CEO & Founder of Yenlo

From SOA to Open Source Integration: The Story of How We Built Yenlo

After 10 years immersed in the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) world, working with Oracle, Sun Microsystems, and some of the biggest enterprise IT landscapes in Europe, I felt it was time for something different. It was 2007, and the world of integration was on the edge of a major shift. Together with Maarten de Waal, I co-founded Yenlo. We didn’t start with grand offices or venture capital backing. We started with a clear mission: to deliver high-class, high-tech integration solutions based entirely on open source technology. We believed open source wasn’t just the future, it was a smarter, more flexible, and more scalable way to build enterprise-grade systems.

The vision: Integration without a lock In
At the time, most enterprise software was expensive, closed, and rigid. Integration projects were often long and painful. We saw an opportunity to bring real agility to the world of middleware and APIs by embracing open standards, lightweight solutions, and powerful technologies like WSO2. That’s how Yenlo was born. From the very beginning, we focused on building deep technical expertise. We were engineers first, and that DNA shaped everything: from how we approached customer problems to how we selected our tech stack. We rolled up our sleeves, solved tough problems, and earned trust from clients that valued quality, transparency, and independence.

Growing with our customers
Over the years, Yenlo grew steadily. Not through flashy marketing, but by delivering real results. We started winning international projects. Our focus on API Management, Identity and Access Management, Integration, and iPaaS became more and more relevant as digital transformation accelerated worldwide. We partnered with companies across sectors, from governments and energy providers to hospitals and financial services. Our open source first mindset resonated with organizations looking for control, flexibility, and innovation.

One of the big turning points was the development of our Connext Platform, a powerful cloud-native integration platform that brought together best practices from years of project experience. Connext helped organizations accelerate their time to market, reduce vendor lock in, and connect everything from legacy systems to modern cloud applications.

Becoming a global player
As CEO of Yenlo, I had the privilege of building and leading an international team of experts. We opened offices in the USA, Sri Lanka, Germany, and other strategic locations, and served top 1,000 enterprises across the globe. Despite our growth, we kept our engineering culture alive, staying close to the technology, staying close to our clients, and staying true to our principles. Yenlo became a recognized global system integrator, known for its deep knowledge, strong delivery, and open source expertise. We built long-term relationships, often becoming trusted advisors on digital strategy and cloud architecture.

Stepping forward
After successfully building and scaling Yenlo over 18 years (2007 – 2025), I made a deliberate decision to hand over my CEO responsibilities in 2025. Not because I’m stepping away, but because I’m stepping forward. This new chapter gives me space to focus on what energizes me most: using my experience, skills, and network to help others grow. Whether you’re a tech founder, enterprise architect, or CxO, I’m now focused on advising others on their digital journey, helping them make smarter choices, faster.

Looking back and ahead
Yenlo has been more than a company. It’s been a journey. A platform for innovation, for building relationships, and for learning. I’m proud of what we’ve created: the team, the culture, the impact. But the story doesn’t end here. The world of integration is entering a new phase, powered by AI, real-time data, and intelligent automation. And I plan to stay right in the middle of it, advising, building, and connecting the dots for the next wave of digital innovation.

To everyone who’s been part of the Yenlo story so far, thank you. And to those looking to write their own story in integration, APIs, or digital transformation, I’m here to help. Let’s build something meaningful.