Nearform to acquire Seattle-based Formidable to expand global software services

Irish-founded NearForm has acquired US design and engineering company Formidable as it seeks to expand its global software services.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. As part of the deal, Formidable chief executive Ryan Roemer will join NearForm’s executive leadership team.

“Bringing NearForm and Formidable together felt like a natural fit from the start. We share a common heritage in the craft of design and engineering and a firm belief in the power of code to be a force for good and deliver enduring positive outcomes for our people, our clients and our communities,” said Ciarán Cosgrave, Nearform chief executive.

“Together, we’re in a strong position to become one of the leading premium independent creators of software solutions.”

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Formidable has built its client base steadily since 2013. The Washington firm has worked with companies ranging in size from startups to Fortune 100s, including Puma, Lululemon, Starbucks, and Walmart.

The acquisition builds on the momentum NearForm has picked up following investment from Columbia Capital in 2020. The company has also made a couple of significant hires, including former McKinsey digital partner Satty Bhens, who joined the NearForm executive board last year, and former Walmart executive Koby Avital as a strategic advisor in May.

“NearForm joining forces with Formidable brings two pioneers of the open source web platform together to make a professional services powerhouse - we’re so excited for what happens next,” said NearForm founder Cian O’Maidin.

Founded in 2011 by Mr Ó Maidín and Richard Rodgers, NearForm develops enterprise software and uses cloud computing to build business platforms for clients that include Uber, Virgin Media O2 and Aer Lingus. It was also behind the Covid-19 contact tracing app that the HSE used in the earlier months of the pandemic, which was built on open-source software and was adopted for use in several other jurisdictions, including a number of US states.