FLEX Capital, the private equity investor specializing in mid-sized software companies in the DACH region, announces the majority acquisition of Simovative. The Munich-based company is a leading, founder-led software house in the field of campus management, offering a fully cloud-based, scalable solution for universities in the DACH region.
A success story in the higher education sector
Simovative was founded in 2002 as a student project by Torsten Fürbringer and Jörn Wünnemann, and has since grown into a market leader in campus management software. Their modular platform, academyFIVE, which offers more than 50 customizable features, supports universities in all critical processes such as data management, course and room planning, exam administration, and mobile applications through the CampusWEB app. Thanks to extensive customization options, the software seamlessly integrates into the existing IT landscapes of universities.
Strong market position and growth potential
Simovative has built up a solid customer base consisting mainly of private universities in the DACH region. The high customer loyalty and low churn rate are particularly impressive. Recent successes include winning the tender from the FernUniversität Hagen (FU), which is currently in the implementation phase, and completing a project with the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin (HWR), both of which underline Simovative’s expertise in the public higher education sector.
Since 2010, spending on higher education in the DACH region has doubled. Drivers of this development include investments in digitalization, research, and personnel. In particular, private universities show strong demand for cloud-based solutions, while the digital transformation is increasingly reaching public universities.
A strong partnership for further growth
The founders of Simovative sought a strategic partner with financial and operational expertise to lead the company into its next growth phase. FLEX Capital supports Simovative in expanding the product, entering new markets, growing the team, and pursuing a buy-and-build strategy to sustainably strengthen the market position.
With increasing demand for the digitalization of administrative processes and mobile student experiences in the higher education sector, Simovative is ideally positioned to further tap into the public university market. Additional growth opportunities exist in the areas of further education and schools, as their requirements for management software are similar. Through its ability to meet complex regulatory and structural requirements of public universities and its focus on cloud solutions, Simovative can continue to strengthen its market position.
Future outlook
“With Simovative, we are investing in a profitable and high-growth company, which not only impresses with its innovative software but also with its strong customer loyalty,” says Christoph Jost, Managing Partner at FLEX Capital. “We are excited to work together with the management team of Simovative to further expand the market position and unlock new growth opportunities.”
“We chose FLEX Capital as a partner because they share our vision for the future of Simovative and bring operational expertise to our side. With FLEX’s support, we aim not only to professionalize and invest in growth but also to position the company sustainably for the future,” adds Torsten Fürbringer.
With the acquisition of Simovative, FLEX Capital underscores its focus on sustainable value creation and its commitment to taking founder-led software companies in the DACH region to the next level of growth.
