Lifely
Lifely is an Amsterdam-based boutique digital agency offering strategy, design, and engineering services (including AI/ML, MLOps, cross-platform apps, and Common Ground public-sector software) to Dutch and Benelux enterprises, government, and education clients through multi-year project and retainer engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lifely does
Lifely B.V. is an Amsterdam-based, founder-owned boutique digital agency operating across three integrated service pillars: Agile Product Teams (cross-functional design, development, managed services, and Cloud/DevOps), Artificial Intelligence (machine learning, pre-trained transformer fine-tuning, MLOps via UbiOps, computer vision on ImageNet, Prophet-based forecasting, clustering, automated ML, and generative summarization), and Strategic Development (digital, product, and brand strategy). Its delivery stack is centered on TypeScript/NodeJS, GraphQL as an API integration layer, React Native for cross-platform mobile and desktop, and Material UI-based component design, with a software-rebuild methodology and Common Ground (open-source, data-ownership) architecture for Dutch public-sector work.
Lifely monetizes through professional services engagements priced via a four-tier multi-year contract structure (MVP, Scale and grow, Strategic partner, Build me a department), supplemented by fixed-scope AI Design Sprints and Google Design Sprints. Customers are primarily Dutch and Benelux enterprises plus government and education institutions; named reference accounts include Ruler (legal-tech SaaS serving 80+ banks and insurers in the Benelux, where Lifely delivered fine-tuned summarization models integrated via custom API), the Dutch Ministry of Defence (DO-MAINT vehicle maintenance app, awarded State Secretary of Defence 'Innovation Idea of the Year' 2020 and now produced internally by the Ministry), Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (student app with 40,000+ downloads and a 4.2 App Store rating in 2019), and TopTaal (MijnTopTaal platform serving 3,000 students, 200 teachers, and 40 municipal/corporate clients).
The firm explicitly designs for client self-sufficiency within 2-3 years, positioning itself as a growth-stage and enterprise partner that hands software and operational capability over to internal teams. Distribution is primarily direct (phone, email, contact form, 'We're ready to pitch!' CTAs, free AI consultations), supported by published case studies, a deep technical knowledge base, and partnerships such as UbiOps (MLOps platform) and the 'De Stad als Dataruimte' consortium with Gemeente Amsterdam, the University of Amsterdam, Triply, IJsfontein, Shosho, and Total Design (co-funded by an EU EFRO subsidy). The company is privately held with no disclosed external investors or funding rounds.
Lifely firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lifely
- Legal name
- Lifely B.V.
- Website
- https://lifely.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lifely is an Amsterdam-based boutique digital agency offering strategy, design, and engineering services (including AI/ML, MLOps, cross-platform apps, and Common Ground public-sector software) to Dutch and Benelux enterprises, government, and education clients through multi-year project and retainer engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lifely industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Product Development Services
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Marketing Consulting Services (541613), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- MLOps/LLMOps & Model Lifecycle Management Services (BPAEAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- ML Lifecycle Collaboration & Workspace Management (HDAAABAK)
Keywords
Where Lifely is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lifely business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Services - Agile Product Teams: Lifely provides dedicated agile product development teams that work on client projects. These teams offer design, development, cloud/DevOps, and managed services. Revenue is generated through professional services engagements, typically scoped project work or ongoing retainer arrangements.
- AI Services: Artificial intelligence consulting and development services including machine learning, AI-driven digital transformation, and MLOps. Clients engage Lifely for AI design sprints, model development, and deployment.
- Strategic Development Services: Strategic consulting including digital strategy, product strategy, and brand strategy services. These advisory and strategy engagements provide revenue through consulting engagements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | MVP (Minimum Viable Product) scope - Get me to the MVP within first 6 months |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Scale and grow - Help me scale in first 12 to 24 months |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Strategic partner - Digital partners to the end |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Build me a department - An entire digital capability of my own |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Lifely product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lifely is an Amsterdam-based boutique digital agency that sells cross-functional Agile Product Teams, end-to-end Artificial Intelligence services (including pre-trained Transformer fine-tuning, NLP, computer vision, forecasting, RPA, and MLOps via the UbiOps platform), and Strategic Development consulting (digital, product, and brand strategy). Its deliverables are delivered to client enterprises, governments, and growth-stage companies through project-based and multi-year retainer engagements covering SaaS builds, cross-platform mobile/desktop apps, software rebuilds, Common Ground public-sector software, AI Design Sprints, and Google Design Sprints.
Product overview
Lifely is an Amsterdam-based boutique digital agency offering a unified portfolio of strategy, design, and engineering services organized into three core pillars: Agile Product Teams (design, development, managed services, and Cloud/DevOps), Artificial Intelligence Services (machine learning, NLP, pre-trained transformers, MLOps, and AI-driven transformation), and Strategic Development (digital strategy, product strategy, and brand strategy). The portfolio is organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture: clients engage at the strategic layer (Design Sprint, AI Design Sprint, Strategy) and progress through solution services (SaaS building, Cross-Platform Apps, Software Rebuild, RPA, AI in Production/MLOps, Common Ground Software) built on a foundation of AI methodologies (Pre-trained Transformers, Fine-tuned Models, Custom Training, Forecasting, Clustering, Computer Vision) and design capabilities (Solution Design, Component Based Design, Custom Design). Technology delivery relies on TypeScript/Node.js, React Native, GraphQL, Material UI, and the Prophet forecasting library. Reference implementations include MijnTopTaal (GDPR-compliant student administration for TopTaal), Ruler AI (legal summarization SaaS), DO-MAINT (Ministry of Defence maintenance app), and the HvA student app (best-performing in Europe).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Agile Product Teams Dedicated cross-functional agile product teams combining design, development, product ownership, Cloud, and DevOps expertise to build and scale digital products for client organizations. Available as fully governed engagements, managed services, or embedded capability extensions.
- Artificial Intelligence Services Full-stack AI consultancy encompassing machine learning, pre-trained Transformer fine-tuning, NLP, MLOps, AI-driven digital transformation, AI design sprints, and RPA. Delivered via a tiered model hierarchy (pre-trained, fine-tuned, custom-trained) aligned to client data maturity and ambition.
- Strategic Development Strategic consulting covering digital strategy, product strategy, and brand strategy. Uses qualitative research, user data analysis, and stakeholder alignment workshops to produce a 'codebook' strategy document that connects organizational purpose, user needs, and technology capabilities.
- Software as a Service (SaaS) Development End-to-end SaaS design, development, and scaling service covering MVP research and validation, fast iterative development with data-driven insights, border scaling and break-even planning, and eventual self-sufficiency handover to internal client teams.
- Cross-Platform Apps Mobile and desktop application development using React Native hybrid technology, enabling a single codebase to deploy to iOS, Android, Windows, and OSX with mixed native code integration for unsupported features.
- AI in Production (MLOps) Machine learning operations service in partnership with the UbiOps platform covering requirements gathering, data pipeline creation with versioning, model optimization, deployment with auto-scaling, and evaluation metric setup for organizations struggling to move AI from test to production.
- Software Rebuild Legacy software modernization methodology combining new technology opportunities with existing solution components. Includes strategy analysis, legacy management, future-proof architecture, incremental agile delivery, and long-term self-sufficiency support.
- Common Ground Software Open-source software service for the Dutch public sector following 'Common Ground' architecture principles, putting government organizations in full ownership of software and user data and separating data from processes to enable independent upgrades. Includes a six-step delivery methodology from goal research through knowledge transfer.
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Digital workforce service combining RPA with AI models to replace repetitive human actions with self-learning AI robots while maintaining human-in-the-loop oversight. Delivered through business case building, Proof of Intelligence validation, interface design, and an iterative measure-learn-innovate cycle.
- AI Design Sprint Two-week AI discovery and validation sprint that documents current processes, educates the client team on AI capabilities, identifies the highest-impact automation opportunities, builds a working prototype, and delivers an AI readiness recommendation with a production-ready API or script.
- Google Design Sprint Four-day compressed design sprint for validating ideas and aligning stakeholders, covering expert interviews and challenge mapping, solution sketching, storyboarding and prototype creation, and user testing with five target users.
- Machine Learning Standalone machine-learning service applying pre-trained, fine-tuned, and custom-trained AI models to business processes including NLP, customer recommendations, energy generation forecasting, and predictive maintenance.
- AI-driven Digital Transformation Organizational transformation service that uses AI to restructure business processes, starting with data management evaluation and AI readiness assessment and progressing through periodic model retraining and effectiveness reporting.
Quantifiable outcome
- Ruler became Europe's most successful legal-tech SaaS with 80+ banks and insurance companies as clients
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lifely
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Lifely technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability12 records
Feature7 records
Lifely partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.
- UbiOpscoreUbiOps provides the AI hosting platform used by Lifely for deploying machine learning models into production. This partnership enables Lifely to offer MLOps services, providing stable infrastructure for model deployment, scaling, and maintenance. Organizations see 3-15% increase in profit margin when successfully bringing AI models into production, but up to 88% struggle to move models past testing stages - UbiOps helps solve this challenge.
- TriplyminorPartnership in 'De Stad als Dataruimte' (The City as Data Space) innovation project for Amsterdam. Triply is one of seven collaborating parties working on technical realization of data sharing infrastructure.
- Gemeente Amsterdam (Municipality of Amsterdam)minorPartner in 'De Stad als Dataruimte' innovation project. Gemeente Amsterdam is responsible for delivery and connection to the data space, along with University of Amsterdam.
- Universiteit van Amsterdam (University of Amsterdam)minorPartner in 'De Stad als Dataruimte' innovation project. UvA is responsible for delivery and connection to the data space, along with Gemeente Amsterdam.
- IJsfonteinminorPartner in 'De Stad als Dataruimte' innovation project. IJsfontein contributes innovative services to the Amsterdam data space initiative.
- ShoshominorPartner in 'De Stad als Dataruimte' innovation project. Shosho contributes innovative services to the Amsterdam data space initiative.
- Total DesignminorPartner in 'De Stad als Dataruimte' innovation project. Total Design contributes innovative services to the Amsterdam data space initiative.
- European Union (EFRO subsidy)supportingThe 'De Stad als Dataruimte' project is co-funded by European Union through EFRO (European Regional Development Fund) subsidy, supporting regional innovation in Amsterdam.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lifely competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Emakina: Benelux-rooted digital agency with pan-European reach covering strategy, technology, and marketing services. Comparable in service mix but larger and more geographically distributed than Lifely.
Broad incumbents
- Ordina: Dutch IT services provider delivering software development, managed services, and data/AI solutions to enterprise and public-sector clients across the Netherlands and Benelux.
- Dept: Larger Amsterdam-headquartered digital agency offering marketing, technology, and commerce services at scale. Overlaps with Lifely's digital product work but operates a much broader portfolio across more geographies.
- Valtech: Global digital transformation consultancy with experience design, technology, and commerce capabilities. Overlaps with Lifely on enterprise digital product delivery but at significantly greater scale.
- Conclusion: Dutch IT consultancy group with multiple business units covering digital transformation, managed services, and software engineering. Competes for similar enterprise and public-sector modernization budgets.
Direct peers
- GoDataDriven: Amsterdam-based data and AI consultancy delivering machine learning, data engineering, and MLOps services to enterprise clients. Highly comparable in size, geography, and AI-services focus.
- ML6: Belgian AI/ML consultancy specializing in machine learning engineering, MLOps, and applied AI for enterprise — a closely matched boutique AI-services peer with overlapping NLP and production-AI capabilities.
- Mirabeau: Amsterdam-based digital agency (part of Cognizant) offering strategy, design, and technology services for enterprise customers across digital transformation and product engineering — directly overlaps with Lifely's service portfolio.
- Xebia: Dutch-headquartered digital consultancy with comparable AI/ML, agile product team, and cloud/DevOps service lines. Targets similar enterprise buyers across the Benelux with a slightly larger delivery footprint.
- iO (formerly Intracto): Benelux digital agency providing end-to-end strategy, creation, marketing, and technology services. Comparable as a full-service digital agency with similar cross-platform and custom-development capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lifely social profiles
Digital presenceLifely financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lifely leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Lifely funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lifely M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lifely
What does Lifely do?
Lifely is an Amsterdam-based boutique digital agency that sells cross-functional Agile Product Teams, end-to-end Artificial Intelligence services (including pre-trained Transformer fine-tuning, NLP, computer vision, forecasting, RPA, and MLOps via the UbiOps platform), and Strategic Development consulting (digital, product, and brand strategy). Its deliverables are delivered to client enterprises, governments, and growth-stage companies through project-based and multi-year retainer engagements covering SaaS builds, cross-platform mobile/desktop apps, software rebuilds, Common Ground public-sector software, AI Design Sprints, and Google Design Sprints.
Is Lifely a public or private company?
Lifely is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Lifely founded?
Lifely was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lifely based?
Lifely is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Lifely make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Professional Services - Agile Product Teams are the primary driver. The others are AI Services and strategic Development Services.
Who are Lifely's main competitors?
Emakina is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Ordina, Dept, Valtech and Conclusion. Direct peers are GoDataDriven, ML6, Mirabeau, Xebia and iO (formerly Intracto).
Does Lifely have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lifely.
What industry is Lifely in?
Lifely's product category is Digital Product Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAHAH, MLOps/LLMOps & Model Lifecycle Management Services, with a secondary code of HDAAABAK, ML Lifecycle Collaboration & Workspace Management. Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7371.