Meet n8n, the workflow automation rebel that just landed $60 million in funding. Their secret? Letting developers run the show - and teaching AI to speak their language.
This Berlin-based startup cranks out tools that connect different services and automate tasks. Think Zapier, but with a twist: you can run it on your own servers and peek under the hood. Their fair-code model means developers use it free but pay when they profit.
The numbers pack a punch. After adding AI features in 2022, revenue jumped 5X. Now they serve 3,000 enterprise customers and 200,000 active users. That's not bad for a company that lets you dodge subscription fees.
N8n's platform stands out in the automation crowd. Unlike Zapier and Make.com, it hands you the keys to your data kingdom. You host it. You own it. You tweak it. No vendor lock-in, no usage limits, no mysterious black boxes.
Sure, it demands more technical muscle than its commercial cousins. The integration marketplace looks a bit slim compared to Zapier's buffet of options. But for companies who value control over convenience, n8n hits the sweet spot.
When they spotted AI approaching like a freight train of opportunity, CEO Jan Oberhauser didn't just jump on board - he redesigned the engine. Their platform now turns complex coding tasks into casual conversations. Need to send an email? Just tell the AI what you want.
The AI addition didn't spark immediate fireworks. Users showed all the enthusiasm of a sloth on sedatives. Then something clicked. Now 75% of customers use the AI tools, proving that sometimes the best innovation isn't the flashiest - it's the most practical.
Highland Europe led the fresh funding round, with HV Capital and previous investors piling in. The cash will fuel tech improvements and a U.S. expansion, where half their users already live.
Why this matters:
While other automation platforms lock you into their ecosystems, n8n proves open-source can compete - and win - by giving developers both freedom and power
Their success shows that practical AI applications trump fancy features: sometimes the best tool isn't the one with the most buttons, but the one that lets you push them your way
