HeadFirst Group

What HeadFirst Group does

HeadFirst Group (legal entity HFBG Holding B.V.) is a Netherlands-based HR-tech holding company headquartered in Hoofddorp that operates an online marketplace platform connecting self-employed professionals (ZZP'ers) and staffing suppliers with enterprise clients requiring flexible, skilled workforce capacity. In 2024 the company connected more than 30,000 professionals with 536 organizations, generating €2.642 billion in gross invoice value across 22,544 individual assignments representing over 30 million work hours. Its brand portfolio covers intermediary services (HeadFirst, Striive, Myler, Between), managed service provider offerings (Staffing Management Services), recruitment process outsourcing (Sterksen), IT and digital specialist sourcing (StarApple with StackOps), and additional workforce brands (ProUnity, Open Talent), targeting large and mid-size enterprises in both private and public sectors.

The platform combines AI-assisted matching with human-mediated placement. Core technology capabilities include AI-powered CV analysis and profile completion, AI-assisted candidate ranking, AI transcription of telephone conversations with summaries, and a digital vault for credential and document management, all hosted on EEA-based infrastructure (servers in Frankfurt). Revenue is generated through three primary streams: transaction fees on professional placements and contracting, managed service provider fees on outsourced enterprise workforce programs, and marketplace commissions on third-party transactions through the platform. The company maintains ISO 27001 (information security), B Corp, EcoVadis Gold at 81 points (global top 3%), and Great Place to Work certifications, reflecting its compliance and ESG posture.

Following the December 2023 announcement and March 2024 completion of its merger with UK-listed Impellam Group, HeadFirst Group became a large global STEM talent and managed service provider with combined managed spend of €8 billion and over 75,000 professionals across Benelux, the UK, North America, and APAC. Kartesia (€75 million minority investment in 2021) and IceLake Capital (investment partner since December 2022) provide financial backing for continued M&A-led expansion. The company traces its roots to HeadFirst Source Holding (founded in 1995), was renamed HeadFirst Group and simultaneously delisted from the Amsterdam Stock Exchange at the end of 2018, and has executed major brand acquisitions including StarApple Group in November 2022 ahead of the Impellam transaction.

Name

HeadFirst Group

Legal name

HFBG Holding B.V.

Website

https://headfirst.group

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

HeadFirst Group is a Netherlands-based HR-tech holding company operating a marketplace platform that connects 30,000+ self-employed professionals annually with 536 enterprise clients, generating €2.642 billion in 2024 gross invoice value, with combined managed spend of €8 billion post-Impellam merger.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Solutions

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloud, DevOps & Infrastructure Staffing (BPACADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Administrative, Clerical & Office Support Direct Hire (BPACAFAF)

Keywords

• Professional staffing services
• Workforce solutions
• Managed service provider
• Talent marketplace platform
• Recruitment process outsourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hoofddorp

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional placement and contracting: HeadFirst Group connects and contracts more than 30,000 professionals annually. The platform serves as an intermediary for hiring organizations, charging for matching services and contract management.
2. Managed Service Provider (MSP) services: Full suite of HR solutions including MSP services, recruitment process outsourcing, IT sourcing, and HR consultancy for enterprise clients
3. Platform marketplace fees: Online marketplace for temporary capacity where third parties (clients) and suppliers/self-employed find each other, with contracting and administrative handling through the Platform

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HeadFirst Group operates an online marketplace platform that connects and contracts more than 30,000 independent professionals annually with hiring organizations, handling matchmaking, contracting, insurance and administrative processes. Through its sub-brands (HeadFirst, Striive, Staffing MS, Sterksen, StarApple, ProUnity, StackOps), the company delivers Managed Service Provider (MSP), Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), IT sourcing and HR consultancy services to enterprise clients in the private and public sectors.

Product overview

HeadFirst Group operates a platform-plus-modules architecture built around its core online marketplace platform. The platform connects independent professionals, suppliers, and clients for temporary capacity, handling contracting, matchmaking, and administrative processes. The portfolio includes intermediary brands (HeadFirst, Striive), MSP services (Staffing MS/Staffing Management Services), RPO and recruitment (Sterksen), IT talent sourcing (StarApple with StackOps), and additional brands (ProUnity, Open Talent). The company leverages technology with human touch to deliver total talent solutions across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HeadFirst: Intermediary and MSP services for professional external hiring
• Staffing Management Services
• Sterksen
• StarApple
• Striive
• ProUnity
• Myler
• Between
• StackOps

Products and services

• HeadFirst Group Platform
• Managed Service Provider (MSP) Services
• Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)
• IT Sourcing & Digital Specialist Placement
• HR Consultancy

Quantifiable outcome

• €2.642 billion gross invoice value in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Intelligence GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication of Talent Monitor research reports covering labor market trends, rate development, and professional market analysis. HeadFirst Group provides data while Intelligence Group contributes analytical expertise and market research methodology.
• ZiPconomyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge sharing partnership for labor market insights and research collaboration on self-employed professionals and workforce trends.
• ONL voor OndernemersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for knowledge sharing on labor market insights and entrepreneurial perspectives.
• The Dutch MastersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced to join forces with The Dutch Masters organization.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brunel International: Dutch-headquartered specialist in engineering, technical and IT project staffing with global operations — closely comparable business model and customer base to HeadFirst.
• Michael Page: Specialist professional recruitment firm with strong presence in IT, engineering and digital hiring across Europe — directly comparable to HeadFirst's specialist professional placement and RPO brands.
• Hays: UK-listed professional staffing specialist focused on STEM, IT and digital skills — directly comparable to HeadFirst's HeadFirst, StarApple and StackOps brands serving similar enterprise clients.
• Robert Half: US-listed professional staffing firm focused on finance/tech/engineering — comparable in its specialization in professional, higher-skill talent placement rather than general labor.

Regional players

• Yacht (Randstad): Randstad's Dutch specialist brand for IT, engineering and professional contractors — competes head-to-head with HeadFirst in the Netherlands' high-end contractor market.

Broad incumbents

• Adecco Group: Major global staffing firm with significant Benelux and DACH operations, including professional and IT staffing lines that compete directly with HeadFirst's portfolio.
• ManpowerGroup: Global workforce solutions provider with strong MSP/RPO offerings and a presence across Europe; overlaps with HeadFirst's enterprise managed services and STEM talent focus.
• Randstad: Largest global staffing and HR services company with deep Benelux roots, broad workforce solutions including MSP/RPO, and significant overlap with HeadFirst's enterprise and STEM segments.

Others

• Intelligence Group: Dutch labor market research firm that co-publishes HeadFirst's Talent Monitor reports; adjacent ecosystem player rather than staffing competitor.
• Ciphix: Dutch intelligent automation partner of HeadFirst that built 'Benthe' for assignment uploading; relevant as a technology partner/ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HeadFirst Group