Circlewise
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSletten, Norway
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Circlewise does
Circlewise is a Helsinki-headquartered partnership marketing platform and affiliate network serving brands and publishers across 10+ European markets. Founded in 2015 with roots in the P2P investment vertical, the company has expanded into a broader fintech and e-commerce focus, connecting advertisers with a marketplace of 11,000+ verified publishers through performance-based commission models (CPA, CPL, CPS, RevShare). Its core platform processes over 600 million tracked events per year, supports 1st-party pixel-based and server-to-server postback tracking alongside cookieless alternatives, and includes built-in fraud protection and compliance monitoring for financial advertising regulations. Notable proprietary components include a Conversion Path Attribution module for multi-touch attribution and an automated payment system with weekly payouts and tax-compliant self-invoicing for publishers.
The company operates a hybrid go-to-market: publishers access 200+ affiliate programs through self-serve signup at app.circlewise.io, while advertisers are onboarded through direct sales engagement with dedicated account managers, publisher recruitment, and campaign optimization services, with most programs launching within 2–4 weeks via a Quick-Start Package. Revenue is generated through transaction-based commissions on tracked conversions and managed services bundled with platform access. Circlewise AB is incorporated in Finland, with a Norwegian operations entity (Target Circle AS) under Datatilsynet GDPR supervision, and is privately held without disclosed institutional funding. The company has no listed awards, patents, or third-party validation beyond customer case studies featuring brands such as Mintos, eToro, NordVPN, PeerBerry, Bondster, and Freedom24.
Circlewise's leadership team is small and founder-controlled, with CEO and co-owner Niklas Eric Holmstr\u00f6m (also referenced as Niklas Holmstrom) leading the company alongside Chairman Lasse Jaakko J\u00e4rvinen and General Manager Nordics and co-owner Stian Longva. Operational roles include Strategic Account Director Dawid Lukaszewicz, Sales/Partnerships Manager Ana Vidovic, and a recently added AI and Automation Lead (Artur Pososhko), indicating organizational investment in automation. The company's positioning against larger global affiliate networks is anchored on European regional depth, fintech vertical specialization, and an in-house program model rather than traditional offer reselling.
Circlewise firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Circlewise
- Legal name
- Circlewise AB
- Website
- https://circlewise.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Circlewise industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Affiliate Marketing Software
- NAICS
- Advertising Agencies (541810), Marketing Consulting Services (541613)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Affiliate Marketing & Partner Networks (BPAMALAI)
Keywords
Where Circlewise is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sletten
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Circlewise business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Performance-based affiliate commissions: Circlewise generates revenue by enabling advertisers to run affiliate marketing programs with publishers. The company earns commissions based on performance metrics — CPA (Cost Per Action), CPL (Cost Per Lead), CPS (Cost Per Sale), and RevShare models — across its network of 11,000+ verified affiliate partners. Revenue is driven by transaction fees tied to tracked conversions and investment volumes on the platform.
- Platform and management services: Circlewise provides affiliate management services including dedicated account management, publisher recruitment, campaign optimization, and media buying. These white-glove services are bundled with platform access for advertisers, generating revenue as part of the overall affiliate program management engagement.
- Referral program commissions: Circlewise operates a referral program that pays partners up to $499 per new referred client. Partners earn commissions for referring businesses to Circlewise's partnership marketing software.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free trial for advertisers |
| Freemium | Monthly | Free publisher account |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Referral commission up to $499 per client |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Circlewise product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Circlewise operates a partnership marketing platform that enables brands to launch and scale in-house affiliate marketing programs across 10+ European markets. The platform connects advertisers with 11,000+ verified publishers through a marketplace, providing real-time conversion tracking, multi-touch attribution, automated payments, and fraud protection. Circlewise also delivers managed services including dedicated account management, publisher recruitment, and campaign optimization, with particular specialization in fintech and e-commerce verticals.
Product overview
Circlewise is a partnership marketing platform and affiliate network offering a unified ecosystem for affiliate marketing operations. The core Circlewise Platform serves as the central hub connecting advertisers with verified affiliate publishers across 10+ European markets. The Publisher Marketplace provides access to 200+ affiliate programs, while the Affiliate Management System enables advertisers to build and manage their own in-house affiliate programs with white-label capabilities. Supporting modules include Advanced Tracking & Analytics (processing 600M+ events annually), an Automated Payment System with weekly payouts, and Conversion Path Attribution for multi-touch tracking. The platform supports CPA, CPL, CPS, and RevShare commission models across fintech and e-commerce verticals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Circlewise Partnership Marketing Platform Europe's leading affiliate marketing network and partnership marketing platform that enables brands to launch and scale in-house affiliate marketing programs. Connects advertisers with 11,000+ verified publishers across 10+ European markets through performance-based marketing, providing real-time tracking, conversion path attribution, automated payment processing, and fraud protection. Supports CPA, CPL, CPS, and RevShare commission models.
- Publisher Marketplace
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 500% year-over-year affiliate program growth for advertisers
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Circlewise
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Circlewise technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Circlewise partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered infrastructure, core platform and supporting.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)infrastructureAWS is used as a cloud infrastructure provider for Circlewise's platform. Circlewise hosts its Services with outsourced cloud infrastructure providers and maintains contractual relationships with contractors to provide services. AWS is listed among third-party data center operators used by Circlewise, along with OVH and Hetzner Online.
- OVHinfrastructureOVH is used as a cloud infrastructure provider for Circlewise's platform alongside AWS and Hetzner Online. OVH is listed as a third-party data center operator supporting the performance of services.
- Hetzner OnlineinfrastructureHetzner Online is used as a cloud infrastructure provider for Circlewise's platform alongside AWS and OVH. Listed as a third-party data center operator in Circlewise's data processing terms.
- Intercomcore platformCirclewise uses Intercom Messenger for customer and platform support chat. Intercom collects limited personal information (sign-up date, email address) for analytics purposes. Cookies from Intercom (intercom-id-*, intercom-session-*, intercom-device-id-*) are used to allow users to chat with the support team.
- Campaign Monitorcore platformCirclewise uses Campaign Monitor, an Australian email marketing platform, to send product-related emails including maintenance notifications, billing documents, and newsletters. Campaign Monitor stores email addresses and related data to send and evaluate newsletters on behalf of Circlewise.
- HubSpotcore platformHubSpot is used by Circlewise for marketing automation including automated email marketing. HubSpot cookies (hubspotutk, __hstc, and others) are used to store and track visitor identity, browser details, logged-in users, and anonymized statistics.
- Google AnalyticssupportingGoogle Analytics is used for website statistics, tracking pageviews and providing technical monitoring. Analytics cookies (__ga, __gid, __gat_UA-*) are used to store and count pageviews.
- ComplianzsupportingComplianz is used by Circlewise for cookie consent management on the website. The service stores accepted cookie policy IDs and consent status, managing GDPR compliance for website visitors.
- Google AdsensesupportingGoogle Adsense is used by Circlewise for showing advertisements on the website. Adsense cookies (_gcl_au) are used to store and track conversions.
- HotjarsupportingHotjar is used by Circlewise for heat maps and screen recordings to understand user behavior on the website. Functional and statistics cookies are used to track unique visits.
- Facebook (Social Media Integration)supportingFacebook content (like, share buttons) is embedded on Circlewise's website with cookies placed by Facebook. These cookies may store and process information for personalized advertising. Facebook is located in the United States.
- QuantCastsupportingQuantCast is used by Circlewise for advertising purposes. The service stores and tracks audience reach data (__qca cookie, 5-year expiration) and personalization data.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Circlewise competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Awin: Awin (owned by Axel Springer) is one of the world's largest affiliate marketing networks operating globally with deep European roots. It is comparable to Circlewise as a broad incumbent offering affiliate network services across multiple verticals including finance and retail, though at much greater scale and with a global rather than European focus.
- CJ Affiliate: CJ Affiliate (part of Publicis-owned CJ Group) is a global affiliate marketing network and one of the largest incumbents in the space. It is comparable to Circlewise as an affiliate network platform serving enterprise advertisers across multiple verticals, though CJ operates at much larger global scale.
- Rakuten Advertising: Rakuten Advertising is the affiliate marketing arm of Rakuten Group, offering a global affiliate network serving enterprise advertisers. It is comparable to Circlewise as an established affiliate network incumbent with broader geographic reach and a wider portfolio of marketing solutions beyond affiliate.
Direct peers
- impact.com: impact.com is a global partnership management platform covering affiliate, influencer, and B2B partnerships. It is directly comparable to Circlewise as a partnership marketing SaaS serving advertisers and publishers with tracking, attribution, and payment infrastructure, though at significantly larger enterprise scale.
- Partnerize: Partnerize is an affiliate and partnership management platform serving enterprise advertisers with SaaS tooling for managing in-house affiliate programs. It is a direct peer to Circlewise, offering comparable affiliate tracking, attribution, and partner management functionality for brands building their own affiliate programs.
- Tradedoubler: Tradedoubler is a European-headquartered affiliate marketing network with strong presence across the Nordics, DACH, and Southern Europe. It is directly comparable to Circlewise as a European-focused affiliate network serving advertisers in retail, finance, and travel with similar publisher marketplace and tracking offerings.
- Webgains: Webgains is a European affiliate marketing network headquartered in the UK with strong continental European coverage. It is directly comparable to Circlewise as a mid-sized affiliate network focused on European markets, offering affiliate program management, tracking, and publisher marketplace services to brands.
- Admitad: Admitad is a global affiliate marketing network with strong presence in EMEA, APAC and LATAM. It is directly comparable to Circlewise as an affiliate network platform providing CPA-based affiliate programs, publisher marketplaces, and tracking technology across multiple verticals including finance and e-commerce.
Emerging players
- Tapfiliate: Tapfiliate is an affiliate tracking software platform targeting SMBs and DTC brands with self-serve affiliate program management. It is an emerging player comparable to Circlewise's in-house affiliate program tooling, though Tapfiliate focuses on the SMB/PLG segment rather than Circlewise's enterprise fintech focus.
- Refersion: Refersion is an affiliate and influencer marketing platform built for DTC e-commerce brands. It is an emerging player with partial overlap to Circlewise's offering, particularly on the e-commerce side, though it focuses on the North American market and SMB/DTC segment rather than European fintech.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Circlewise social profiles
Digital presenceCirclewise financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Circlewise leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Circlewise funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Circlewise 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 Circlewise
What does Circlewise do?
Circlewise operates a partnership marketing platform that enables brands to launch and scale in-house affiliate marketing programs across 10+ European markets. The platform connects advertisers with 11,000+ verified publishers through a marketplace, providing real-time conversion tracking, multi-touch attribution, automated payments, and fraud protection. Circlewise also delivers managed services including dedicated account management, publisher recruitment, and campaign optimization, with particular specialization in fintech and e-commerce verticals.
Is Circlewise a public or private company?
Circlewise is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Circlewise founded?
Circlewise was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Circlewise based?
Circlewise is headquartered in Sletten, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Circlewise make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Performance-based affiliate commissions are the primary driver. The others are platform and management services and referral program commissions.
Who are Circlewise's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Awin, CJ Affiliate and Rakuten Advertising. Direct peers are impact.com, Partnerize, Tradedoubler, Webgains and Admitad. Emerging players are Tapfiliate and Refersion.
Does Circlewise have an API?
Yes. Circlewise provides API access for developers. API documentation is referenced in the footer of various pages, with links to Help Center and API Documentation at targetcircle.com. The platform supports 1st-party pixel-based tracking and server-to-server postback tracking integration methods.
What industry is Circlewise in?
Circlewise's product category is Affiliate Marketing Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMALAI, Affiliate Marketing & Partner Networks. Its NAICS code is 541810 and its SIC code is 7310.