Odoo was founded in Belgium in 2002 by computer science student Fabien Pinckaers. It launched as TinyERP in 2005, was renamed OpenERP in 2008 and became Odoo in May 2014. Today Odoo 20, released on 24 September 2026, is the latest version, and Odoo reports 28 million users worldwide.
It didn’t emerge from Silicon Valley or launch with massive funding. It started as a student’s side project and grew into one of the world’s most popular business software platforms.
What powered that growth? A focus on usability, community-driven development, and a commitment to staying open.
Who founded Odoo, and how did it start?
In 2002, Belgian computer science student Fabien Pinckaers launched TinyERP as a side project. It was a simple idea with big implications: make business software that was flexible, affordable, and open.
In 2008, TinyERP was renamed OpenERP.
A growing community of developers joined in, drawn by the open-source model and the chance to shape a full-suite ERP system. Unlike most software at the time, OpenERP invited real co-creation, not just customisation. That openness became part of the product’s DNA and of everything that would follow.
Fabien Pinckaers at OpenERP’s farmhouse office in Belgium in 2009, the early stage of what would later become Odoo.
What made OpenERP different from other ERPs?
While legacy ERPs focused on enterprise IT departments, OpenERP focused on people. It was one of the first systems to prioritise usability as a core design principle.
This made it ideal for small and mid-sized businesses, who could finally access ERP software without long rollouts or complex setups. At the same time, it remained powerful enough to support global operations through modular design and deep configuration options.
When did TinyERP and OpenERP become Odoo?
2005
TinyERP launches publicly in Belgium
2009
OpenERP, renamed from TinyERP in 2008, gains pace as developer adoption accelerates
2010
International expansion begins with offices in India and the US
2014
Renamed Odoo in May 2014, alongside a USD 10 million funding round, to reflect the growing range of apps beyond ERP, including CRM, eCommerce and Website Builder.
2015 to 2020
A global partner network forms and cloud-based services scale adoption
2021
Odoo becomes a unicorn when Summit Partners invests USD 215 million at a valuation of more than USD 2.3 billion
2022 to 2026
A €500 million share sale values Odoo at €5 billion in November 2024. Odoo 19 follows in September 2025 and Odoo 20 on 24 September 2026, when Odoo reports 28 million users and 7,500 employees, and Fabien Pinckaers puts its value at €10 billion
How did Odoo challenge SAP and other legacy ERPs?
When Odoo launched the “Sorry SAP” campaign it was a tongue-in-cheek slogan, but it also had a very real message.
Odoo positioned itself as a modern alternative to legacy ERPs, systems that are often known for complexity, high costs, and slow rollouts.
Odoo used cheeky billboards to position itself as a mould breaker in the ERP market.
With fast rollout times, modular pricing, and a focus on real usability, it appealed to both startups and global organisations. The architecture allowed businesses to start small and expand as they grew. And behind it all stood a thriving community of developers and partners constantly improving the platform.
What is the latest Odoo version, and where does Odoo stand today?
As of October 2026, Odoo shows no signs of slowing down. Odoo 19, released in September 2025, built AI into every app and added new Equity and ESG apps. Odoo 20, unveiled at Odoo Experience in Brussels on 24 September 2026, added a native MCP server, AI agents that run inside automations, and an offline mode for creating and editing records.
Fabien Pinckaers still leads the company, now with 21 offices worldwide, about 7,500 employees and a growing footprint in the US and Asia. His mission remains the same: to make great business software accessible to everyone, regardless of size or budget.
Fabien Pinckaers at Odoo Experience 2024, unveiling the latest version of Odoo in a live keynote and demo presentation.
The roadmap includes AI-powered features, drag-and-drop customisation, and fully managed cloud hosting through Odoo.sh. It’s built to reduce complexity, not add to it, and to give teams control over how they work. The open-source community continues to be a driving force, shaping features, fixing bugs, and expanding what's possible.
Odoo history FAQs
Odoo was founded by Fabien Pinckaers, a Belgian computer science student, in 2002. He released the software as TinyERP in 2005 and still leads the company as CEO. Read how the company grew in the calm rise of Odoo.
Odoo's May 2014 announcement gives the name no specific meaning. Fabien Pinckaers explained that the company wanted a name free of the ERP label, one that could also cover apps such as eCommerce and Website Builder. He added, tongue in cheek, that its three O's suited the company's ambitions.
OpenERP became Odoo in May 2014, announced on 14 May 2014 together with a USD 10 million funding round. The software had started as TinyERP in 2005 and was renamed OpenERP in 2008. The new name reflected a product that had grown well beyond ERP.
Odoo is a Belgian company based in Walloon Brabant. Its registered office, Odoo S.A., is in Ramillies, and it has 21 offices worldwide. Its annual Odoo Experience conference, where each new version is launched, takes place in Brussels.
The latest version is Odoo 20, unveiled at Odoo Experience in Brussels on 24 September 2026. Odoo 19 came out in September 2025. Odoo releases one major version a year, each launched at Odoo Experience. See all Odoo 20 features and how Odoo evolved from 16 to 19.
Yes, Odoo is open source. Its core, Odoo Community, is published under the LGPLv3 licence and is free to use and modify. Odoo Enterprise is the paid edition built on that core; subscribers also get its source code, under Odoo's Enterprise licence. Compare the two in our guide to Odoo Community vs Enterprise.
At Odoo Experience in September 2026, Odoo reported 28 million users worldwide, about 80% of them on free plans. It employs about 7,500 people. In November 2024 a €500 million share sale valued it at €5 billion; in 2026 Fabien Pinckaers put its value at €10 billion.
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