Skello Raises €200M, Founders Gain Bigger Stakes

JAKARTA — French tech startup Skello has set an unusual funding record in the software industry. The AI-based human resources management solutions provider raised €200 million, or around Rp3.4 trillion.

Interestingly, instead of being diluted like most startups, the founders’ ownership stakes increased after the funding round.

The Bridgepoint-led financing is relatively rare. Usually, each major funding round reduces founders’ equity. But Skello’s healthy financial condition allowed them to retain stronger control. They are no longer dependent on capital injections just to survive.

According to Tech Funding News and EU-Startups, Skello has been profitable since 2025. The company posted annual recurring revenue (ARR) above €50 million this year. This is a crucial milestone for a business serving frontline teams, a worker segment often overlooked by conventional digital tools.

Expansion Strategy and AI’s Role

The fresh funds will be used by Skello to aggressively expand across Europe. The company plans to acquire smaller players to consolidate the still-fragmented HR management market. Skello also plans to add 100 new staff throughout 2026, focused on technology, data, and sales.

The key to its success lies in Skello Assistant, an AI agent launched in 2025. The tool helps managers automatically detect overtime hours, correct payroll mismatches, and build work schedules that comply with regulations. Its efficiency has proven tangible. The system is claimed to save managers up to 35 hours per month.

For technology industry players in Indonesia, Skello’s case offers a valuable lesson on the importance of reaching profitability before pursuing large-scale expansion.

When a company can stand on its own, it has far stronger bargaining power in front of investors. A healthy growth strategy allows founders to keep the wheel of the company without losing control of the vision they built from the start.

Founded by Quitterie Mathelin-Moreaux and Emmanuelle Fauchier-Magnan in 2016, Skello now serves 30,000 businesses. Its daily users have surpassed 700,000 people, ranging from small restaurants to major retail chains such as Starbucks and Intermarché.

Now, its biggest challenge is proving it can dominate markets across Europe, not just be a homegrown champion.

Key Summary

• Skello raised €200 million, but its founders increased their ownership percentage in the company.
• The company has been profitable since 2025, focusing on AI-powered scheduling and HR management software.
• The investment will be used to acquire competitors and hire 100 specialists to expand in Europe.