Vidya Peters on Leading Dutch Unicorn DataSnipper and the Future of Automated Finance

We sit down with Vidya Peters, CEO of Dutch fintech unicorn DataSnipper, a company transforming how audit and finance teams work by automating repetitive tasks with next-generation AI. In this interview, Peters outlines the journey from start-up to scale-up, explains how her team tackled the biggest audit firms, and reveals what lies ahead as DataSnipper enters its next phase of growth across Europe and the US.

Founded in 2017, DataSnipper’s intelligent automation software transforms document-heavy audit and finance processes with enterprise-grade, traceable AI. Over 600,000 audit and finance professionals across 2,000+ customers use DataSnipper, including all Big Four accounting firms (Deloitte, EY, KMPG, and PwC), Volkswagen, Morgan Stanley, Paramount, Siemens, and Baker Tilly.

DataSnipper has been the #1 fastest-growing company in the Netherlands for the past two years and in 2024, the company achieved unicorn status following a $100m Series B led by Index Ventures, valuing the business at $1bn. DataSnipper has active users in 175 countries, 250 employees worldwide, and offices in Amsterdam, New York, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur. The business also completed its first acquisition last year, when it acquired UpLink.

Unlike generic AI tools, DataSnipper delivers tailored, industry-specific automation, addressing challenges like tracking internal control records and collecting compliance documentation evidence in large banks with scalable, multi-language support.

Audit and finance are traditionally document-heavy and process-driven industries. How is DataSnipper’s intelligent automation software changing the way professionals in these fields work day-to-day?

Instead of rifling through hundreds of files to trace evidence, tie numbers, or verify samples, auditors can now let DataSnipper’s AI instantly analyse documents the moment they are shared, and extract, cross-reference, and document audit evidence directly inside Excel.

 This shift means professionals spend less time on low-value admin and more time on judgment, and client insight. Now with agents, DataSnipper can automate a full series of tasks in the audit workflow. Reviews that once took days can be completed in minutes, documentation becomes audit-ready by default, and collaboration across teams is far smoother. In short, DataSnipper is turning audit and finance from a paper-chasing exercise into an intelligent, insight-driven workflow.

DataSnipper is already used by over 600,000 professionals across more than 2,000 organisations, including the Big Four and major corporations like Volkswagen and Morgan Stanley. What are some of the most innovative or surprising ways your customers are deploying the platform?

What’s most exciting is seeing how customers take DataSnipper far beyond what we originally imagined. Yes, it’s used by auditors to automate evidence gathering and testing, but it’s also become a trusted tool for internal audit, corporate finance, and compliance teams tackling high-volume document work.

Some firms now use it for forensic investigations, processing tens of thousands of documents in hours instead of weeks. Others have integrated it into financial close and internal control reviews, ensuring every number can be traced back to its source.

DataSnipper has become part of how professionals work every day,  bringing structure, accuracy, and efficiency to processes that were once fragmented and manual.

Unlike many generic AI tools, DataSnipper emphasises industry-specific automation. Could you explain why this specialisation is critical in sectors like audit and finance, and how it gives you an edge?

In audit and finance, trust isn’t optional, it’s everything. At the end of the day, it’s not AI that signs off on an audit; it’s a person standing behind their name, their company, and their reputation. That’s why our approach to AI is different.

We design our products with the human-in-the-loop from the start. The AI automates the repetitive work, but it’s always the auditor or finance professional who reviews, validates, and applies judgment. Every result is backed by verifiable evidence, ensuring complete transparency, and eliminating the risk of hallucination.

Generic AI tools don’t account for the nuance, regulation, and accountability that define this industry. Our strength lies in combining deep domain expertise with AI, helping professionals work faster and smarter, without ever compromising the credibility their work depends on.

You’ve announced a partnership with Microsoft and expressed an interest in agentic AI. What does agentic AI mean in the context of audit and finance, and how do you see it shaping the industry over the next few years?

Agentic AI represents the next evolution of automation. Systems that can reason, act, and adapt, while keeping the human-in-the loop. In audit and finance, that means AI that supports professional judgment rather than replacing it, helping teams perform complex checks, interpret disclosures, and execute multi-step tasks with full transparency and traceability.

We’ve launched Disclosure Agents and Excel Agents, built specifically for auditors and finance teams. These AI agents automate the most manual, error-prone steps, yet ensure every action is transparent, explainable, and subject to human review.

Human-in-the-loop oversight is central to our approach. We see agentic AI as a way to elevate, not replace, professional judgment. By embedding it directly into the tools people already use, we’re giving teams back time for analysis and decision-making – where human expertise truly adds value.

DataSnipper became the fastest-growing company in the Netherlands for two years running and hit unicorn status in 2024. What are the next big milestones for the business in 2025 and beyond?

2025 is about deepening trust and accelerating AI adoption across both external and internal audit and finance teams. Our focus is on building technology that professionals can trust and rely on, AI that enhances accuracy, transparency, and accountability, while keeping humans firmly in the loop.

We were honoured that TIME named our AI product, DocuMine, one of the Best Inventions of 2025 in the Artificial Intelligence category. For us, that inclusion wasn’t just about innovation, it was about validation. It affirmed that AI built on evidence, traceability, and human oversight can truly elevate the audit and finance profession.

As we expand globally, we’re doubling down on agentic AI, intelligent systems that work alongside professionals to automate complex tasks while preserving control and context. Above all, our goal is to keep users at the forefront of everything we do,  giving every auditor, controller, and finance leader the confidence and time to focus on the work that matters most.

You now employ 250 people worldwide across Amsterdam, New York, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur. How do you maintain a unified culture and innovation mindset across such a global team?

What unites our teams isn’t proximity, it’s purpose. Whether someone is in Amsterdam or Kuala Lumpur, we’re all focused on the same mission , making audit and finance work smarter through intelligent automation people can trust. That clarity gives everyone a shared sense of ownership.

We’re intentional about staying close as we grow. Our teams connect across borders every week, not just to align on goals, but to share ideas and learn from one another. We’ve found that innovation happens fastest when people feel safe to challenge, contribute, and build on each other’s thinking.

 Our job as leaders is to create an environment where that diversity thrives, where people feel empowered to experiment, take risks, and learn fast.

Even as we expand globally, our mindset remains entrepreneurial. We move quickly, stay close to our users, and keep collaboration at the heart of how we work.

Looking further ahead, what is your long-term vision for DataSnipper? Do you see the company remaining focused on audit and finance, or is there scope to expand into adjacent industries facing similar documentation and compliance challenges?

Our focus remains on audit and finance, it’s where the need for trust, accuracy, and accountability is highest, and where we can have the greatest impact. There’s still so much opportunity to reimagine how professionals in this space work with AI.

Our priority today is clear: to keep delivering meaningful innovation for the audit and finance professionals who rely on us every day.