Sesame, a Spanish HRTech startup focused on AI-powered talent management solutions, has secured up to €50 million in growth funding through a unique financial instrument developed in partnership with BBVA Spark.
Designed specifically for SaaS companies looking to scale internationally without giving up equity, this move marks a shift in how European tech startups can fund expansion while maintaining full control.
“This instrument is a real revolution for the European technology ecosystem,” says Albert Soriano, CEO of Sesame. “It will allow us to scale internationally while continuing to focus on innovation in artificial intelligence applied to talent management.” (Translated)
In the European HRTech and SaaS segment – particularly in AI-powered talent and workforce management – 2025 has brought steady funding momentum across multiple markets.
In the UK, Zelt raised €5.7 million to scale its all-in-one human capital management platform. In Italy, Skillvue secured €5.5 million to promote a skills-based approach to recruitment and talent management. From Belgium, Shyfter raised €1.5 million to expand its workforce management SaaS, while in France, Maki attracted €26 million to develop conversational AI agents for HR workflows.
Within Spain, Orbio raised €6.4 million for its AI-native human capital management system – illustrating continued national strength in HRTech innovation. Germany’s Ordio added €12 million for payroll automation, and Czechia’s Talentiqa secured €1 million for its AI-powered hiring assistant.
Against this backdrop, Sesame’s announcement of up to €50 million in growth funding stands out both in scale and in financial model. While most 2025 HRTech rounds have been equity-based and in the low-to-mid-million-euro range, Sesame’s financing reflects a more mature phase of expansion, combining strong revenue traction with an alternative funding pathway that maintains founder ownership.
Miguel Ángel Alcalá, Head of BBVA Spark in Europe, highlights: “Our value proposition is based on supporting high-growth companies that are transforming the economy through technology. We share a vision of sustainable growth with Sesame, connected to data and focused on people.
Founded in Valencia in 2015, Sesame has grown into one of Spain’s most prominent HRTech players. The startup uses AI to automate administrative processes, improve internal workflows, and deliver an enhanced experience for people teams and employees alike. Its platform is currently used by more than 15,000 companies, generating over €20 million in annual recurring revenue.
The team behind Sesame is over 350-strong and operates from its headquarters in the innovation-focused La Marina district of Valencia. The startup has positioned itself as a frontrunner in Europe’s AI-powered HR landscape, demonstrating consistent revenue traction and expanding global reach without leaning on conventional venture capital.
Unlike traditional equity or venture debt, the new product is structured around performance, scalability, and data insights – offering a flexible, non-dilutive alternative for ambitious tech firms.
For Sesame, the capital will go directly toward acquiring new clients while also investing in continued innovation on its AI-driven platform.
“This operation demonstrates that another way of financing growth is possible. With this financial instrument, Sesame will be able to access capital in an agile and efficient manner, adapted to its pace of international growth,” added Alcalá. (Translated)
The funding enables Sesame to double down on product development while advancing its international growth agenda. The company has recently consolidated operations in Brazil and serves over 1,000 clients in Mexico. With this new capital, Sesame is strengthening its presence in Italy and Portugal and accelerating entry into key strategic markets like France and Germany.
This latest partnership with BBVA Spark points to an emerging trend in European startup finance, where alternative models are increasingly favoured by Founders aiming to scale without diluting ownership or slowing down product evolution.
The BBVA Spark–Sesame initiative is an interesting example into how tech-native financial tools are starting to reshape the path to global expansion for SaaS companies.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/10/valencias-sesame-secures-up-to-e50-million-through-bbva-sparks-new-equity-free-growth-instrument/
