Localyze founder provides valuable insights into scaling an HR tech scale-up in the field of global mobility

The world of global mobility often resembles a complex labyrinth of regulations, deadlines, and bureaucratic hurdles. Companies seeking to recruit top talent worldwide today face the daunting task of not only finding the right specialist but also ensuring their legally compliant relocation to Germany or other markets. Amidst this dynamic environment, the Hamburg-based startup Localyze spent years digitizing the employee secondment and visa application process . Now, in May 2026, founder Hanna Marie Asmussen reflects on the journey from the company's inception to its sale to the US firm Boundless Immigration . For us, as a law firm advising companies on corporate immigration on a daily basis, these insights provide an excellent foundation for critically examining the intersection of technology and visa law.

The rocky road of digitalization in migration administration

When Localyze launched in 2018, the vision of a digital relocation platform encountered a German bureaucratic landscape still deeply rooted in the analog age. The founders learned that intuition and customer focus were often more important in the early stages than a fully developed technical system. We see a parallel here to our daily practice: Many of our clients – whether highly qualified academics or HR departments – suffer from the lack of digitalization in immigration offices . Although the legislature created instruments to shorten processes with the Skilled Immigration Act , particularly Section 81a of the Residence Act ( Accelerated Skilled Immigration Procedure ), implementation often fails at the interface with the administration. Localyze recognized early on that it was necessary to "build marketplaces where none existed before."

The scaling trap: When growth meets legal complexity

A particularly interesting point in Asmussen's review is the year 2021. Following the pandemic, the market for the digitalization of skilled worker immigration boomed . However, Localyze learned the hard way that rapid growth without a stable foundation – especially in the area of go-to-market solutions for major clients – is dangerous. The situation is similar in visa law: A company cannot simply "scale" hundreds of skilled workers without addressing the individual requirements for residence permits, such as... The EU Blue Card (§ 18b para. 2 AufenthG) or the regulations for IT specialists with extensive professional experience (§ 19c para. 2 AufenthG in conjunction with § 6 BeschV) should be examined in detail.

We often observe that scale-ups, caught up in the euphoria of expansion, neglect legal compliance. Those who hire "big names" with high salaries but overlook the specific requirements for comparability of qualifications or priority checks (if still relevant) risk costly delays. Asmussen emphasizes that they made the mistake of addressing the needs of enterprise clients too late . In corporate immigration, this means that large corporations don't need a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather legally sound strategies for complex situations. Secondments that also cover tax and social security aspects.

Strategic missteps and the pivot to profitability

Looking back, the Localyze founder describes the expansion into the USA as a mistake at the wrong time. While the core business in Europe weakened, and US expansion tied up resources. This underscores a fundamental truth of global mobility: every country has its own legal logic . A system optimized for German immigration law cannot simply be applied to the US system. Visa system transferred.

In 2023 and 2024, the team had to work hard to reduce the burn rate and return to efficiency. In a time of skills shortages, this is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, companies need to remain agile; on the other hand, retaining international talent is a long-term investment. If an HR department reduces support for this due to cost-cutting measures, the team will face a significant challenge. Visa extension or the By cutting back on family reunification (Sections 27 et seq. of the German Residence Act), companies risk losing their most valuable employees. We often criticize this short-sighted approach; professional immigration support is not a luxury, but rather insurance against talent loss.

The merger with Boundless: A new chapter for international mobility

The acquisition of Localyze by Boundless Immigration marks the end of an era and the beginning of a global powerhouse. The goal is a "Single Unified Solution" that combines AI-powered compliance with a global network of legal experts. This directly addresses the problem many of our clients – especially diplomats and expats – face: fragmented jurisdictions.

Hanna Asmussen concludes that she is proud to have navigated the crisis, but also recognizes the importance of remaining authentic as an "underdog." For the industry, this merger means increased pressure to professionalize. Employers who want to compete for the brightest minds today cannot rely on manual Excel spreadsheets, but must leverage the advantages of legal tech without losing sight of individual legal advice.

Conclusion

Localyze's journey vividly demonstrates that global mobility is far more than simply filling out forms. It's a highly volatile market deeply embedded in political and economic developments. For highly skilled foreigners and international companies, legal certainty remains paramount. Digitalization is a powerful tool in this regard, but it can never replace strategic planning and a thorough understanding of immigration law. Localyze's story serves as a cautionary tale about scaling, but also as a plea for the courage to transcend the boundaries of national labor markets through technology.