What Instil Software does

Instil Software is a Belfast-headquartered, private technology services and training company operating across four practice areas: Agentic Product Engineering, Cyber Security, AI Transformation, and Training. The company was founded circa 2003 and employs 101-250 staff, with revenue generated primarily from engagement-based professional services and instructor-led training delivered to enterprise clients in the UK, Ireland, and the United States. Its core engineering offering has been repositioned around an 'agentic' delivery model in which AI agents (powered by third-party tools such as Claude Code and GitHub Copilot) augment human engineers across a Plan-Build-Ship software delivery workflow; the company claims 40% faster delivery versus traditional development teams and has documented a case study compressing a US market leader's delivery from months to weeks.

The Cyber Security practice spans penetration testing, governance/risk/compliance (ISO 27001, ISO 42001, SOC 2), vCISO, cyber strategy, cyber architecture, and cyber training, with the practice's depth reinforced by the October 2024 acquisition of Vertical Structure. Instil holds ISO 27001, ISO 9001, CHECK Penetration Testing, and Cyber Essentials Certification Body status, credentials that differentiate it from non-credentialed consultancies. The AI Transformation practice offers AI Accelerator (rapid proof-of-concept prototyping), AI Adoption consulting, and Data Analytics. The Training division delivers instructor-led courses directly and virtually, including graduate academies, AI-tools training, and signature workshops with named practitioners (Kevlin Henney, Dave Farley).

Instil's go-to-market is direct enterprise sales with no visible channel or reseller network; pricing is custom and quote-based across both services and training. Named enterprise customers include Atlassian, American Express, BMW, Deloitte, Bose, Workday, McAfee, PwC, and Blue Light Card. The company achieved AWS Advanced Tier Partner status in March 2026, a credential the CEO has publicly tied to expansion into new global markets. Ownership is not disclosed in source materials; the company is described as founder-led (Founder/CTO Tara Simpson) with CEO Paddy O'Hagan leading the current executive team alongside a CCO and dedicated heads of AI, Learning, and Cyber Security.

Name

Instil Software

Legal name

Instil Software

Website

https://instil.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Instil Software is a Belfast-based private technology services firm delivering agentic product engineering, cyber security, AI transformation, and instructor-led training to enterprise clients in the UK, Ireland, and the US, serving customers such as Atlassian, American Express, BMW, Deloitte, and Workday.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Consulting and Software Engineering Services

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Training (611420), Computer Training (61142), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Software Engineering & Application Development Training (Languages, Frameworks, Testing) (BPAEANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Data Engineering, Integration & ETL/ELT Services (BPAEAHAB), IT Architecture & Solutions Design (Enterprise/Cloud Architecture, Integration) (EDABAFAK), Technical Documentation & Knowledge Management (Playbooks, Runbooks, Enablement Kits) (BPAEANAM), AI Integration & Orchestration Platforms (Connectors, Workflow, iPaaS for AI) (HDAEANAI)

Keywords

• Agentic product engineering
• Cyber security services
• AI transformation consulting
• Software development training
• Penetration testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Agentic Product Engineering: Engagement-based delivery of software development and modernisation projects using agentic AI methodologies. Projects range from discovery through to production support.
2. Training Services: Instructor-led training delivered directly, virtually and globally. Training covers cyber security, technology accelerators, and early career boot camps. Pricing is quote-based per course.
3. Cyber Security Consulting: Services including penetration testing, vCISO, cyber strategy, governance risk and compliance, and cyber architecture engagements.
4. AI Transformation Services: AI adoption and transformation engagements helping organisations implement AI purposefully, securely and cost effectively.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Instil Software is a Belfast-based technology services firm that delivers bespoke software engineering, cyber security, and AI transformation services to enterprise clients globally. It combines an agentic AI workforce with human engineering expertise to build, modernise, and support software products across the full delivery lifecycle. The company also provides instructor-led training for engineering and security teams, and operates a graduate academy.

Product overview

Instil Software is a technology services and training company operating across three core practice areas: Agentic Product Engineering, Cyber Security, and AI Transformation, supported by a Training division. The Agentic Product Engineering practice uses an agentic workforce and AI-driven delivery workflows (Plan-Build-Ship) to deliver software faster, with sub-services Launchpad, Agentic Delivery, and Support. The Cyber Security practice provides penetration testing, governance/risk/compliance (ISO 27001, ISO 42001, SOC 2), vCISO, cyber strategy, cyber architecture, and cyber training. The AI Transformation practice offers AI Accelerator (rapid POC prototyping), AI Adoption, and Data Analytics. The Training division delivers instructor-led courses across cyber security, technology engineering (including AI tools), and early-career development, with notable courses including Software Engineering Academy, Modern Testing Workshop, Threat Modelling, Secure Coding, Refactoring to Immutability (with Kevlin Henney), Test-Driven Development, and Dave Farley's Advanced Continuous Delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Agentic Product Engineering Core service combining product engineering expertise with an agentic AI workforce to build, modernise, and support software for enterprise clients across the full delivery lifecycle (discovery through to production and ongoing support).
• Cyber Security Services Core cyber security practice helping organisations embed security into their culture, spanning penetration testing, GRC, vCISO, cyber strategy, cyber architecture, and cyber training.
• AI Transformation Services Core service preparing organisations' data, teams, and processes to build better products and move faster using AI, covering AI Accelerator, AI Adoption, and Data Analytics.
• Training Services Instructor-led training delivered directly, virtually, and globally for engineering and security teams, covering cyber security, technology accelerators, and early career boot camps. Pricing is quote-based per course.
• Launchpad Sub-service under Agentic Product Engineering: a discovery and preparation offering that takes ideas from concept to backlog-ready in half the time using agents, tools, and process.
• Agentic Delivery Sub-service under Agentic Product Engineering: leverages an agentic workforce across a Plan-Build-Ship workflow to out-deliver traditional development teams.
• Support Sub-service under Agentic Product Engineering: ongoing support and management for solutions built by Instil or existing systems to ensure continued value in production.
• Penetration Testing Sub-service under Cyber Security: CHECK-accredited penetration testing that uncovers real-world vulnerabilities in applications, APIs, and infrastructure and delivers actionable findings.
• Governance, Risk and Compliance Sub-service under Cyber Security: helps organisations meet ISO 27001, ISO 42001, SOC 2, and other recognised compliance standards.
• vCISO (Virtual/Fractional CISO) Sub-service under Cyber Security: provides on-demand security leadership across strategy and governance for organisations without in-house CISO capability.
• Cyber Strategy Sub-service under Cyber Security: clarifies security priorities and roadmap so efforts align with business goals and evolving threats without wasted spend.
• Cyber Architecture Sub-service under Cyber Security: builds secure-by-design systems that protect tech stacks and support scalable, resilient product delivery.
• Cyber Training Training sub-offering under both Cyber Security and Training: equips people to identify, protect, and mitigate against modern cyber threats.
• AI Accelerator Sub-service under AI Transformation: rapidly turns ideas into tangible AI proof-of-concept prototypes that address key business challenges.
• AI Adoption Sub-service under AI Transformation: implements AI purposefully, securely, responsibly, and cost-effectively to deliver long-term business value.
• Data Analytics Sub-service under AI Transformation: extracts real-time insights to drive faster decisions and enable teams to focus on higher-value work.
• Software Engineering Academy Training offering: instructor-led academy programme for graduate and junior software engineers, building real engineering skills through structured learning and project work.
• React with TypeScript Training course on building applications with React and TypeScript, delivered at the point of need.
• Engineering Best Practices Training course on engineering best practices including coding standards, pair programming, peer reviews, and quality tools.
• Engineering Best Practices with AI Tools Training course on engineering best practices enhanced with AI tools including Claude Code and GitHub Copilot.
• Threat Modelling Workshop Hands-on workshop teaching threat modelling techniques to identify vulnerabilities and build security into software design from the start.
• Secure Coding Training course equipping developers with skills to write code that is secure by design, covering secure defaults and minimising attack surfaces.
• Modern Testing Workshop Two-day intermediate training course covering modern testing fundamentals including security, usability, exploratory, property-based, mutation, performance, contract, and resiliency testing.
• Refactoring to Immutability (with Kevlin Henney) Two half-day online workshop delivered by Kevlin Henney for Java and C# developers on improving software designs by managing state and reducing mutability.
• Test-Driven Development Training course on test-driven development covering unit testing, refactoring, design, testing clusters of objects, and test quality.
• Dave Farley's Advanced Continuous Delivery Advanced workshop by Dave Farley covering deployment pipeline design, team structure, infrastructure as code, and advanced CD techniques.
• Microservices with DDD Training course on building microservices using Domain-Driven Design principles.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% faster delivery compared to traditional development teams
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or Integration · 3 March 2026Instil achieved AWS Advanced Tier Partner status within the Amazon Web Services Partner Network in March 2026. This status recognises advanced technical expertise, AWS-certified capability, and delivery of customer outcomes. CEO Paddy O'Hagan stated this achievement positions Instil to expand into new global markets with enhanced technical credentials.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Globant: Global digital transformation services firm offering AI, engineering, and cyber capabilities at much greater scale. Comparable as a broader incumbent competing for the same enterprise transformation RFPs that Instil targets.
• Slalom: Large global consulting firm combining technology, AI, and transformation services for enterprise clients. Comparable in its blended strategy, AI transformation emphasis, and enterprise target market.

Direct peers

• Equal Experts: UK-based custom software consultancy with a network model of senior engineers delivering enterprise modernisation programmes. Closely comparable to Instil's bespoke delivery approach and emphasis on engineering quality.
• AND Digital: UK-headquartered digital transformation consultancy building bespoke software products with enterprise clients. Comparable to Instil in custom delivery model, UK footprint, and focus on engineering-led transformation.
• Thoughtworks: Global technology consultancy that designs and delivers custom software with an opinionated engineering culture. Closely comparable to Instil's Agentic Product Engineering practice in target customer (large enterprises), delivery model, and emphasis on engineering excellence.
• BJSS: UK-based technology and engineering consultancy delivering custom software, cloud, and data solutions to large enterprises. Comparable in size, geographic focus (UK), and enterprise software engineering services model.
• Endava: Public technology services firm specialising in custom software development and digital transformation for enterprise clients. Directly comparable to Instil across software engineering services, target verticals (financial services, automotive), and cloud-native delivery.
• Kainos: Belfast-headquartered digital technology and cyber security services company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Highly comparable given shared Northern Ireland base, enterprise software delivery focus, and cyber security practice.

Regional players

• NCC Group: UK-headquartered cyber security specialist offering penetration testing, GRC, and managed security services. Directly comparable to Instil's Cyber Security practice in services portfolio, certifications, and enterprise/government buyer segment.
• QA Ltd: UK-based technology training provider delivering instructor-led courses across cloud, cyber, and software engineering. Comparable to Instil's Training division in course catalogue, enterprise delivery model, and UK-centric market position.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/instil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/304661
• Instagraminstagram.com/instil_hq
• Facebookfacebook.com/instilireland

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Instil Software