From Brussels to Berlin: How two visionary teams are reshaping Europe's Influencer Marketing landscape
It’s official! The news we’ve been eagerly waiting to share is finally here: Stellar Tech has acquired IROIN®, Germany’s leading influencer marketing platform. But this isn’t just another business transaction – it’s the coming together of two passionate teams united by a shared vision of making influencer marketing more accessible, effective, and authentic across Europe.
As our CEO Cathy Pill put it during our celebration lunch: “It feels like we’ve found our German counterparts – a team that thinks like us, builds like us, and dreams like us.” And that’s exactly what makes this acquisition so special.
When two cultures connect
Behind this acquisition is a story of two companies built on similar foundations: a commitment to democratizing influencer marketing, a passion for technological innovation, and above all, a genuine belief that the human element makes all the difference in our industry.
The combined team now brings together talent from across Europe – with professionals from Germany, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Copenhagen, Greece and beyond. This diversity of perspectives and cultural insights will power our next generation of tools and services.
What this means for you (yes, you!)
If you’re a Stellar client reading this, you’re probably wondering how this acquisition will benefit your campaigns. Here’s the exciting part:
- Local expertise goes continental: Our team now includes German market specialists who understand nuances that algorithms simply can’t capture
- Technology integration: IROIN®’s intuitive workflow tools + Stellar’s AI analytics = Your new influencer marketing superpower
- Creator network expansion: Access to IROIN®’s curated network of DACH region creators for your pan-European campaigns
- Innovation acceleration: With our combined R&D teams, we’ll be delivering new features faster than ever
"We've been impressed by IROIN®'s technical approach, particularly their search capabilities and intensive intuitive workflow module. Integrating this with our performance prediction models and our common willingness to leverage AI will give our clients unmatched capabilities."
The people behind the platforms
At the heart of this acquisition is a leadership expansion that strengthens our team considerably:
- Mathis Betz, IROIN®’s CEO, becomes Stellar Tech’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
- André Kilz, IROIN®’s CTO, steps into the role of Chief Product Officer (CPO)
- Cathy Pill, cofounder of Stellar Tech, remains the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Sarah Levin Weinberg, cofounder of Stellar Tech, remains CMO and will now also endorse the role of Chief Operational Officer (COO)
- Sylvain Duckers remains the Chief Technology Officer of Stellar Tech (CTO)
"It's not just about combining technologies. It's about bringing together people who are passionate about the same things. When we first met the Stellar team, the conversation quickly moved from business metrics to how we can collectively raise the bar for the entire influencer marketing industry."
This human-first approach is exactly what’s made both companies successful in their respective markets, and it’s what will drive our joint success moving forward.
Our European vision takes shape
This acquisition marks Stellar Tech’s second strategic move in less than a year, following our purchase of Influo (now Creatorz) in June 2024.
It’s part of our broader vision to create a truly pan-European influencer marketing platform that respects and understands regional nuances while enabling seamless cross-border campaigns.
"Bringing together Stellar, Creatorz, and now IROIN® creates something greater than the sum of its parts. We're not just expanding our headcount – we're creating a culturally rich organization where different perspectives make us collectively stronger."
"This acquisition is a critical step in our ambitious plan to become the undisputed European leader in influencer marketing technology. We're not just expanding geographically – we're bringing together the best minds and technologies across the continent to build a product that outperforms anything else on the market. Our mission is to create the most powerful, intuitive, and comprehensive influencer marketing platform in Europe, and with the IROIN® team joining us, we're well on our way to achieving that goal."
While IROIN® and Stellar will initially remain separate platforms, our teams are already collaborating on integrating the best features of both systems. The future product will combine both tools’ strengths – all supported by the combined expertise of our passionate teams across Europe.
Let's talk!
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this exciting development! Are there specific features from either platform you’re particularly excited to see integrated? Or perhaps you’re curious about how this might enhance your specific marketing needs?
Reach out to your account manager or drop us a line at info@stellar.io. Our newly expanded team is eager to show you how this acquisition will take your influencer campaigns to the next level.
