-Ban move teaches growth companies to benefit from this bold strategy
What does Meta’s surprise move into Ray-Ban tell us about the future of growth companies? Strategic minority stakes are no longer just the playbook of tech giants – they are becoming a smart way for smaller firms to leapfrog barriers, gain influence, and accelerate scale. The opportunities are big, the risks are real, and the structuring makes all the difference.
Recent news that Meta has taken a strategic stake in EssilorLuxottica, owner of eyewear brands such as Ray-Ban, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Persol and Oakley, attracted worldwide attention. At first glance, it seems unusual: a technology platform that began with social media, moving into artificial intelligence and wearables, now decides that glasses could be the next frontier. To secure its position, it acquires a shareholding in the market leader.
This type of transaction – where a company invests in a larger, established player to accelerate its strategic goals – is more common among tech giants. Yet, increasingly, scale-ups and growth companies are exploring similar paths. These businesses may not have the balance sheet to buy a multinational outright, but a well-structured minority stake can open doors to resources, distribution, technology, or regulatory access that would otherwise remain out of reach.