UK AI-based software group Shop Circle has announced the acquisition of KrakenD, a Barcelona-based company that has created a high-performance API (application programming interface) gateway trusted by global companies, including several Fortune 500 firms. Although it will continue to operate independently, the Spanish technology company, founded in 2016, will help expand its new owner’s infrastructure capabilities and business reach.

An API gateway is the tool that connects the client to the services located on the server and facilitates the interaction. KrakenD will bring new developer tools and API automation to the Shop Circle ecosystem, while remaining team- and developer-centric, with a focus on global scale and AI-native growth. Its high-performance open source API gateway is used by companies in fintech, commercial, defence and government industries around the world to manage, aggregate and deliver data securely and at scale.

Customer interaction and conversion
Shop Circle’s goal, which this acquisition will help to achieve, is to build a leading AI-based software platform to power the modern company’s infrastructure. Its product portfolio ranges from customer interaction and conversion tools to internal operations optimisation, covering the software suite’s interaction and efficiency layers. The acquisition aligns with its strategy of building a portfolio that encompasses both customer interaction and operational infrastructure.

The tool created by KrakenD has been deployed on millions of servers and enables optimisation of complex API environments, improved edge computing performance and secure, scalable orchestration for mission-critical systems.

Absolute stability and reliability
According to Shop Circle’s co-founder and CEO, Luca Cartechini, KrakenD is “a technical product with world-class fundamentals: exceptional performance, scalable architecture and broad business adoption”. Therefore, he says, “this acquisition not only strengthens our infrastructure capabilities, but also adds an essential platform for companies seeking absolute stability and reliability”.

Gian Maria Gramondi, co-founder and COO of the UK company, describes the API layer as “one of the most powerful pillars for business software”, and added, “With KrakenD, we acquired a proven, high-performance product. We are now focused on scaling global go-to-market execution, integrating AI capabilities and expanding KrakenD’s business presence.”

Growth trajectory
The Spanish company is now writing a new chapter in its growth trajectory. One of its founders, Albert Lombarte, recalls that they created their tool “to be fast, reliable and to prioritise the developer. Over time, it has become a key piece of equipment for companies operating on a large scale.” In this new phase, he explains, “joining Shop Circle gives us the operational support, product vision and global reach needed to accelerate growth, without compromising what made KrakenD great in the first place”.

Now integrated into the Shop Circle platform, KrakenD will maintain product and engineering leadership and focus efforts on accelerating business adoption, integrating native AI capabilities and leveraging shared infrastructure to drive performance and scalability.

^{Photo: KrakenD}