Livingbridge invests in eCommerce platform provider Visualsoft

Livingbridge, one of the UK’s leading mid-market private equity investors, today announces its investment in Visualsoft, a market-leading eCommerce platform provider.

Founded in 1998 by CEO Dean Benson and headquartered in Teesside with offices in Newcastle, Manchester and Dubai, Visualsoft provides SMEs with an industry-leading end-to-end eCommerce solution, including initial site development and ongoing support, alongside wrap around digital marketing services. The offering is delivered under a unique shared success model, which empowers retailers by removing upfront build costs and ensuring complete alignment between Visualsoft and its clients as they grow. With over 280 staff led by a strong management team, and a secure platform developed and supported by a dedicated team of over 100 technical specialists, Visualsoft services over 1,000 customers and generates £18.5m in revenue in FY 2020. The Visualsoft platform is also on course to deliver a billion pounds of client revenue by the end of this year.

Its commitment to excellence has earned Visualsoft numerous awards and accolades, reflecting its success within the industry. In 2019, the agency was crowned BusinessCloud’s most innovative UK-based eCommerce and retail company, was featured in Econsultancy’s Top 100 Digital Agencies, and won a UK eCommerce Award, to name a few.

Visualsoft’s growth has been further accelerated by the impact of COVID-19, as retailers have sought to optimise their eCommerce platform and marketing capabilities to capture the accelerated shift to online spending.

Mark Advani at Livingbridge, said: “Visualsoft provides a functionally rich, high service e-commerce platform solution to its customers.  It is ideally positioned to capitalise on the accelerated shift to online retail and the rise in independent retailers and progressive brands. We are excited by the prospect of working closely with Dean Benson and the management team to help Visualsoft serve more brands and retailers – both directly and through its expanding network of channel partners.”

Dean Benson, CEO at Visualsoft commented: “Over the past two decades Visualsoft’s world class technology and passion for innovation has consistently disrupted the eCommerce landscape. I am delighted to have partnered with Livingbridge and we will now work in collaboration to further accelerate growth and strengthen our position as an industry leader.”

The investment, made through Livingbridge’s Enterprise 3 fund, builds on the firm’s experience with technology businesses, having already invested in TitanHQ earlier this year.

The principal advisors on this investment for Livingbridge included PwC and Eversheds. The vendors were advised by KPMG and Endeavour Partnership and Deloitte.