M&A advisory for design & engineering software companies
Design and engineering software M&A is a long-running consolidation story. The major CAD, EDA, BIM and PLM strategics steadily acquire around their platforms and a smaller set of PE platforms build engineering software portfolios. Deals price on subscription transition progress, edition mix and cross-sell.
The most active strategic buyers are Autodesk, Dassault Systèmes, Siemens, PTC and the major EDA platforms like Synopsys and Cadence, alongside PE platforms building engineering software portfolios. Flow has direct access to the engineering software strategic acquirers and PE platforms that transact in this category.
Flow team has relevant sector experience and has worked with design and engineering software companies across CAD, CAM and CAE, EDA and chip design, BIM and architectural software, product lifecycle management, and creative and 3D content tools.
"Design & engineering software" KPIs M&A buyers look at
Key metrics strategics and PE buyers look at when analayzing design & engineering software M&A targets
Subscription ARR
Cloud seat penetration
Net retention
Paid seats
ARPU per seat
Edition mix
Maintenance revenue
Gross margin
Logo retention
CAC payback
Design & engineering software valuations in May 2026
Public design & engineering software comps trade at 4.3x EV/Revenue. Median revenue multiple across design & engineering software M&A deals was 3.7x in the last 12 months.
4.3x
Median EV/Revenue as of May 2026 for public design & engineering software companies
19x
Cadence Design Systems is the highest valued public design & engineering software company based on EV/Revenue (excluding outliers)
3.7x
Median EV/Revenue across design & engineering software M&A deals in the last 12 months
16x
Median EV/Revenue across design & engineering software VC rounds in the last 12 months
Key recent design & engineering software M&A deals
$3.1B acquisition of Hexagon (design & engineering unit) by Cadence Design Systems was the largest design & engineering software M&A transaction completed in the last year.
See all design & engineering software M&A deals| Logo | HQ | Description | Buyer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep-25 | H | Hexagon (design & engineering unit) |  | - | Cadence Design Systems | $3.1B | 11x |
Oct-25 | Weavy |  | Weavy is pioneering creative tools that integrate AI models, editing software, and collaborative workflows. The Stockholm-based platform equips designers and artists with features for real-time image generation, vector editing, and version control. Weavy supports teams in advertising agencies and studios by combining Stable Diffusion models with Adobe-compatible formats. Launched in 2023, it processes millions of AI-assisted edits monthly across global user bases. | Figma | $200M | - | |
Oct-25 | Solidcad |  | Solidcad is a Vaughan-headquartered reseller of CAD software and provider of design services in Ontario, Canada. The company distributes SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and Inventor licenses to manufacturing and engineering firms. It offers training and simulation tools for product development in automotive and aerospace sectors. | Symetri | $101M | 3.7x | |
Sep-25 | Landa Digital Printing |  | Landa Digital Printing is an Israel-headquartered developer of Nanographic Printing technology unveiled at drupa 2012. Located in Rehovot, the company produces S10 and S16 presses using Landa NanoInk pigments that form thin polymeric films on substrates without wetting. Targeted at commercial, packaging, and publishing sectors, the systems handle short-to-medium runs at offset speeds on diverse papers. | First Israel Mezzanine Investors | $80M | 1.7x | |
Nov-25 | GuideTech | | GuideTech is an engineering firm specializing in system design for aerospace and defense applications. Based in the United Kingdom, it delivers solutions in avionics, radar systems, and electronic warfare technologies. The company supports projects from concept through prototyping for government and commercial clients. | Palladyne AI | $25M | - | |
Sep-25 | Fidus Systems | | Fidus Systems is an Ottawa-headquartered electronics design house specializing in PCB layout, FPGA development, signal integrity analysis, and embedded software for high-speed products. It supports clients in telecom, medical devices, and aerospace with full-cycle development from concept to production across Canada and the United States. | Catchment Capital | $21M | - | |
Sep-25 | Tiltan Software Engineering | | Tiltan Software Engineering is a Haifa-based provider of 3D geospatial visualization and simulation software for defense, aviation, and urban planning. Products like GeoX Lab generate terrain models from satellite imagery and LiDAR data for real-time flight simulators and mission rehearsal systems. The company supplies C4I applications to Israeli Defense Forces and NATO partners, supporting VR training environments. Established in 1994, Tiltan exports solutions to over 20 countries with hardware-agnostic rendering engines. | - | $14M | - | |
Oct-25 | Carimus | | Carimus is a development firm specializing in web applications and creative digital projects. It collaborates with select clients on custom software solutions. | Spyrosoft | $4.5M | - | |
May-26 | SKA |  | SKA is a software development company. SKA provides IT training, 3D printing, project management, and mechanical and electrical design services. | GoEngineer | - | - | |
May-26 | Native Instruments |  | Native Instruments is a Berlin-headquartered developer of music production software and hardware instruments. The company produces flagship products including Maschine beatmaking controllers, Komplete sample libraries with thousands of sounds, Kontakt sampler, Massive X synthesizer, and Traktor Pro DJ software. Founded in 1996, Native Instruments serves electronic musicians, composers, and live performers worldwide through its online store and partnerships with retailers like Sweetwater and Thomann. Its tools power tracks for artists such as deadmau5, Skrillex, and Hans Zimmer. The firm maintains offices in Tokyo, Los Angeles, and London, supporting a community of over 10 million users via platforms like SoundCloud integration and Maschine Academy tutorials. | inMusic Brands | - | - | |
May-26 | Cadline |  | Cadline is a development firm that provides software services, distribution networks, and CAD/CAM products. | Mastercam | - | - | |
Apr-26 | CreateFuture |  | - | Version 1 | - | - | |
Apr-26 | SEESAW |  | SEESAW is a Japanese design agency that develops products and services. | Relic | - | - | |
Mar-26 | P | PolicyOne | | PolicyOne provides electronic design automation services to the insurance industry. | Aspire General Insurance Services | - | - |
Mar-26 | Candyspace | | Candyspace is a Bath-based digital agency specializing in user experience design for e-commerce brands. It develops front-end websites, iOS apps, Android applications, Roku channels, and TV OS interfaces alongside analytics integrations for clients like Boden and Cancer Research UK. | Quantiphi | - | - |
Most active buyers of design & engineering software companies
Sandvik, Mastercam and Hexagon are the most active acquirers of design & engineering software companies in the last three years.
See all design & engineering software acquirers| Logo | HQ | Description | Key acquisitions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sandvik | | Sandvik is a manufacturer of specialized tools and mining equipment used predominantly by global mining, engineering, and automotive customers. The group is composed of three segments: mining and rock solutions, rock processing, and machining. Sandvik was founded in 1862 and listed on the Nordic Exchange in Stockholm in 1901. | MLC CAD Systems (CAM unit)Verisurf SoftwareBarefoot Cnc+2 | 8 | |
Mastercam | | - | CadlineIn-House SolutionsMLC CAD Systems+1 | 4 | |
Hexagon | | Hexagon is the global leader in digital reality solutions, combining hardware such as sensors and measuring devices, software, and services. Customers are mainly in heavy industry such as oil and gas, mining, construction, manufacturing, chemicals, and agriculture. Major products include measuring technology, mapping tools, and software. Around 40% of revenue is generated in the Americas, 35% in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and the rest in Asia. | Cad Service3D Systems (geomagic software packages unit)Voyansi+2 | 4 | |
Symetri | | Symetri is a Northern Europe-based reseller of 3D modeling, simulation, PLM, and BIM solutions, serving over 100,000 users with more than 400 employees. Owned by Addnode Group, the company guides clients in leveraging Lean principles for cost reduction, material efficiency, shorter lead times, and enhanced creativity in product development and property management. | SolidcadAutodeskBluebeam Software | 3 | |
GoEngineer | | GoEngineer is an engineering software and technology provider delivering SOLIDWORKS solutions, 3D printing, and technical expertise. Helps organizations unlock design innovation and accelerate product development through integrated software, hardware, and professional services. | SKACADchatCAD MicroSolutions | 3 | |
Rocscience | | Rocscience is a Toronto-headquartered developer of geotechnical engineering software for mining, civil, and tunneling projects worldwide. The suite includes RS3 for 3D rock and soil analysis, Slide3 for probabilistic slope stability, and RocFall3 for boulder trajectory modeling. Serving over 10,000 engineers at firms like Rio Tinto and BHP, Rocscience provides tools for excavation design, support optimization, and groundwater flow simulation compliant with Eurocode and ASCE standards. | Rockfield2 S.I. SoftwareDiana FEA+1 | 3 | |
Capgemini |  | Capgemini is a French IT services company with a global presence. The firm has over 450 offices globally, with more than half of its employees based in India. Capgemini provides services related to IT consulting, software application and technology services, infrastructure management, engineering research and development, and business process outsourcing. | PiterionDesign + IndustryHDL Design House+1 | 3 | |
Cadence Design Systems | | Cadence Design Systems is a provider of electronic design automation software, intellectual property, and system design and analysis products. EDA software automates and aids in the chip design process, enhancing design accuracy, productivity, and complexity in a full-flow end-to-end solution. Cadence offers a portfolio of design IP, as well as system design and analysis products, which enables system-level analysis and verification solutions. | Hexagon (design & engineering unit)BETA CAE SystemsIntrinsix Corp.+1 | 3 | |
Figma | | Figma Inc is engaged in transforming ideas into digital products and experiences. The group focuses on the entire software creation lifecycle, enabling it to quickly launch new products on Figma's browser-based platform and reinforcing its belief that design extends well beyond a single step or role. The company adopts an expansive view, as design is more than how something looks, feels, or works. It derives its revenue from sales of subscriptions for access to its platform. | WeavyModyfiDiagram+1 | 3 | |
Siemens | | Siemens is a multi-industry company focused on the areas of automation, electrification, mobility, and healthcare. Its top three geographic regions—the United States, Germany, and China—contribute over half of group revenue. Siemens has a 71% investment in separately listed Siemens Healthineers. Recent portfolio activity included the listing of Siemens Energy, spinning out its power and gas and Siemens Gamesa business divisions in 2020. | ASTER TechnologiesAltairInsight EDA+1 | 3 |
Founders and investors we've worked with
We've supported winning builders across design & engineering software and beyond.
MAILINGWORK
We acted as exclusive sell-side advisor to MAILINGWORK, a Chemnitz-based email marketing software platform, on its sale to French digital marketing leader Positive Group.
See more
TestSolutions
We acted as exclusive financial advisor to Swiss PE firm Patrimonium on its majority stake acquisition of TestSolutions, a Frankfurt-based software testing and IT services provider.
See more
Resillion
We provided buy-side advice to a dominant TIC industry player on the carve-out and acquisition of Resillion (fka Eurofins Digital Testing), a Hasselt-based digital testing, cybersecurity and forensics provider.
See more
Digital Asset Management Software Provider
We provided buy-side advice to Byron Capital Partners on its acquisition of a leading European digital asset management (DAM) software platform.
See more
Boryszew
We provided buy-side advice to Boryszew, a Warsaw-listed diversified industrial group across automotive, metals and chemicals, on industrial software market mapping and target screening for its buy-and-build strategy.
See moreRecent M&A advisory track record
See our M&A advisory experience across design & engineering software and beyond.
Explore our M&A advisory offering for similar verticals
We're a specialized M&A advisor to software companies.
Our M&A experience spans across all software verticals.
Explore other sectors
We know tech inside & out.
We provide M&A advisory services to companies operating across the entire tech.
More services
M&A is the ultimate goal, but we play a long game. We're your fractional CFO to help you build financial discipline, and advise you on raising growth capital.
Fractional CFO for design & engineering software companies
We integrate into your workflows to help with financial modelling, build out FP&A tech stack, and ultimately provide guidance towards an M&A or raising venture capital.
Learn moreVC fundraising for design & engineering software companies
We help you prepare materials, reach out to investors in our extensive network, negotiate fair term sheets and structure the VC round.
Learn moreTalk to us
Schedule a call to get a health check on your business and see how we could help.
Fractional CFO
- Fractional CFO for Software
- Fractional CFO for AI & ML
- Fractional CFO for Fintech
- Fractional CFO for Consumer internet
- Fractional CFO for Digital media
- Fractional CFO for E-commerce & marketplaces
- Fractional CFO for Consumer products
- Fractional CFO for Mobility
- Fractional CFO for Digital health
- Fractional CFO for Industrial technology
- Fractional CFO for Digital infrastructure
- Fractional CFO for IT services
Stages
Countries
- UK Fractional CFO
- Ireland Fractional CFO
- France Fractional CFO
- Germany Fractional CFO
- Spain Fractional CFO
- Portugal Fractional CFO
- Italy Fractional CFO
- Netherlands Fractional CFO
- Belgium Fractional CFO
- Switzerland Fractional CFO
- Austria Fractional CFO
- Denmark Fractional CFO
- Sweden Fractional CFO
- Norway Fractional CFO
- Finland Fractional CFO
- Poland Fractional CFO
- Estonia Fractional CFO
- US Fractional CFO
- Canada Fractional CFO
- Mexico Fractional CFO
- Brazil Fractional CFO
- UAE Fractional CFO
- Australia Fractional CFO
Cities
- London Fractional CFO
- Dublin Fractional CFO
- Paris Fractional CFO
- Berlin Fractional CFO
- Madrid Fractional CFO
- Lisbon Fractional CFO
- Milan Fractional CFO
- Amsterdam Fractional CFO
- Brussels Fractional CFO
- Zurich Fractional CFO
- Vienna Fractional CFO
- Copenhagen Fractional CFO
- Stockholm Fractional CFO
- Oslo Fractional CFO
- Helsinki Fractional CFO
- Warsaw Fractional CFO
- Tallinn Fractional CFO
- New York Fractional CFO
- Toronto Fractional CFO
- Mexico City Fractional CFO
- São Paulo Fractional CFO
- Dubai Fractional CFO
- Sydney Fractional CFO