What Devup does

Devup Srl is a privately-held HR consulting firm headquartered in Bologna, Italy, founded in 2015 and operating with a team of approximately 12 professionals including psychologists, certified coaches, and HR consultants. The company delivers a portfolio of interconnected services: executive and complex-profile recruitment (Selezione profili complessi), organizational development and people strategy (People & Culture, structured around Head/Heart/Soul/Body pillars), corporate training via the Devup Gym experiential-learning academy, and individual career counseling (Per la Persona). Its proprietary technology layer centers on the DEA (Daily Evaluation App), a skills-training ROI measurement platform developed in collaboration with university research centers, which supports a six-month structured feedback cycle post-training. Devup also operates a public-sector practice (Pubblica Amministrazione) compliant with Italian Codice Appalti procurement rules.

The firm operates as a networked business (impresa a rete), extending delivery capacity through partnerships with five external firms (Tessa in Milan, PMC, CG2O, Lewitt, and independent consultant Giulia Allegranza) and through memberships in Confindustria Emilia, AIDP, and Manager Italia. Revenue derives entirely from professional services fees across five streams: HR consulting, executive search, corporate training, public administration mandates, and individual career counseling. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company holds ANPAL registry registration for personnel search and selection, along with TUV SUD, RINA, Synesgy, and Gender Equality (UNI PDR/125) certifications, and maintains a bilingual Italian/English digital presence to serve both domestic and international clients operating in Italy. With 30+ named enterprise clients spanning utilities, aviation, pharmaceuticals, food, healthcare, banking, manufacturing, and public-sector entities, the firm operates exclusively in Italy with no disclosed international expansion.

Name

Devup

Legal name

Devup Srl

Website

https://devupconsulting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Devup Srl is a Bologna-based HR consulting firm offering executive search, organizational development, corporate training (Devup Gym), and individual career counseling to Italian enterprises, public administration, and individuals via a 12-person in-house team and a partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HR Consulting Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Sourcing / Talent Research & Pipeline RPO (Sourcer-as-a-Service) (BPACABAM)

Keywords

• HR consulting services
• Executive search recruitment
• Corporate training programs
• Career counseling services
• Organizational development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Bologna

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional HR Consulting Services: Core revenue derived from HR consulting engagements including People & Culture advisory, organizational development, change management, performance management systems, and competency model design. Services are delivered through teams of psychologists, coaches, counselors, and HR consultants.
2. Recruitment and Executive Search: Fees from executive and specialist recruitment mandates including assessment, evaluation, and onboarding support. Covers Manager, Professional, Specialist, and Executive level placements. All executive candidates are guaranteed and referenced.
3. Corporate Training (Devup Gym): Revenue from tailored corporate training programs delivered through the Devup Gym Academy. Training covers leadership, team development, well-being, and specific skill competencies. Delivered in-person, remote, or mixed formats.
4. Public Administration Consulting: HR services for public administration including personnel search, selection, training, and listening desk management for municipalities, hospitals, universities, and government entities. Aligned with Italian Codice Appalti procurement requirements.
5. Individual Career Counseling (Devup Sessions): Personalized career counseling sessions for individuals including Start (recent graduates), Change (career changers), and Evolve (experienced professionals) programs. Tools include assessment, career coaching, life coaching, and counseling.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Devup is an Italian HR consulting firm that delivers professional services in talent acquisition, assessment, and development. Its offerings include executive search for complex profiles, organizational development (People & Culture), corporate training through the Devup Gym academy, public sector HR services, and individual career counseling. The firm operates as a networked business model in Bologna, serving enterprise clients, public administration entities, and individuals across Italy.

Product overview

Devup is an HR consulting company offering a portfolio of interconnected services organized around talent acquisition, organizational development, training, and individual career support. Its core offerings include: Selezione profili complessi (executive search and assessment for complex profiles), People & Culture (organizational consulting across Head/Heart/Soul/Body dimensions), Devup Gym (corporate training academy with experiential methodology), DEA (proprietary Daily Evaluation App for measuring training ROI), Pubblica Amministrazione (HR services for public sector), and Per la Persona (individual career counseling). Devup positions itself as a networked business with a team of psychologists, coaches, counselors, and HR consultants based in Bologna, Italy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Selezione profili complessi (Complex Profile Recruitment) Specialized executive search and recruitment service for complex profiles, including assessment of candidates' expectations, motivations, competencies, work approach, and values. Covers Manager, Professional, Specialist, and Executive level placements with guaranteed and referenced candidates.
• People & Culture HR consulting service addressing organizational development through four pillars: strategy and change management (Head), well-being and listening services (Heart), values and culture identification (Soul), and competency assessment and training (Body). Includes People & Culture strategy, change management, performance management systems, and competency modeling.
• Devup Gym A corporate training academy and skills gym delivering experiential learning programs across four macro-areas: employee management, team empowerment, personal well-being, and specific skill training. Paths are available in-person, distance learning, or blended formats with modular and customizable curricula.
• DEA (Daily Evaluation App) A proprietary skills training measurement system enabling continuous training, periodic measurement, and structured feedback sessions for ROI tracking of corporate training programs. Developed in collaboration with university research centers and software houses.
• Pubblica Amministrazione (Public Administration Services) HR services tailored for public sector organizations, including recruitment and selection of qualified personnel, corporate training, and management of counseling desks, in compliance with Italian procurement codes.
• Per la Persona (Career Counseling for Individuals) Individual career counseling and professional growth services, including assessment, career coaching, life coaching, and counseling, structured into three programs (Start for recent graduates, Change for career changers, Evolve for experienced professionals).

Quantifiable outcome

• Training delivered with 65-70% active experimentation time during classroom sessions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and moderate.

• Tessa (Milano)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevup operates as a networked business (impresa a rete) and partners with Tessa in Milan for consulting delivery, extending geographical reach and specialized expertise to clients.
• Giulia AllegranzaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent HR professional affiliated with Devup's network, contributing specialized consulting expertise to client engagements.
• PMCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner consulting firm within Devup's networked business model, enabling comprehensive and innovative solutions for client companies.
• CG2OminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner consulting firm in Devup's network, providing extended capabilities and sector-specific expertise for client engagements.
• LewittminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner firm in Devup's networked ecosystem, contributing to the range of comprehensive and innovative HR solutions offered to clients.
• University Research CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevup developed the DEA (Daily Evaluation App) system in collaboration with university research centers and software houses. This co-development partnership provides academic rigor to their proprietary ROI measurement methodology for skills training.
• Software HousescoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborated with software houses to develop the DEA platform for training ROI measurement and daily skills tracking, enabling technology-enabled training effectiveness measurement.
• Confindustria EmiliamoderateOthersCorporate membership in Confindustria Emilia provides networking, credibility, and industry representation for Devup within the Italian manufacturing and services business community.
• AIDP (Associazione Italiana per la Direzione del Personale)moderateOthersMembership in AIDP, the Italian HR management association, provides professional development, networking, and thought leadership opportunities in the human resources domain.
• Manager ItaliamoderateOthersMembership in Manager Italia connects Devup with the Italian management professional community, supporting knowledge sharing and professional standards in organizational development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Gi Group: One of Italy's largest HR services firms, providing staffing, recruitment, training, and HR consulting at multinational scale. Overlaps with Devup's recruitment and organizational consulting offerings, but operates a far larger portfolio across permanent, temporary, and RPO services.
• Randstad Italia: Italian subsidiary of global HR services leader Randstad, offering staffing, executive search, and HR solutions including training. Direct competitor on recruitment and talent development with much larger scale.
• LHH Italy (Lee Hecht Harrison): Global career transition, leadership development, and HR consulting firm with Italian operations. Overlaps with Devup's career counseling (Per la Persona) and organizational consulting services.
• Cegos Italia: Italian arm of international training and organizational development consultancy, offering corporate training, leadership development, and HR consulting. Comparable to Devup's Devup Gym training and People & Culture offerings, with significantly broader catalog and global footprint.
• Manpower Italia: Major Italian arm of global staffing leader Manpower Group, providing recruitment, training (Talent Solutions), and HR consultancy. Competes with Devup on enterprise recruitment and corporate training, with much broader geographic coverage.
• Michael Page Italia: White-collar recruitment and HR consulting firm in Italy focused on middle management, professional, and specialist placements. Closely matches Devup's Selezione profili complessi recruitment service with broader geographic reach.
• Egon Zehnder Italia: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with significant Italian presence. Comparable to Devup's executive search mandate work and Hogan-based assessment approach, operating at the high end of the executive search market.
• Hays Italia: Specialist recruitment and workforce solutions firm in Italy, focused on professional and senior-level placements. Comparable to Devup's executive search and specialist recruitment mandate work.

Others

• Forma del Tempo / People&Change boutiques: Italian boutique HR consulting and training firms comparable to Devup's mid-sized, methodology-driven organizational development practice. Represent the same niche segment of Italian HR services that Devup competes in for SME and mid-market clients.

Direct peers

• Praxi SpA: Italian-headquartered HR consulting and executive search firm offering organizational consulting, talent assessment, and recruitment services. Closely comparable to Devup because of similar Italian-market focus, mid-sized consultancy scale, and mixed recruitment/HR consulting offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/InfoDevup
• Facebookfacebook.com/devupconsulting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/devupconsulting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Devup