One Beyond (formerly DCSL Guidesmiths)
Leading developer of bespoke software and managed service provider
Investment date: December 2020
Follow-on investments: 2
Visit siteOverview
One Beyond (formerly DCSL Guidesmiths) is a leading developer of bespoke software and managed service provider to companies ranging from start-up to large enterprises in the UK and increasingly abroad. Through its team of c. 80 developers (115 FTEs) it delivers a mix of development consultancy, ongoing support, and hosting services to clients across various verticals requiring bespoke software applications. The business sits in the large digital transformation market that is anticipated to grow at a double digit CAGR to £310bn by 2025 for Europe & UK alone.
One Beyond is a strong platform business operating within the high growth, fragmented digital transformation market. Digital transformation is being prioritised across board agendas, with CEOs and CTOs continually increasing focus on their IT strategy, upgrading software, automating manual processes and accelerating the transition to cloud technology, all reinforced with the onset of COVID-19. One Beyond has outperformed the market to date and has managed to establish long term relationships with its customer base as evidenced by strong financial performance and customer feedback.
“My management team and I are delighted to have found a partner in Queen’s Park Equity with similar values and ambitions to continue our growth trajectory in the UK and internationally. We welcome the QPE team to our Board and look forward to the value they will bring through years of experience and insight.”
Nick Thompson
Founder and CEO, One Beyond
Strategy
The original DCSL transaction was sourced off-market and it is another example of QPE’s typical first-time institutional capital structures with significant management re-investment. QPE and management’s efforts over the investment period will be on reinforcing One Beyond’s business development function to further increase client engagement and target customers with significant IT budgets, on continuously expanding the developer base to support the growing pipeline of projects, and on adding technological capabilities and accelerating growth through bolt-on acquisitions.
Bolt-on acquisitions
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“The acquisition of GuideSmiths by One Beyond is a perfect pairing and integration of software skills, professionalism and team-based culture, creating a company with an impressive international footprint and much broadened capabilities as exhibited by its strong customer base. We are pleased to be supporting the group’s ongoing investment and organic growth.”
Kajen Mohanadas
Investment, QPE
