node.vc leads Serverpod €2.7M seed round
Serverpod helps developers build secure, high-performance app backends - the "brain" of any application working behind the scenes to process requests and deliver the right data to users - without the trade-offs of other backend solutions.
[STOCKHOLM 19 February 2025] Serverpod (www.serverpod.dev), the open-source, scalable app server for Flutter developers - who build over a quarter of all new apps - has announced a €2.7 million seed funding round led by node.vc, with participation from Greens Ventures and PreSeed Ventures. This funding comes just a year after securing €1.7 million in pre-seed funding led by PreSeed Ventures in February 2024.
Continuing its mission to support developers using Flutter - the world's most popular cross-platform app development framework - by providing a much-needed integrated backend solution, Serverpod will use the funding to accelerate its global expansion including doubling its current team, enhancing its technology, and diversifying into other frameworks and languages beyond Flutter.
Serverpod was founded in 2021 by Viktor Lidholt, a former developer on the Flutter team at Google in Silicon Valley who wrote his first code at age 12. Fellow founders Isak Dunér, former startup founder and CTO, and Alexander Sandor, former lead developer of Minecraft at Mojang. As second time founders, they bring vast knowhow and experience to the Serverpod team. node.vc’s Daniela Sjunnesson will also be joining the board to assist with the company’s development.
Flutter’s challenging backend development
Over 1,000 new apps built with Flutter are released every day. However, despite its popularity, an undeniable shortcoming of the platform is that it cannot be used to build the backend for apps directly. Unsurprisingly, without a backend, Flutter apps are severely limited in functionality, security, and scalability. For instance, they wouldn’t be able to store user data across devices, provide real-time updates, or support secure authentication, making features like cloud sync, messaging, and push notifications impossible. This leads to a poor user experience and security risks, as all data and business logic are stored on the user's device, making it vulnerable to loss or hacking. For any app more than a simple offline tool, a backend is essential to ensure seamless performance, data protection, and a truly connected experience.
As a result, developers must use different platforms to build their own backend which, up to now, have had significant drawbacks due to not being specifically designed for Flutter. Typically, building a backend is considered much harder than building a frontend due to the complexity of the programming language used. This has created demand for readily available backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platforms which often use a mismatch of different languages and servers.
Serverpod’s native approach
Combating this issue, Serverpod offers a more integrated and efficient alternative. Serverpod’s platform allows developers to build a backend for their app that is native to Dart (the programming language used to develop frontends in Flutter) eliminating the need to work with multiple programming languages. The platform’s superiority compared to serverless or python-based backends has led to its use by developers from hundreds of companies across various industries, from healthcare and finance to gaming and entertainment.
Viktor Lidholt, CEO of Serverpod adds: "With Flutter continuing to grow as a leading framework for app development, developers need a backend solution that integrates seamlessly without the complexity of switching languages or relying on restrictive serverless platforms. Serverpod was built to fill this gap—offering full control, scalability, and deep integration with Flutter, all within the Dart ecosystem. We believe that as more developers seek efficient, cost-effective, and scalable backend solutions, Serverpod will become a key player in shaping the future of backend development for Flutter apps."
node.vc partner Daniela Sjunnesson: “Serverpod is solving a critical pain point for Flutter developers with a team that knows this challenge firsthand. Viktor and his team combine deep technical expertise with a passion for making backend development radically simpler. As Flutter adoption grows, the demand for a scalable, developer-friendly backend is growing. We’re excited to back a team so uniquely positioned to lead this shift and build a category-defining company.”
About Serverpod
Founded in 2021 and based in Stockholm, Sweden, Serverpod is an open-source backend framework designed for Flutter applications and continues to work towards expansion to other frameworks. Built in Dart, it provides seamless integration with Flutter, offering developers a powerful yet easy-to-use solution for managing data, authentication, and real-time communication.
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