akirolabs Recognized in Spend Matters’ 50toWatch List for The 3rd Consecutive Year
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akirolabs, the AI-powered category management platform for strategic procurement, has once again been named to the 50 to Watch list by Spend Matters, a Hackett Group division. This marks the third consecutive year that akirolabs has been recognized among the ProcureTech innovators shaping the future of procurement.
What is Spend Matters 50 to Watch?
Spend Matters, a globally recognized procurement technology analyst and now a division of The Hackett Group, publishes its annual 50 to Watch list to spotlight emerging and innovative ProcureTech companies shaping the future of procurement. The list recognizes procurement technology providers that are gaining momentum, bringing differentiated solutions to market, and helping procurement organizations address increasingly complex business challenges.
The 50 to Watch list sits alongside the 50 to Know list, together providing procurement leaders with insight into the evolving technology landscape. While 50 to Know highlights established procurement technology providers, 50 to Watch focuses on fast-rising innovators with strong potential to influence the market.
The methodology is designed to assess providers across factors such as:
- technology innovation
- market presence
- solution delivery
- procurement lifecycle coverage
- customer impact
- growth potential
For procurement leaders, the list serves as a trusted reference point for understanding which technology providers are helping define the next generation of procurement.
Why akirolabs was recognized
akirolabs’ inclusion in the 50 to Watch list for the third consecutive year reflects our continued momentum as one of the ProcureTech innovators shaping the future of strategic procurement.
We are building an AI-powered category management platform that helps procurement teams move beyond fragmented, manual strategy development toward a more collaborative, structured, and business-aligned way of working.
Our platform enables procurement organizations to develop, align, execute, and continuously improve category strategies in one collaborative workspace. By combining AI, proven procurement methodology, cross-functional collaboration, and structured workflows, akirolabs helps teams unlock value beyond cost savings.
This recognition reflects the impact we are creating together with our customers, partners, investors, and the entire akirolabs team.
Looking ahead
Being named to Spend Matters’ 50 to Watch list for the third consecutive year is a milestone we are proud of, but it is also a reminder of the work still ahead.
We are grateful to our customers, partners, investors, and team for making this recognition possible. Their trust, collaboration, and ambition continue to shape our journey.
The momentum is strong, and we are just getting started.
👉 You can read more about the Spend Matters 50 to Watch recognition here:
https://www.thehackettgroup.com/the-hackett-group-reveals-procurement-provider-lists-for-2025-2026/
About akirolabs
akirolabs is a Berlin-based ProcureTech company redefining strategic procurement with its AI-powered Category Management Platform. Designed for global procurement organizations, akirolabs enables teams to develop, align, and execute category strategies in a collaborative, structured, and data-driven way. By combining advanced technology with proven procurement methodology, akirolabs helps organizations drive measurable business value, improve efficiency, and position procurement as a strategic business partner.
About Spend Matters
Spend Matters, now part of The Hackett Group, is a globally recognized source of procurement technology intelligence and market analysis. Its annual procurement provider lists, including 50 to Watch and 50 to Know, recognize technology providers shaping the procurement landscape through innovation, market presence, technology competency, and solution delivery. The 50 to Watch list highlights fast-rising procurement technology providers pushing the market forward with innovative and differentiated solutions.
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What makes a successful pilot with akirolabs?
We define success collaboratively with your team. Typical outcomes include strategy creation for priority categories, measurable process improvements, and internal alignment. We provide full support and a clear roadmap for evaluation.
Can I try the platform hands-on after the demo?
Yes, we offer guided pilots and sandbox environments depending on your stage in the buying process. These give you and your team the opportunity to explore features in your own context.
Can I see how akirolabs would work with our specific categories?
Yes, we can tailor the demo to showcase how akirolabs works with your specific categories and procurement structure. Let us know your priority areas in advance, and we'll customize the demonstration accordingly.
Who should attend the demo from my organization?
We recommend including key stakeholders from your procurement leadership team, category management function, and procurement excellence or transformation groups. Including business stakeholders can also be valuable to demonstrate how the platform facilitates cross-functional collaboration.
How long does a typical demo take?
A standard demo takes approximately 45-60 minutes, allowing time for a comprehensive overview of the platform and discussion of your specific requirements. We can adjust the timing based on your availability and areas of interest.
What will I see during an akirolabs demo?
During the demo, you'll see the complete akirolabs Category Strategy Workbench in action, including the collaborative workflow, AI-powered insights from akiroAssist, strategic scenario modeling capabilities, and the Strategy One-Pager feature. We'll customize the demonstration to focus on aspects most relevant to your organization's needs.
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