Figma has acquired the development team responsible for Bud, the startup previously known as Orchids that built a vibe‑coding and AI agent platform. As part of the arrangement, both Bud and Orchids services will be shut down on July 18; users must migrate their projects by that date.
What Bud/Orchids did
The Y Combinator‑backed startup began as a vibe‑coding platform enabling users to spin up apps for mobile, web, Slack and the browser. It later rebranded as Bud and shifted focus to an agent platform capable of accessing various services, browsing the web and writing code to automate tasks.
Kevin Lu, CEO of Bud, posted on X that Figma is a natural home for this new era of work because it’s where ideas start, iterate and come to life.
Security concerns
Earlier this year the BBC, citing a security researcher, reported that apps created on Orchids were susceptible to cyberattacks. With the shutdown planned for July 18, users should account for that reported vulnerability and ensure projects and data are migrated safely.
Why this matters for Figma
The acquisition aligns with Figma’s efforts to expand beyond a pure design tool by adding more AI and bringing coding and prototyping closer to its canvas. The hire of the Bud team fits into that strategy.
In recent product moves, Figma launched Figma Make last year for creating web apps. This year it added integrations with tools such as Codex and Claude Code, and it has rolled out its own agents — all signals that the company is strengthening prototyping and app‑building capabilities, not just static ideation.
Actions for Bud/Orchids users
Because Bud and Orchids will cease operation on July 18, users need to migrate their projects before that deadline. The announcement did not specify exactly how Figma will incorporate the Bud team or which Bud features will appear inside Figma; based on prior product work, enhanced prototyping and code‑generation tools are likely outcomes.
Summary
Figma’s acquisition of the Bud development team continues the trend of design platforms adding coding and automation features. The scheduled shutdown of Bud and Orchids on July 18 sets a clear migration deadline for users while signalling Figma’s intent to deepen AI and app‑building capabilities within its environment.
