As artificial intelligence continues to transform developer tooling, companies that streamline AI adoption are gaining significant traction. Berlin-based automation startup n8n, pronounced “enay-ten,” has seen explosive growth since pivoting toward AI-enhanced workflow automation in 2022. Over the past year, the company reported a fivefold increase in revenue, doubling in just the last two months.
Building on this momentum, TechCrunch has confirmed that n8n has successfully raised €55 million ($60 million) in Series B funding. Sources close to the company estimate its valuation at approximately €250 million ($270 million). This funding round was spearheaded by Highland Europe, with participation from existing investors HV Capital, Sequoia, Felicis, and Harpoon. Sequoia previously led n8n’s seed funding in 2020, followed by Felicis’ Series A investment in 2021.
Scaling Rapidly with AI and Open Source Foundations
Currently, n8n boasts over 3,000 enterprise clients and an active user base of approximately 200,000. While the company does not disclose its revenue figures, this user base includes both free and paid customers, spanning short-term and long-term subscriptions. With the new investment, n8n plans to further develop its technology and expand into emerging markets, particularly the U.S., where over half of its users are located.
Founded in 2019, n8n quickly gained popularity among development teams seeking low-code and no-code automation tools. These solutions enable users to connect applications seamlessly, reducing the need for extensive coding. The company also stands out due to its commitment to “fair code,” an evolution of open-source principles that ensures developers contributing to open-source projects are compensated when their work is commercialized. CEO Jan Oberhauser pioneered this approach and actively promotes it within the developer community.
Despite its strong open-source foundation and community-driven growth—evidenced by over 70,000 stars on GitHub—it was n8n’s integration of AI that propelled it into the mainstream. The startup recognized early that generative AI could enhance automation by making it more accessible and intuitive. Instead of writing complex code for workflow automation, users can now give simple natural language instructions like, “Retrieve data from X and send it to Y.”
The AI Revolution in Workflow Automation
This transformation aligns with a broader industry shift, where automation and generative AI are reducing technical barriers for businesses. Competitors like Tines, Workato, and UiPath have also embraced AI-driven automation, underscoring the growing demand for such solutions.
Initially, n8n’s AI-powered tools struggled to gain traction. However, last year, interest skyrocketed, coinciding with a surge in AI-focused developer tools and investments. Companies like Poolside, Codeium, and Magic all secured substantial funding within months, highlighting the growing appetite for AI in software development.
David Blyghton, General Partner at Highland Europe, emphasized n8n’s practicality in AI adoption: “Everyone wants to leverage AI but struggles to find real-world applications. n8n’s design, scale, and efficiency make it easy for businesses to integrate AI seamlessly.”
Oberhauser acknowledges that market adoption took time, but today, approximately 75% of n8n’s customers are actively using its AI-powered features. With this fresh round of funding, n8n is poised to continue its rapid expansion, driving the next evolution of AI-powered workflow automation.
