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Smartling
Jack Welde and Andrew Saxe founded Smartling in 2009 to modernize the $60B language-services industry.
Smartling
Jack Welde and Andrew Saxe founded Smartling in 2009 to modernize the $60B language-services industry. The company's platform automates translation workflows for enterprise clients, combining machine translation with human review and project management tools. Wealth origin is not publicly disclosed, as Smartling is a venture-backed technology company, not a family-office structure. Smartling's core offering is a cloud-based translation management system that integrates with content management systems, e-commerce platforms, and continuous integration pipelines. Clients include Hitachi, Shopify, and Twitter. The platform supports over 250 languages and claims faster turnaround times than traditional agencies. Smartling raised $36M in Series C funding in 2015 led by Greenspring Associates (per TechCrunch, 2015). The company employs over 400 people across offices in New York, Dublin, and Krakow. In 2023, Smartling launched a neural machine translation solution incorporating large language models to improve accuracy for nuanced content (per the firm's blog, 2023). Smartling's structural differentiator is its software-first approach to localization—it sells a platform, not per-word translation services. This allows clients to maintain control over translation memory and brand style guides while scaling across geographies. The company operates as a SaaS business with recurring revenue, unlike most language-service providers that bill by the project.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
2009
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Additional offices
Dublin, Ireland · Krakow, Poland
Principals
Jack Welde
Co-founder and CEO
Bryan Murphy
COO
Andrew Saxe
Co-founder and CTO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Smartling?
Smartling is a private company controlled by its co-founders Jack Welde (CEO) and Andrew Saxe (CTO), along with outside investors. Investment decisions are managed by the board of directors, which includes representation from Greenspring Associates and other venture capital firms.
How does Smartling source proprietary deal flow?
Smartling does not source investments; it operates as a technology company providing enterprise software for translation and localization. Its platform is sold directly to enterprise customers through a sales organization, not through investment partnerships.
Is Smartling structured as a family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Smartling is a venture-backed technology company, not a family office or investment firm. It was funded by institutional investors including Greenspring Associates, Felicis Ventures, and the New York Times Company.
Does Smartling participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Smartling does not make fund commitments or direct investments. It is an operating company that offers a software product; its capital allocation is limited to internal R&D, sales, and marketing expenses.
What investment stages does Smartling typically target?
Smartling does not target investment stages—it is a mature SaaS company with a stable customer base. Its focus is on product development and market expansion rather than portfolio management.
Which sectors does Smartling explicitly avoid?
Smartling does not publicly avoid any sectors in its client base. Its technology is industry-agnostic and used by companies in retail, technology, financial services, and healthcare.
How is Smartling related to parent or related vehicles?
Smartling has no publicly disclosed parent company or related investment vehicles. It operates independently as a private corporation incorporated in Delaware.
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