Fortino Capital Acquires Majority Stake in Shiftbase to Drive European Growth

Fortino Capital, a private equity firm with offices in Antwerp, Amsterdam and Munich, has taken a majority ownership position in Shiftbase, a leading European workforce management software provider focused on shift-based businesses. The partnership aims to accelerate Shiftbase’s growth across Europe, with a particular emphasis on expanding its presence in Germany and enhancing its platform capabilities.

While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Fortino Capital’s investment marks a strategic move to back Shiftbase’s scalable platform and AI-driven product roadmap. The founders of Shiftbase remain actively involved in the company’s leadership, with co-founder Kars Frijters stepping into the CEO role and Jurrien Strobel assuming the position of Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).

Founded in the Netherlands, Shiftbase offers an integrated workforce management solution that combines employee scheduling, time tracking, and absence management. The platform is tailored for industries such as hospitality, retail, and services, where flexible and accurate shift planning is critical. Serving over 8,000 businesses, Shiftbase has established a strong foothold in its home market and is expanding its commercial reach across Europe.

“Shiftbase has grown significantly over the past years, and with Fortino joining us we can go further in what we set out to do: Make workforce administration disappear for shift-based businesses across Europe,” said Kars Frijters, CEO of Shiftbase. “The automation and AI our customers are asking for is how we get there, toward a Europe where shift-based businesses thrive, not just survive.”

Jurrien Strobel, CRO, added, “We will fully focus on accelerating commercial growth and driving international expansion, including further team expansion in the Netherlands and Germany.”

Fortino Capital’s partner Ida Kuijken highlighted the company’s scalable platform and ambitious product roadmap. “Shiftbase has built a scalable workforce management platform that solves a daily operational pain point for thousands of shift-based businesses. We look forward to partnering with them to accelerate product innovation and expand across Europe,” Kuijken said.

The deal aligns with broader industry trends where workforce management software providers are increasingly integrating AI and automation to improve operational efficiency. Shiftbase’s focus on data-driven capabilities and automation positions it well to compete in a market where flexibility and real-time workforce insights are becoming essential.

Financial details such as valuation and deal multiples were not disclosed. The partnership is expected to leverage Fortino’s network and resources to enhance sales, marketing, and product development efforts. Operational synergies include shared technology infrastructure and economies of scale in customer support and back-office functions.

Looking ahead, Shiftbase plans to deepen its product offering by incorporating advanced AI features and expanding into new European markets beyond Germany and the Netherlands. The founders’ continued involvement aims to maintain the company’s culture while scaling operations.

Regulatory approvals and integration processes are anticipated to proceed smoothly, with both parties committed to a seamless transition. This investment signals Fortino Capital’s confidence in the growing demand for workforce management solutions tailored to shift-based industries.

Overall, the partnership is poised to strengthen Shiftbase’s market position and accelerate its growth trajectory in the competitive European software landscape.