Berlin-based startup n8n has raised €55 million ($60 million) in Series B funding, valuing the company at around €250 million ($270 million), TechCrunch has confirmed. This significant investment comes on the heels of a remarkable 5x revenue surge, with the company's revenues doubling in just the last two months alone.

The funding round, led by Highland Europe, with participation from HV Capital and previous backers Sequoia, Felicis, and Harpoon, will be used to further invest in technology and expand into newer markets, particularly the U.S., which is home to more than half of n8n's user base. The company, founded in 2019, has seen rapid growth since pivoting its workflow automation platform to become more AI-friendly in 2022.

n8n's platform has gained traction among developer teams seeking low-code and no-code automation solutions to integrate applications without extensive coding. The company's commitment to "fair code" – a concept that promotes compensating open-source creators or communities when commercializing work built on top of their code – has also contributed to its popularity. With over 70,000 "stars" on GitHub, n8n has built a strong reputation within the open-source community.

However, it was the integration of AI, particularly generative AI, that became the catalyst for n8n's rapid growth. The company's founder and CEO, Jan Oberhauser, recognized the potential of AI to reduce the workload of developers implementing automations. By incorporating AI, n8n's platform enables users to create workflows using natural language, eliminating the need for extensive coding.

Oberhauser describes the AI-powered workflow as a "prompt to build workflow," allowing users to write instructions in natural language, such as "get information from X and send it to Y." This shift towards AI-driven automation has resonated with users, with around 75% of n8n's customers now utilizing the AI tools built into the platform.

The success of n8n's AI-powered platform can be attributed to its ease of use and practical applications, according to David Blyghton, general partner at Highland Europe. "Everyone is trying to leverage AI, but struggling to find practical use cases," Blyghton noted. "The design, scale, and throughput of n8n is what allows people to adopt it."

n8n's growth is also reflective of the broader trend towards AI adoption in the automation space. Companies like Tines, Workato, and UiPath have also incorporated AI into their platforms, highlighting the increasing demand for AI-driven solutions. As the automation landscape continues to evolve, n8n's AI-powered platform is well-positioned to capitalize on this growing trend.

With this latest funding round, n8n is poised to accelerate its growth and expansion plans, further solidifying its position as a leader in the AI-powered workflow automation space.