Softlanding
Softlanding is a Portugal-headquartered professional services firm that helps international companies hire and operate in Portugal and Spain via Employer of Record, recruitment, visa support, and business expansion services, targeting enterprise and growth-stage clients expanding into Iberia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLisboa, Portugal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Softlanding does
Softlanding is a Portugal-domiciled professional services firm that helps international companies hire and operate in the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain). Founded around 2013 under the name Lisbon Tech Guide and rebranded to Softlanding in 2023, the company offers six integrated service modules: Employer of Record (EOR), Recruitment, Team Augmentation & Outsourcing, Business Expansion consulting, Visa Support, and Customer Success team building. Its value proposition is to act as a combined Head of Operations, HR Chief, and Country Manager for clients that want to enter Portugal or Spain without establishing a local legal entity.
The company does not operate a software platform; its core technology is its local regulatory expertise, recruiter network, and operational infrastructure in Lisbon and Madrid. Services are sold through a direct B2B sales motion (contact form, content marketing, referral network) and delivered as consulting and managed services engagements. Revenue is generated through per-employee EOR fees (typically a percentage of payroll), recruitment placement fees, team augmentation markups, and consulting fees for business expansion. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
The client base includes enterprise customers such as OutSystems, Amyris, Synopsys, Grover, Glovo, Hitachi, Lidl, Just Eat, Sixt, Salsify, and Hostelworld, alongside growth-stage startups like Tymeshift and Mintbase. Softlanding is privately held, founder/management-owned, with no disclosed external funding, and operates offices in Lisbon (headquarters) and Madrid (regional hub). The firm reports 12+ years in market, 30+ active customers, and 100+ relocations completed.
Softlanding firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Softlanding
- Legal name
- Softlanding
- Website
- https://softlanding.works
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Softlanding is a Portugal-headquartered professional services firm that helps international companies hire and operate in Portugal and Spain via Employer of Record, recruitment, visa support, and business expansion services, targeting enterprise and growth-stage clients expanding into Iberia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Softlanding industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Employer of Record & International HR Services
- NAICS
- Office Administrative Services (5611), Temporary Help Services (561320)
- SIC
- Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Procurement Helpdesk & Stakeholder Support (BPAAAJAD)
Keywords
Where Softlanding is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lisboa
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Softlanding business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Employer of Record Services: Becomes the legal employer of staff in Portugal or Spain on behalf of client companies, handling payroll, compliance, and administrative obligations. Revenue generated through service fees per employee or as a percentage of payroll.
- Team Augmentation & Outsourcing: Provides access to a worldwide network of specialists and manages sourcing, contracting, tracking, and payments for external services. Revenue generated through staffing and management fees.
- Recruitment Services: Recruitment talent for roles that directly contribute to a company's market expansion. Revenue generated through placement fees.
- Business Expansion Consulting: Supporting companies in different phases of expansion including company setup, visa support, and ongoing operational management.
- Customer Success Services: Expanding Customer Success operations to EMEA using best-fit talent and skills from Portugal/Spain.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Softlanding product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Softlanding is a professional services firm that acts as Employer of Record, recruiter, and operational partner for international companies hiring and operating in Portugal and Spain. Its core offering lets clients onboard, pay, and manage local staff — including visa and immigration paperwork — without establishing a local legal entity, while also providing team augmentation, customer success team building, and end-to-end business expansion support.
Product overview
Softlanding is an all-in-one professional services company (not a software product company) that provides comprehensive business expansion and HR services for companies looking to hire in Portugal and Spain. The core offering consists of six integrated service modules: Employer of Record (EOR) serves as the legal employer entity enabling hire without local subsidiary; Customer Success enables CS team expansion to EMEA; Team Augmentation & Outsourcing provides access to specialist talent networks; Business Expansion supports companies through growth phases; Visa Support handles immigration paperwork; and Recruitment sources talent for market expansion. The company also offers supplementary educational resources including an eBook on European tax incentives and a Customer Success Talent Trends Report. These services work together as a unified operational partnership, with most engagements progressing through stages: Recruitment, EOR, Company Incorporation, and Professional Employer Organization services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Employer of Record Softlanding becomes the legal employer of a client's staff in Portugal or Spain, handling payroll, insurance, accounting, and employment contracts so the client can expand into a new location without establishing a local subsidiary.
- Customer Success
- Team Augmentation & Outsourcing
- Business Expansion
- Visa & Setup
- Recruitment
Quantifiable outcome
- Companies can enter new markets in days/weeks rather than months typically required for entity establishment
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Softlanding
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Softlanding technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Softlanding partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- ScalyingcorePartnership with Scalying to provide comprehensive tools for businesses facing challenges and opportunities in market expansion. Collaboration strengthens service offerings for companies entering Portuguese market.
- The Fintech HousecorePartnership with The Fintech House to support fintech companies with expansion services, providing necessary tools and expertise for navigating Portuguese market entry.
- Bynd Venture CapitalcorePartnership with Bynd Venture Capital to provide startups and growing companies with comprehensive support including funding connections and operational expertise for Portuguese market expansion.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Softlanding competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Multiplier: Global EOR/PEO platform covering 150+ countries with employer-of-record, payroll, benefits and immigration. Direct competitor in the Iberian EOR market with a software-led delivery model and similar target customer profile.
- Velocity Global: Global EOR and immigration services provider operating in 185+ countries. Direct competitor for enterprise market-entry engagements in Iberia, with comparable professional-services-plus-tech delivery model.
- Oyster HR: EOR and global hiring platform covering 130+ countries; notably listed as a Softlanding client/logo, indicating Softlanding may serve as its local partner in Iberia. Direct competitor for Iberian EOR contracts with a software-first go-to-market.
- Remofirst: Global EOR platform offering employer-of-record, contractor management and payroll across 80+ countries. Listed among Softlanding's customer logos, suggesting partnership-as-local-entity in Portugal/Spain; competes directly on Iberian EOR pricing.
- Atlas HXM: International EOR and global payroll platform serving companies hiring across multiple countries, including in Southern Europe. Competes with Softlanding on enterprise Iberia engagements via a software-led approach.
- Deel: Global EOR and contractor-management platform offering employer-of-record, payroll, immigration and compliance in 150+ countries. Direct competitor to Softlanding's core EOR proposition, though with a much broader geographic footprint and tech-first delivery model.
- Globalization Partners: Established global EOR/PEO provider with in-country legal entities across 180+ countries. Direct competitor for enterprise Iberian expansion mandates; competes primarily on global coverage and enterprise sales motion similar to Softlanding.
- WorkMotion: Germany-headquartered global EOR platform focused on European hiring compliance and contractor management. Direct competitor for EMEA tech companies expanding into Iberia.
- Remote: Global EOR platform providing international hiring, payroll and benefits across 80+ countries. Competes with Softlanding on Iberia EOR engagements while operating a pure-software model with significant venture funding.
Emerging players
- Express Global Employment: Smaller global EOR platform offering in-country employment, payroll and immigration services. Listed among Softlanding's customer logos (suggesting partnership/local-entity role), and an emerging competitor in the Iberia EOR segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Softlanding social profiles
Digital presenceSoftlanding financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Softlanding leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Softlanding funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Softlanding 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 Softlanding
What does Softlanding do?
Softlanding is a professional services firm that acts as Employer of Record, recruiter, and operational partner for international companies hiring and operating in Portugal and Spain. Its core offering lets clients onboard, pay, and manage local staff — including visa and immigration paperwork — without establishing a local legal entity, while also providing team augmentation, customer success team building, and end-to-end business expansion support.
Is Softlanding a public or private company?
Softlanding is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Softlanding founded?
Softlanding was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Softlanding based?
Softlanding is headquartered in Lisboa, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Softlanding make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Employer of Record Services are the primary driver. The others are team Augmentation & Outsourcing, recruitment Services, business Expansion Consulting and customer Success Services.
Who are Softlanding's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Multiplier, Velocity Global, Oyster HR, Remofirst, Atlas HXM, Deel, Globalization Partners, WorkMotion and Remote. Express Global Employment is listed as an emerging player.
Does Softlanding have an API?
No public API is recorded for Softlanding.
What industry is Softlanding in?
Softlanding's product category is Employer of Record & International HR Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAAAJAD, Procurement Helpdesk & Stakeholder Support. Its NAICS code is 5611 and its SIC code is 8744.