Berlin Startup Circula Secures €15 Million to Enhance AI Expense Management Platform
Berlin-based startup Circula has successfully raised €15 million in a funding round aimed at advancing its AI-driven expense management platform. This investment will propel the development of autonomous financing workflows, enhancing the platform’s value for medium-sized businesses across Germany and Europe.
Support from Notable Investors
The funding round saw participation from a range of returning investors, including Alstin Capital, Capnamic Ventures, Peak Capital, Wenvest Capital, and Storm Ventures. Additionally, the CIBC Innovation Bank provided financial backing, reflecting a strong belief in Circula’s potential to redefine expense management.
Vision for the Future
“We have a clear goal: to become a German champion in AI for expense and spend management tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises,” said Nikolai Skatchkov, CEO of Circula. “With hundreds of millions of euros in transaction volumes, hundreds of thousands of active users, and the support of numerous tax consultancy firms, we are well-positioned to realize our vision of transparent workdays for finance teams in the coming years.“
Innovative SaaS Platform Features
Founded in 2017 by Nikolai Skatchkov and Roman Leicht, Circula provides a modular SaaS platform designed to streamline commercial expenditure management. Key features include AI-enhanced receipt capture, automated tax-compliant data extraction, and real-time expense verification, making it an invaluable tool for businesses striving for efficiency.
Growing Client Base and Use Cases
Circula boasts an impressive client list with over 2,800 customers, including well-known brands like Aston Martin, About You, Datev, and Securitas. Currently, more than 150,000 employees across Europe utilize the platform for managing travel expenses, credit card transactions, and personnel benefits.
Significant Time and Cost Savings
According to Circula, businesses leveraging its platform can reduce manual effort by 80% and shorten monthly closing cycles by several days. This capability is particularly critical amid economic uncertainty and rising cost-reduction pressures, making Circula an essential resource for modern companies.
Addressing the Digital Gap in Expense Management
The demand for digital expenditure solutions is underscored by a report from ERP supplier Diamant, which indicates that only 8.8% of medium-sized German companies have fully automated their expense workflows. Circula aims to bridge this gap by enabling the capture of over 70% of expenses at the point of occurrence, integrating tax-related data, and reducing billing cycles to less than two days.
Expert Endorsement and Future Plans
Charlotte Goggin, Director of the CIBC Innovation Bank, remarked, “Circula transforms traditional documentation into intelligent processes enhanced by AI, setting new standards in digital expense management. We are excited to support this growth.” With this latest capital injection, Circula plans to further develop its AI capabilities and introduce new automation features tailored to the needs of financial teams.