Circeus, a London-based group, has raised over $220 million to acquire and transform software businesses into AI-native platforms. The company currently serves more than 250,000 businesses across its portfolio, focusing on integrating AI directly into existing workflows rather than standalone tools.
Data cited by Andrea Mostosi, Head of AI at Circeus, indicates that AI adoption in the US and EU remains under 20%. While 37% of US firms with 250 or more employees use AI, the figure drops below 20% for smaller companies. Circeus estimates that meaningful workflow implementation is limited to 4–5%.
The group employs a three-layer strategy: software provides data and access, models execute tasks, and humans provide oversight. Circeus centralizes its AI engineering to provide portfolio companies with shared infrastructure, including evaluation tools and safety guardrails, which smaller teams often struggle to maintain independently.
Circeus aims to evolve software from simple record-keeping systems into tools that actively perform business tasks. By acquiring companies and providing shared technical resources, the group intends to accelerate AI deployment across various industries without requiring individual businesses to manage complex integration projects.
