For over 35 years, Slovenia-based SRC has helped hundreds of European financial, healthcare, government and telco institutions become digital champions and sharpen their competitive edge.
With over 360 employees, and partners from Microsoft to SAP, Cisco, IBM, and more, SRC combines deep expertise with cutting-edge proprietary and partner technologies to tackle complex business challenges and drive customer success.
A family legacy
As a family business, SRC has been a part of CEO Miha Zerko’s life since childhood. He took over running the business from his father in 2011 and continued to expand the company into new regions and markets.
But Zerko soon faced a dilemma: continue in charge until his mid-seventies, when his daughter would be old enough to succeed him or find an alternative. One thing was for certain: Zerko wasn’t ready to exit the business entirely—he wanted to stay involved and see SRC thrive.
Zerko needed a succession plan that would ensure the company’s long-term growth and keep him actively involved – just as it would in the hands of his family.
Zerko met Michael Hammerström, Upliift founder and co-CEO, some time ago when Hammerström first approached SRC about investment. The timing wasn’t right to sell then, but the two continued building a relationship from there.
“Michael took the time to understand me, SRC, and the vision for the company. He maintained a genuine interest in our progress over the years. When he co-founded Upliift with Alex Myers, it was clear the new company offered a genuinely different approach. The time felt right for me and my team, and I knew Upliift would be the perfect partner for the next stage of our journey. Upliift wasn’t just interested in financials, but also in the values we held as a family business,” says Zerko.
With Upliift, Zerko could pursue a partial exit, retaining a meaningful stake in the business, ensuring he remained involved in a way that felt right for him and SRC’s future.
A fair deal built on trust
When Zerko and his team were ready, Upliift moved swiftly—but always on SRC’s terms. The deal was agreed within six months, surprising SRC’s legal team, which expected more drawn-out negotiations. Instead, they found a transparent, fair partner in Upliift.
“Upliift was patient and respectful. They never pushed for things we weren’t comfortable with or haggled over price. We both valued fairness and long-term success over short-term gains,” Zerko explains. “It was like finding the right partner for your family. You want to know they’re in it for the right reasons.”
The future of SRC
With Upliift’s support, Zerko has found renewed clarity and headspace to focus on long-term goals while remaining involved in critical decisions. SRC now benefits from Upliift’s management and software expertise, allowing it to develop its finance, marketing, and product development capabilities and explore new M&A opportunities.
“With the future of the business secured, our thinking is shifting from defence to offence,” says Zerko. “The future looks bright, and we’re excited to keep building on our strengths with a partner who shares our vision and goals for success over decades.”
Advice for others
Many specialist software businesses across Europe face similar tough questions about their company’s future.
Zerko offers advice for those considering their next steps.
“When you care about the company you and your family have built, you want it to be in good hands. If you’re looking for someone who will look after it like their own, Upliift should be on your list. Unlike other investors who are purely in it for profit, Upliift sees beyond the numbers. They understand that value is also about people, customers, and reputation. They work with companies to build on their success and ensure long-term growth.”
