Circula
Circula is a German platform for expense reports, business travel and corporate cards, based in Berlin. On 6 October 2026 it became part of Personio as Circula by Personio.
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About Circula
Circula is a Berlin software company for business spend management, founded in 2017 by Nikolai Skatchkov, CEO, and Roman Leicht. Its modular platform covers expenses and travel, corporate credit cards, employee benefits and incoming invoices, with a DATEV integration; it uses AI to capture receipts, verify booking data and check tax rules. The company says it cuts manual work by 80% on average and holds ISO 27001:2022 certification. In January 2022 it closed a €12 million Series A with Alstin Capital, Peak and Storm Ventures as new investors and Capnamic, Main Incubator and Wenvest as returning ones; the announcement put total funding above €20 million. On 7 May 2025 it announced an extended Series A of €15 million, led by existing investors with CIBC Innovation Banking also taking part. On 6 October 2026 Personio announced the acquisition: Circula operates as Circula by Personio and remains available to customers who do not use Personio. Financial terms were not disclosed. Personio and Circula's website cite more than 3,000 customer companies and 250,000 users, mostly European mid-sized businesses.
The Story
Founded in Berlin in 2017 by Nikolai Skatchkov and Roman Leicht as an employee expense app, it grew into a spend management platform; since 6 October 2026 it has been part of Personio.
How Circula works
Business Model
Software as a service for finance and HR teams of mid-sized companies, with corporate cards and add-on modules.
Revenue Model
Platform subscriptions and card-related revenue; breakdown and amounts not disclosed.
Products & Services
Key Products
- Spese e trasferte
- Carte di credito aziendali
- Benefit per i dipendenti
- Fatture in entrata
- Integrazione DATEV
Core Use Cases
- Expense reports and travel reimbursement
- Corporate cards with spend controls
- Bookkeeping through DATEV
Market & Clients
Key Customers
More than 3,000 companies and 250,000 users according to Personio and the website (October 2026); named customers include Securitas, About You, DATEV, Telekom, Solaris, tonies and Verivox.
Geographic Presence
How Circula competes
Competitive Advantages
- DATEV integration and GoBD compliance
- ISO 27001:2022 certification and hosting in Germany
How Circula grows
Growth Strategy
Integrate spend management into Personio's HR platform while keeping the product for outside customers.
Distribution Model
Direct sales to companies and the Personio channel; partnership with DATEV.
Key Risks
- As a unit of Personio, the future of the standalone brand depends on the acquirer's strategy.
Strategic Insights
- The DATEV integration and GoBD compliance serve the German mid-market.
- Circula stays available as a standalone product for customers outside Personio.
Funding & Investors
Total Funding
Funding Rounds
- 2022 - Series A: €12M
- 2025 - Series A (estensione): €15M
Lead: Alstin Capital, Capnamic Ventures, Peak Capital, Wenvest Capital, Storm Ventures
Key Investors
Founding Team
Founders
Key Executives
- Nikolai Skatchkov - CEO
Key Metrics
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