Skello Raises €200M as Founders Gain Bigger Stake

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

Interestingly, rather than being diluted like startup founders usually are, the founders’ ownership stakes actually increased after this funding round.

The round, led by Bridgepoint, is considered rare. Normally, each major funding round reduces founders’ equity. However, Skello’s healthy financial condition allowed them to maintain stronger control. They are no longer dependent on capital injections just to survive.

According to reports from 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 achievement for a business serving frontline teams, a segment of workers that is 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 currently 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 been proven in practice. 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 is able to stand on its own feet, it has far stronger bargaining power with investors. A healthy growth strategy allows founders to stay in control of the company without losing 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 reached 700,000, ranging from small restaurants to major retail chains such as Starbucks and Intermarché.

Now, its biggest challenge is proving it can dominate cross-border markets in Europe, rather than being a champion only at home.

Key Summary

• Skello raised €200 million, but its founders actually 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 its European market reach.