A new star is rising in Europe’s artificial intelligence scene. Light, a Copenhagen-based startup, is quickly gaining attention as one of the continent’s most promising innovators in financial automation. In an era where AI-driven efficiency defines business success, Light is stepping into the spotlight — capturing investor confidence and reshaping how finance teams operate.

Founded in 2022, Light builds intelligent software that automates the daily functions of corporate finance departments — from accounting and bookkeeping to compliance and financial reporting. The company’s mission is simple yet transformative: to replace repetitive manual tasks with smart automation, allowing teams to focus on strategic growth rather than data entry.

In its recent Series A funding round, Light secured $30 million, led by Balderton Capital, a major investor known for backing fintech powerhouses like Revolut and GoCardless. The round also saw participation from Atomico, Cherry Ventures, Seedcamp, and Entrée Capital, alongside angel investors such as Thomas Wolf, co-founder of Hugging Face, and Charlie Songhurst, a board member at Meta.

Jonathan Sanders, Light’s CEO and co-founder, said the new funding will fuel rapid expansion into international markets. “We’re doubling down on the commercial side of the business,” Sanders explained. Light recently opened a London office and is now preparing to establish a presence in New York, targeting rising demand from U.S. companies eager to streamline their financial operations through AI.

This momentum reflects a larger wave of AI adoption across Europe’s finance technology sector. Similar startups like Pigment, a next-generation planning platform, raised $145 million last year, while Pennylane, an AI-powered accounting software company, brought in €75 million ($88 million), boosting its valuation to €2 billion. The competition underscores a broader shift toward automation in financial management — an area long dominated by giants such as Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP.

However, Sanders believes these legacy platforms struggle to keep up with the agility modern companies require. “Traditional systems are often rigid and time-consuming to configure,” he said. “Our goal is to empower fast-growing businesses with flexible tools that can scale instantly without months of customization.”

Light’s expanding client list already includes Lovable, a Swedish AI company valued at $2 billion, and Sana Labs, currently being acquired by Workday for $1.1 billion. These partnerships demonstrate Light’s growing credibility among enterprise clients looking for smarter, faster, and more adaptive finance tools.

For Sanders, the long-term vision is bold: AI will completely redefine how businesses manage their finances. “The future of numbers is text,” he said, describing how advanced language models will soon automate tasks that once required human oversight. Instead of manually searching through thousands of pages of company policies, AI agents could instantly identify, interpret, and apply relevant financial rules in real time.

Looking ahead, Light plans to focus on large-scale enterprises still burdened by outdated systems and fragmented data. “No human team can continuously analyze and reconcile massive financial records without error,” Sanders noted. “That’s exactly where AI delivers structure, accuracy, and speed.”

With strong venture backing, expanding global reach, and a clear mission to modernize financial management, Light is emerging as one of Europe’s most influential AI startups. Its rapid ascent suggests more than just success — it signals a new era for intelligent financial automation, one that could reshape global business operations in the years to come.