Main Capital Partners announces the winners of the Main Software 50 Benelux 2026

Launched in 2012, the Main Software 50 Benelux provides Enterprise Software companies with an opportunity to benchmark their performance against industry peers and compete for recognition as the region’s top-performing software companies. Based on objective company data and verified by independent research organization Dialogic, the ranking evaluates performance across key indicators, including revenue growth, recurring revenue, profitability, internationalization, and innovation. In addition to the overall ranking, the Main Software 50 honors exceptional achievements in growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship through a series of special awards. This year’s 50 ranked companies comprise 40 businesses from the Netherlands and 10 from Belgium.

Benelux software companies combine growth with investment in talent and product development

The results of the Main Software 50 Benelux 2026 reflect continued growth across the region’s software sector. The 50 ranked companies generated combined revenues of EUR 932 million in 2026, an increase of 24% compared with 20% growth reported for the previous edition’s cohort. Average recurring revenue growth reached 29%, up from 26% in the previous edition.

Recurring revenues remain central to the ranked companies’ business models, accounting for 80% of combined revenues, compared with 81% in the previous edition. SaaS revenues represented 75%, unchanged from last year.

International expansion is another characteristic of this year’s ranked companies. International revenues represented 45% of combined revenues, up from 43%, reflecting the continued investment into markets outside companies’ home countries.

The 2026 results show employment growth accompanied by an improvement in revenue productivity. The ranked companies employed a combined 5,080 full-time employees in 2026, an increase of 20% compared with their 2025 workforce. Revenue per full-time employee rose by 3% to approximately EUR 183,000.

Profitability also improved across the cohort: 82% of the ranked companies reported EBITDA margins above 10%, adjusted for capitalized R&D costs, compared with 78% in the previous edition. Expectations for future growth remained positive, with 64% anticipating revenue growth above 20%, compared with 66% previously.

Investment in product development remained a priority. Of the ranked companies, 90% invested more than 10% of revenues in research and development, compared with 80% in the previous edition. Meanwhile, 26% generated more than 10% of revenues through partners, down from 28%.

Together, the results show a software sector combining growth and profitability with continued investment in its workforce and products.

Winners of the Main Software 50 Benelux 2026

The number one position in the 2026 ranking was awarded to SDB, a Dutch provider of software for healthcare and childcare organizations. Founded in 1976, SDB helps organizations manage care delivery, workforce planning, HR, payroll, and professional development. Its top position in the ranking, progressing from seventh place in the 2025 edition, highlights the continued relevance of specialized software that supports essential services and helps professionals devote more time to clients, patients, and children.

Zig secured second place in this year’s ranking, rising from eleventh place in the 2025 ranking. Founded in 2001, the Dutch company develops software for housing corporations, student accommodation providers, and commercial property managers. Its solutions help organizations manage housing allocation, tenant communication, property maintenance, and financial administration. Zig’s position illustrates the role of sector-specific software in connecting property management processes and supporting the digitalization of the housing and real estate sector.

In third place is BrightAnalytics, a Belgian provider of a SaaS platform for consolidated management reporting. Founded in 2014, the company brings together financial and operational data to help businesses manage reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and consolidation. Its position in the ranking, advancing from fifth place in the previous edition, highlights the importance of accessible, consolidated business information and the role of software in helping management teams make informed decisions.

The Highest Growth Award was presented to Aikido Security, a Main 50 debutant, which achieved revenue growth of 420% in 2025. Founded in 2022 and based in Ghent, the Belgian company develops software security solutions covering code, cloud environments, and runtime protection. Its platform helps development teams identify, prioritize, and resolve vulnerabilities. Aikido Security’s growth reflects the increasing importance of embedding security into software development and protecting applications throughout their lifecycle.

The Accelerator Award, recognizing the performance of companies with annual revenues below EUR 1 million, was presented to MyFreight B.V. This is the first year that the Dutch company has held a spot in the Main 50 ranking, thanks to its recorded revenue growth of 309% in 2025. MyFreight provides a digital platform for freight forwarders, supporting activities from quotations and bookings to shipment tracking, document management, and invoicing. Its performance illustrates the opportunities for specialized software providers to support the digitalization of logistics and streamline complex operational processes.

This year’s edition featured a new award: the AI Amplify Award, which was also received by Aikido Security. Introduced in 2026, the award recognizes the integration of AI into software products and internal operations, alongside business performance. The assessment considers AI autonomy, internal AI use cases, revenue per FTE, and growth in revenue per FTE. Aikido Security, another Ghentian winner, integrates AI into its security offering through functionality such as vulnerability prioritization and automated code fixes, helping developers address security issues more efficiently.

Shaping the future of the Benelux software landscape

Now in its fifteenth edition, the Main Software 50 Benelux has established itself as an important benchmark for Enterprise Software companies across the region, offering them the opportunity to benchmark their performance against industry peers and compete for recognition as the top-performing software companies.

This year’s ranking reflects the continued growth and international reach of the Benelux software sector. The 50 ranked companies generated combined revenues of EUR 932 million, with recurring revenues accounting for 80% and international revenues representing 45% of the total. These results highlight a software ecosystem built on recurring business models and cross-border activity, alongside continued investment in talent and product development.