GFT Technologies

GFT Technologies SE is an international information technology services and software engineering company headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Founded in 1987 in St. Georgen im Schwarzwald by Ulrich Dietz and Michael Schönemann as Gesellschaft für Technologietransfer, the company initially developed technology products and services before evolving into a digital transformation partner. Its shares have traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 1999, and the company joined the SDAX in 2021. GFT’s business combines sector expertise with technology implementation. The company originated in banking and finance, and its current positioning emphasizes AI-centric transformation for banks, insurers, manufacturers and automotive companies. Its work spans AI services and consulting, data services, cloud services, software engineering, infrastructure and application management, platform modernization, and modernization of legacy systems. The stated focus is to connect data, platforms and people, helping clients make processes more intelligent, modernize core systems, and build scalable digital platforms. The company has expanded internationally through organic growth and acquisitions. Its markets include Europe, the Americas and Asia; the company’s 2026 Google Cloud partnership announcement describes a team of more than 12,000 technology experts in over 20 countries. Its historical expansion included development centers and acquisitions in Spain, the UK, Italy, Brazil, Canada and other markets. GFT has also worked on financial technology initiatives, including the Universal Digital Payment Network, presented with partners in 2023. GFT Technologies is publicly listed and operates as a corporate technology-services brand rather than a consumer-facing product label. Its offerings are primarily services and project-based solutions for enterprise clients. The company’s own messaging presents it as an AI-centric technology partner that seeks measurable business impact, with financial institutions remaining a core client segment while its work also extends to insurance and industrial sectors. Marco Santos became CEO on July 1, 2024, succeeding Marika Lulay. The company remains active, and its current public communications highlight AI modernization and collaborations with technology providers such as Google Cloud.

GFT was founded in 1987 in St. Georgen im Schwarzwald by Ulrich Dietz and Michael Schönemann as Gesellschaft für Technologietransfer mbH. Ulrich Dietz initially served as managing director and, according to the German Wikipedia history, acquired all company shares in 1991. In 1990 GFT launched GRIT, a product that later developed into the BPM suite inspire. In 1993 the company developed systems for Deutsche Post. The company went public on the Neuer Markt on June 28, 1999, and thereafter operated under the name GFT Technologies. Its early expansion included the 2001 acquisition of emagine, an IT subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, and the acquisition of Rule Financial, which became GFT UK. The company also established a development center in Barcelona. Following a difficult period in 2002 and 2003, when it recorded a loss and reduced its workforce, GFT built out operations in Germany, Hungary, Spain and India. In 2005 it undertook work for a Brazilian financial-services company and established a development center in São Paulo, marking its first expansion beyond Europe according to the supplied company history. GFT continued to adjust its business and geographic footprint. It acquired Parity Beteiligungsgesellschaft and its subsidiaries in 2006. It decided to discontinue its inspire BPM suite in 2007; the business transferred to Inspire Technologies GmbH through a management buyout in 2008. That year GFT moved its headquarters from St. Georgen to Stuttgart. In 2010 it sold its software unit, GFT inboxx GmbH, and focused on IT consulting and application development, alongside IT staffing for a period. In 2011 it created CODE_n, an initiative connecting startups and established businesses through a competition, consulting, shared office space and events; GFT sold its stake in the platform in 2021. Acquisitions supported expansion in Europe and the Americas. GFT acquired 80 percent of Italian company Sempla in 2013. In 2014 it acquired Rule Financial Ltd., with operations and staff in several countries, increasing the company’s workforce and international reach. In 2015 GFT Technologies AG converted into a European Company (SE), sold its emagine staffing business to its management, and acquired Spanish digital-banking provider Adesis Netlife. In 2016 it acquired Brazilian IT specialist Habber Tec Brazil. Marika Lulay took over company leadership in 2017, while Ulrich Dietz became chairman of the supervisory board. GFT acquired Canadian IT specialist V-Neo in 2018 and took over business activities and employees of Axoom in 2019 to strengthen its industrial strategy. GFT expanded its presence in Asia, opening offices in Singapore and Hong Kong in 2020 and establishing a delivery center in Vietnam in 2021. It entered the SDAX in 2021. In March 2023 it announced the acquisition of Targens GmbH from Landesbank Baden-Württemberg. That year GFT, Red Date Technology and the Toko initiative presented the Universal Digital Payment Network, a blockchain-based network intended to enable interoperability between regulated stablecoins and central bank digital currencies. In January 2024 GFT announced its acquisition of all shares in Colombian core-banking specialist Sophos Solutions. In March 2024 it announced an all-in-one digital currency sandbox associated with UDPN, intended to let banks test systems for handling digital currencies. Marco Santos succeeded Marika Lulay as CEO on July 1, 2024. More recent company communications emphasize AI modernization, including a 2026 partnership with Google Cloud on Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services.

• GFT founded in St. Georgen im Schwarzwald as Gesellschaft für Technologietransfer.

• Launch of GRIT, later developed into the inspire BPM suite.

• Developed systems for Deutsche Post.

• Initial public offering on the Neuer Markt; the company thereafter operated as GFT Technologies.

• Acquired emagine and Rule Financial and added a development center in Barcelona.

• Expanded beyond Europe through work for a Brazilian financial-services company and a development center in São Paulo.

• Acquired Parity Beteiligungsgesellschaft and its subsidiaries.

• Decided to discontinue the inspire BPM suite; the business transferred to Inspire Technologies GmbH through a management buyout.

• Moved headquarters from St. Georgen to Stuttgart.

• Sold GFT inboxx GmbH and focused on IT consulting and application development.

• Founded CODE_n, an initiative connecting startups and established companies.

• Acquired an 80 percent stake in Italian company Sempla.

• Acquired Rule Financial Ltd.

• Converted from an AG into a European Company (SE); also sold emagine and acquired Adesis Netlife.

• Acquired Brazilian IT specialist Habber Tec Brazil.

• Marika Lulay took over company leadership; Ulrich Dietz became chairman of the supervisory board.

• Acquired Canadian IT specialist V-Neo.

• Took over Axoom's business activities and employees to strengthen its industrial strategy.

• Opened Asian offices including Singapore and Hong Kong, established a Vietnam delivery center, and entered the SDAX.

• Sold its stake in the CODE_n platform.

• Announced the acquisition of Targens GmbH from Landesbank Baden-Württemberg.

• Presented the Universal Digital Payment Network with Red Date Technology and the Toko initiative.

• Announced the acquisition of all shares in Sophos Solutions S.A.S.

• Announced an all-in-one digital currency sandbox associated with UDPN.

An AI-centric digital transformation and technology partner for enterprise clients, rooted in banking and financial services expertise and serving additional sectors including insurance, manufacturing and automotive.

• AI Modernization

  Services to modernize legacy systems and help organizations build AI-ready platforms.

• Core banking modernization

  Modernization work for core banking systems and related financial-institution platforms.

• AI, data, cloud and software engineering services

  A service portfolio spanning AI services and consulting, data, cloud, software engineering, infrastructure and application management.

• Universal Digital Payment Network

  A blockchain-based network presented with partners to support interoperability between regulated stablecoins and central bank digital currencies.

• Decided to discontinue the inspire BPM suite; the business moved to a separate company through a management buyout in 2008.Other

• Sold its software unit GFT inboxx GmbH and refocused on IT consulting and application development.Other

• Sold the emagine staffing business to its management.Other

• Sold its stake in the CODE_n platform.Other

1. 1GFT Technologies | Let's Go Beyond The Hype_ | GFT Technologies USgft.com
2. 2GFT Partners with Google Cloud on Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services | GFT Technologies USgft.com
3. 3How GFT Technologies Can Help your Business | GFT Technologies USgft.com
4. 4GFT’s awards | GFT Technologies USgft.com
5. 5GFT Technologiesde.wikipedia.org
6. 6GFT Technologieswikidata.org