Finnish technology firm Agileday has successfully secured $7.5 million in a Series A funding round to enhance its people-centric operating platform for professional services. The investment, led by Newion with participation from Specialist VC, Vendep Capital, and Business Finland, will fuel the company's international expansion plans. This capital injection is earmarked for advancing Agileday's mission to modernize how professional services firms manage their operations, from planning and delivery to scaling their work globally.
A Unified Platform for Modern Services
Agileday offers a professional services automation (PSA) platform designed to be the central operating system for service-based companies. It integrates critical functions such as talent management, resource allocation, timesheets, and project financials into a single, cohesive interface. Positioned strategically between CRM and financial systems, the platform provides a unified view of operations, connecting disparate parts of the business to drive efficiency and clarity in decision-making.
By synchronizing the sales pipeline with project delivery and financial data in real time, the platform breaks down traditional departmental silos. At its core, artificial intelligence helps coordinate activities across sales, delivery, and finance, enabling firms to gain clearer visibility and execute faster. This automation is crucial for improving operational efficiency in a sector undergoing rapid transformation, allowing companies to adapt and thrive in a competitive landscape.
Founded on Firsthand Experience
Established in 2022, Agileday was founded by a team of experienced entrepreneurs: Jaakko Hartikainen, Mikko Virtanen, Jaakko Hallavo, and Hannu Kärkkäinen. Hartikainen and Virtanen's time at the IT company Tieto provided them with direct insight into the common growth challenges facing professional services firms. This experience inspired them to develop a human-centric and transparent leadership model, which became the foundational philosophy of the Agileday platform.
Co-founder Jaakko Hartikainen explained that the company was created to address how outdated management systems hinder both people and businesses. He noted that firms often fail not from a lack of talent, but from fragmented information and reactive decision-making that treats professionals as mere resources. Agileday aims to unify data with employee skills and interests, fostering faster growth while creating a more desirable work-life balance for employees.
Impressive Growth and Market Traction
The company already serves over 70 global service companies, from fast-growing consultancies to publicly listed corporations. Agileday has demonstrated significant market appeal with 3x year-over-year growth, driven by strong demand from enterprise clients. Notable customers include Apply Digital and The Electric Factory in North America, as well as Knowit, Siili Solutions, and Eficode in Europe, showcasing its broad international reach.
Co-founder Mikko Virtanen attributes this success to the company's Nordic values of trust and radical transparency, which he sees as a competitive advantage. He emphasized that when processes are designed to serve people, teams deliver superior results more quickly. This approach has led to a 100% win rate in client evaluations across all markets, positioning Agileday as a formidable challenger to established global players.
Strategic Expansion and Investor Confidence
With the new funding, Agileday is poised to scale its technology platform and accelerate its growth trajectory across Europe and North America. The investment will support the company's efforts to further penetrate these key markets and solidify its position as a leader in the PSA space. This strategic focus on expansion reflects the growing demand for more integrated and intelligent operational tools within the professional services industry.
Investor confidence in this vision is strong, as articulated by Anton Keller, Associate at lead investor Newion. He stated that Agileday is redefining the future for professional services firms, praising the founders' firsthand experience which is reflected in a product that solves real pain points. Keller highlighted the company's strong product-market fit, exceptional customer win rate, and rapid growth as key indicators of its potential to scale successfully.
In conclusion, Agileday's $7.5 million Series A funding marks a pivotal moment for the company and the professional services automation sector. This significant investment validates its people-centric approach and provides the necessary resources to challenge industry giants on a global scale. As Agileday expands its footprint in Europe and North America, it is well-positioned to set a new standard for operational excellence and transparency in the industry.