TL;DR:
- Berlin-based WAY secures €1.2 million in pre-seed funding for its innovative IT-as-a-Service platform.
- Funding round led by Belgian VC fund Pitchdrive, with participation from notable investors.
- WAY’s unique approach combines device procurement and outsourced IT services.
- The IT-as-a-Service sector witnesses increased activity, with startups like deeploi and Marts gaining significant funding.
- WAY streamlines device provisioning and management, integrating with HR tools and Slack.
- The company offers a range of free features and premium add-ons.
- WAY aims to professionalize IT for SMEs and prevent costly IT issues.
Main AI News:
Berlin’s own device-on-demand and IT-as-a-service trailblazer, WAY, has successfully secured a substantial €1.2 million in pre-seed funding. With this injection of capital, the company’s co-founder and CEO, Jonas Baum, is set to steer WAY’s course towards further enhancing its groundbreaking platform, which seamlessly integrates device procurement with outsourced IT services.
This pivotal funding round was spearheaded by the esteemed Belgian VC fund, Pitchdrive, and witnessed active participation from key players in the investment landscape, including IBB Ventures, FvS Investments, and HRtech-focused fund allygatr. The roster of angel investors boasts industry luminaries like Kenjo CEO David Padilla, Comatch founders Jan Schächtele and Christoph Hardt, Joblift CTO Denis Bauer, and Circus Kitchen CTO Helge Plehn.
Navigating the IT Landscape
In what seems to be an unfolding trend akin to the proliferation of BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) companies and revenue-based financing entities, the IT-as-a-Service sector is experiencing a surge in entrants.
Just last week, Berlin’s self-proclaimed “IT Operating System” startup, deeploi, successfully raised $6.5 million in a funding round led by Atomico, taking their total capital accumulation to an impressive €9 million. Similarly, Copenhagen’s Marts secured €1.75 million in pre-seed capital in early October of the previous year.
While the landscape is teeming with device rental and refurbishment businesses like the UK’s Ooodles, Raylo, Everphone, Back Market, and Grover, WAY stands out by offering a unique hybrid model. They combine the device-on-demand approach with a commitment to alleviate the burdens of IT management for founders, HR professionals, and office managers.
WAY’s claim to fame lies in its ability to swiftly equip new employees with devices and all necessary tools, taking less than 60 seconds thanks to seamless integrations with major HR tools, Microsoft Teams, and Slack. Furthermore, they leverage Slack to streamline hardware inventory management, automating the assignment of devices to employees.
A Winning Proposition
As an enticing proposition, WAY offers a plethora of features for free, a fact they emphasize in a side-by-side comparison with deeploi. Taking a cue from the free-to-play gaming industry, WAY then offers premium add-ons that enhance automation and security.
Jonas Baum, WAY’s co-founder and CEO, explains their mission, saying, “Even tech-savvy SMEs often professionalize their IT too late because existing solutions are too expensive and designed for large companies with internal IT departments. Our goal is to ensure everything is done right from the start, and no company ever has to experience the infamous IT pain again.”
Conclusion:
The successful funding round for WAY reflects the growing interest and investment in the IT-as-a-Service sector. With a unique approach and a focus on simplifying IT management for SMEs, WAY is poised to play a significant role in reshaping the market and addressing the specific needs of businesses, potentially leading to increased adoption of IT-as-a-Service solutions among small and medium-sized enterprises.
