Applifting

What Applifting does

Applifting is a Prague-headquartered private software development studio operating under the legal entity Applifting s.r.o. with 200+ engineers across offices in Prague (Czech Republic) and London (United Kingdom). Founded in 2013 by Filip Kirschner and Vratislav Kalenda, the company delivers four core service lines: digital product building (full-lifecycle development), artificial intelligence integration (embedding AI capabilities into client products), AI-accelerated development (using tools like Cursor and Claude Code for claimed 2x-10x productivity gains), and software modernization (legacy-to-microservices migration). The technology stack centers on Java/Kotlin (Spring Boot), Node.js, Python (asyncio), TypeScript, React, and Angular, deployed on Kubernetes/Docker/Terraform infrastructure primarily on Google Cloud Platform, with proprietary custom AI skill frameworks layered on third-party foundation models.

The company operates on a professional services revenue model combining team augmentation (hybrid teams working alongside client staff) and full-project delivery, targeting enterprise and mid-market clients in fintech, banking, IoT/security, and healthcare. Notable engagements include BankID (digital identity verification reaching 4M users and 400+ service providers), George Locker SDK for Erste Group (5M+ clients, 74M monthly logins across 6 countries), FTMO trading platform (helping scale to €200M revenue and 2.9M+ users), Jablotron IoT cloud (600k users, 375k devices across 73 countries), and the Foedus organ exchange platform (33 countries). Over 12 years the company has built 300+ products for 100+ clients.

The go-to-market is direct enterprise sales with dedicated business developers, supported by content marketing (Brainspace blog, ebooks, Crew Talks events), London presence at Level39 fintech hub, and DACH region expansion. The company operates under a teal organizational structure with transparent salaries, a Council of Elders governance model that was formalized into a C-team (CEO Jan Černý, CTO Lukáš Rychtecký, COO Martin Balák, CFO Veronika Bringlerová) in August 2024, and a 10% profit-sharing model with employees. The company is founder-owned with no disclosed venture funding, distributing 10% of annual profits to staff as Christmas bonuses and 0.5% to charity.

Name

Applifting

Legal name

Applifting s.r.o.

Website

https://applifting.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Applifting is a Prague-based private software development studio with 200+ engineers delivering AI-integrated digital products, AI-accelerated development, and legacy modernization services to enterprise and mid-market clients in fintech, banking, IoT, and healthcare across the UK and DACH.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Software Development Services

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry/Domain Analytics Solutions & Accelerators (BPAEAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

AI Application Enablement Platforms (Copilot/Agent Frameworks, SDKs) (HDAEANAJ)

Keywords

• Custom software development
• AI integration services
• Software modernization
• Digital product studio
• Team augmentation

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Development Services: Custom software development including digital product building, AI-accelerated development, and software modernization. Services provided through team augmentation (hybrid teams) or full-project delivery. Revenue generated through professional services engagements with enterprise and mid-market clients.
2. Team Augmentation: Providing AI-accelerated development teams to clients. Teams work alongside client staff in hybrid arrangements, transferring knowledge and enabling clients to scale their development capacity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Applifting is a Prague-based digital product studio that builds custom software for enterprise and mid-market clients through four service lines: Digital Product Building (full-lifecycle product development), Artificial Intelligence Integration (embedding AI capabilities into client products), AI-Accelerated Development (faster delivery using Cursor, Claude Code, and proprietary agentic workflows), and Software Modernisation (refactoring legacy systems to microservices and cloud-native architectures). The company delivers via team augmentation (hybrid teams embedded with clients) or full-project engagements, with particular expertise in fintech regulatory compliance, mobile banking, IoT platforms, and healthcare applications.

Product overview

Applifting operates as a digital product studio offering four core service lines: Digital Product Building (full-lifecycle product development from concept to user-tested delivery), Artificial Intelligence Integration (embedding AI capabilities at the core of products), AI-Accelerated Development (faster delivery using AI-augmented tools like Cursor and Claude Code), and Software Modernisation (refactoring legacy systems to modern architectures). The company maintains offices in Prague and London with 200+ engineers and has delivered 300+ products for 100+ clients over 12 years. Their portfolio includes fintech platforms (BankID for digital identity verification, FTMO trading platform), IoT solutions (Jablotron Cloud for smart home devices), mobile banking SDKs (George Locker), and healthcare applications (Foedus for organ transplant exchange). They also share public engineering resources including the Applifting Frontend Playbook available on GitHub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brainspace: Resource hub containing blog posts, ebooks, and event information for Applifting knowledge sharing.

Products and services

• Digital Product Building Full-lifecycle custom digital product development from initial idea through user-tested delivery, covering product discovery, UX/UI design, architecture, development, quality assurance, and ongoing delivery for enterprise and mid-market clients.
• Artificial Intelligence Integration Building AI-powered digital products with AI at the core, integrating capabilities such as autonomous agents, generative AI, and process automation into client products for enterprise clients seeking AI-first solutions.
• AI-Accelerated Development Faster software delivery using AI-augmented development with tools like Cursor and Claude Code, combined with proprietary custom skill frameworks, agentic workflows, and an AI Maturity Framework for engineers, enabling productivity gains while maintaining engineering quality standards.
• Software Modernisation Moving legacy systems forward through refactoring to modern architectures including microservices, cloud migration (Google Cloud Platform, Kubernetes), and technology stack upgrades (e.g., PHP monolith to Node.js/TypeScript microservices).

Quantifiable outcome

• 5× to 10× productivity gains for individual developers using AI-augmented workflows
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Level39 (Canary Wharf)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026Level39 fintech hub venue partner for London events. Applifting hosts events at Level39 venue in Canary Wharf for AI-accelerated software engineering discussions targeting UK fintech and tech leaders.
• LHV BankminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026Panel participant (Macs Dickinson, Director of Engineering) at Applifting's AI-accelerated software engineering event in London, discussing AI adoption in fintech.
• Jaguar Land RoverminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026Panel participant (Ian Cheng, Senior Digital Strategy Executive) at Applifting's London event discussing AI transformation in software engineering.
• ComplyAdvantageminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026Panel participant (Uma Kala, Staff Software Engineer) at Applifting's London event discussing AI adoption and engineering practices.
• Creative DockminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2023Guest speaker (Elnaz Babayeva, Senior ML Researcher) presented at Python Crew Talk on AI agents and LangChain.
• Czech-German Chamber of Industry and CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2023Partnership for webinar on prototype validation in 5 days, combining Applifting's design sprint methodology with chamber's business development support.
• Iguana TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2023Guest speaker from Iguana Technology presented at Applifting's Frontend Crew Talk on Next.js 13 topics.
• DigitoominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2023Guest speaker from Digitoo presented at Applifting's Frontend Crew Talk comparing Gatsby vs Next.js frameworks.
• Terap.iominorOthersMental health support partner providing Applifters free access to therapists. Part of company's mental well-being care program.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Iterate.ai: AI-focused software consultancy building generative AI applications and digital products for enterprises. Comparable emerging-positioning around AI-augmented delivery and product engineering.
• Andela: AI-enabled talent platform connecting enterprises with vetted engineers globally. Adjacent competitor to Applifting's team augmentation model, with a heavier emphasis on marketplace dynamics versus studio delivery.

Direct peers

• Avenga: European IT services and software development company with strong presence in Germany and CEE. Overlaps with Applifting in custom software development, modernization, and regulated-industry engagements.
• Netguru: Polish software development studio offering custom product development, team augmentation, and AI-enabled delivery for enterprise clients across Europe and the US. Most direct comparable to Applifting by headcount range, service mix, and CEE heritage.
• Ciklum: Global digital solutions company with strong CEE engineering presence, providing custom software development, team augmentation, and digital transformation services. Comparable service mix and target customer segments.
• Codete: Polish software house specializing in AI, big data, and custom software development for enterprise clients. Directly comparable in service offering, AI focus, and Central European talent base.
• Brainhub: Polish software consultancy providing web/mobile development, cloud, and AI services to enterprise clients. Similar scale and professional services model to Applifting, with overlapping fintech and product-engineering capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Thoughtworks: Global technology consultancy with deep expertise in custom software, platform engineering, and AI-augmented delivery. Larger and more established than Applifting but competes for the same enterprise modernization and product engineering RFPs.
• EPAM Systems: Large-scale global IT services firm with major Central and Eastern European delivery centers and significant fintech/banking practice. Competes with Applifting for enterprise software development and modernization engagements.
• Deloitte Digital: Global consulting firm's digital transformation arm offering enterprise software engineering and AI integration. Competes for the largest enterprise modernization and digital product engagements that Applifting targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/Applifting
• Facebookfacebook.com/applifting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/applifting-io
• Instagraminstagram.com/applifting.io
• Xx.com/applifting_io

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Applifting