Press release: Zoetermeer/Amsterdam, 29 April 2026 - Shiftbase partners with Fortino Capital to support its next phase of European expansion
Shiftbase, a leading European workforce management software provider for shift-based businesses, announces a strategic partnership with Fortino Capital. Fortino joins as majority investor to support the next phase of Shiftbase’s growth: Further developing its platform and strengthening its position across Europe. The founders will remain actively involved in new roles, with Kars Frijters stepping up as CEO and Jurrien Strobel taking on the role of CRO.
Making workforce admin disappear across Europe
Founded in the Netherlands, Shiftbase was built on one simple conviction: Shift-based businesses should thrive beyond their admin. The platform brings together employee scheduling, time tracking, and absence management in one integrated solution, purpose-built for sectors like hospitality, retail, and services, where flexibility and accurate planning are critical to daily operations.
By replacing manual processes and disconnected tools, Shiftbase removes the administrative layer step by step, freeing shift-based businesses to focus on growth, people, and the work that matters. Employees benefit from greater transparency and control over their schedules, contributing to higher engagement and more efficient teams.
In recent years, Shiftbase has built a strong position in its home market and established a growing commercial presence in Germany and the broader European market. With a scalable platform, clear product direction and strong AI vision, Shiftbase is well-positioned to enter its next phase of growth.
Kars Frijters, co-founder and CEO of Shiftbase:
"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. 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. I look forward to leading the next phase as CEO, together with Jurrien and the team."
Jurrien Strobel, co-founder and CRO of Shiftbase:
"We will fully focus on accelerating commercial growth and driving international expansion, including further team expansion in the Netherlands and Germany.
Accelerating growth and product development
With Fortino Capital as its new majority partner, Shiftbase will accelerate its international expansion across Europe, with Germany as a primary focus market. The company will continue to invest in its platform, further enhancing its product offering and developing automation and data-driven capabilities that simplify workforce management for its customers.
Ida Kuijken, Partner at Fortino Capital:
“Shiftbase has built a scalable workforce management platform that solves a daily operational pain point for thousands of shift-based businesses. We are impressed by what Kars, Jurrien and the team have achieved to date. Furthermore, they are working on a compelling roadmap toward even more automated, data-driven workforce planning and management. We look forward to partnering with them to accelerate product innovation and expand across Europe.”
About Shiftbase
Shiftbase is a European workforce management software provider for shift-based businesses. The platform supports over 8,000+ businesses across sectors including hospitality, retail, and services, helping them manage scheduling, time tracking, and absence workflows through one integrated solution. With a strong focus on usability, automation, and continuous product development, Shiftbase is expanding its presence across Europe. For more information, visit https://www.shiftbase.com.
About Fortino Capital
Fortino Capital is a European investment company with a focus on high-growth B2B software solutions managing three private equity funds. With offices in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, Fortino backs exceptional and ambitious entrepreneurs in Europe. Fortino Capital’s private equity portfolio includes Seenons (NL), Nétive (NL), SpeakUp (NL), Maxxton (NL), CERRIX (NL), BlueRock (NL), among others. For more information, visit https://www.fortino.capital/
