TMA Bolsters Talent Suite with Strategic Acquisition of Neuroscience Specialist BrainsFirst

TMA, a leading Dutch provider of talent management software, announced the acquisition of BrainsFirst on March 10, 2026. This strategic move marks the company’s second acquisition this year and its fourth since partnering with Main Capital Partners. By joining forces, TMA aims to evolve how organizations identify and develop human potential using a combination of behavioral science and neuroscience.

The acquisition follows a rapid expansion phase for TMA, including the recent purchase of STYR and previous international moves into the US and French markets. BrainsFirst brings a unique proprietary technology called the NeurOlympics to the table. This gamified platform measures objective cognitive building blocks such as working memory, anticipation, and attention without the bias often found in traditional resumes.

Combining TMA's psychometric insights with BrainsFirst’s neuro-cognitive data creates a comprehensive view of candidates. While TMA focuses on the motivational aspect of personality, BrainsFirst provides hard data on cognitive capacity. This synergy allows for fairer, data-driven hiring decisions that are especially beneficial for neurodivergent individuals and those from diverse backgrounds.

TMA CEO Glenn Frijde noted that this integration results in a human-centric talent profile so robust that organizations cannot afford to ignore it. He emphasized that the collaboration empowers companies to make smarter decisions in hiring and strategic workforce planning. Charly Zwemstra, Managing Partner at Main Capital Partners, added that this represents another meaningful step in TMA’s international growth journey.

Founded in 2016 by Andries van der Leij and Dr. Ilja Sligte, BrainsFirst has built a reputation in elite sports scouting and healthcare before expanding into broader corporate sectors. Its software is currently used in over 12 countries by notable clients like the Municipality of The Hague and Air Traffic Control the Netherlands. The company’s focus on objective cognitive measurement ensures that talent is recognized regardless of linguistic or cultural barriers.

Moving forward, the integrated platform will serve over 1,000 international customers across various sectors. The merger creates a future-proof ecosystem that translates complex human potential into scalable organizational performance. With more than 100 employees across three continents, TMA is now positioned as a major force in the global HR-Tech market.