Leading Danish app agency acquired by Japanese conglomerate
A natural choice for an European headquarter and tech expansion
The investment is part of the overall vision of Monstar Lab to build a leading global digital product development agency. After an extensive analysis of the European markets and visiting more than 50 digital agencies across Europe, Nodes was chosen as European partner. The choice was not only based on the company's impressive track-record and strong client portfolio but also based on the Danish eco-system of software and app development where Denmark is perceived as an international lighthouse, according to the CEO of Monstar Lab, Hiroki Inagawa.
Looking at the digital space across Europe, Denmark stood out on various important parameters seen from our perspective. We are impressed by the strong and massive talent pool, their working mentality, creative mindset, and strong design tradition. It’s countries like Denmark that invest in nationwide digitisation and first level tech education that will form the future in this rapidly changing market.
Denmark consistently tops international and European rankings due to its favourable business climate. In 2017, Denmark ranked 2nd on the European Innovation Scoreboard which ranks the national innovation ecosystems on parameters relevant to digital product development such as attractive research systems, R&D expenditure and employment in knowledge-intensive industries.
Entering new markets based on a Danish talent-model
Nodes was founded in 2008 by Daniel Højris Bæk and Andreas Rasmussen and has since then been in the lead within the Danish app industry. The company has grown into 76 people with offices in Copenhagen, Aarhus and London and now the plan is to use Nodes as a vessel to grow into more European countries.
The ambition of entering new markets is not new to the management team at Nodes. As one of few Danish agencies, Nodes has managed to successfully enter and develop a leading position in the highly competitive UK market.
“Since day one our ambition has been to attract the best and most passionate talent in the industry and to create awesome solutions for our clients. And since the fight for talent is increasing within the digital space with lots of large players broadening their services into our field of expertise, we believe, that our partnership with Monstar Lab will enforce and broaden our ability to keep attracting talents in the future, and support our continued growth journey,” says co-founder at Nodes, Daniel Højris Bæk, and continues:
“Part of the agreement is that Monstar Lab will follow up investments in order for us to keep growing - both in existing markets and new markets around Europe during the next 1-3 years.”
The Danish Ambassador to Japan, Freddy Svane, applauds the Japanese investment in a Danish tech company:
The Japanese acquisition and investment in a Danish company is a great example of what could be the future success of Danish export. The Danish government is focusing on nurturing and helping start-ups as well as established companies in Denmark in order to create future growth in the tech industry to keep these success stories coming. Monstar acquisition shows that Denmark is becoming a European hub for tech companies.
About Nodes and Monstar Lab
Nodes is an app development agency specialising in delivering complex enterprise-level apps without compromising on outstanding user experience. The team consists of 75 passionate in-house developers, designers and mobile advisors based in London, Copenhagen & Aarhus. Nodes has been developing apps since 2008.
Monstar Lab is a leading digital product development agency in the Asian region with more than 600 employees based in offices in Japan, China, Philippines, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Singapore. Furthermore, the company has an office in San Francisco in USA.