Ascent acquires custom software and UX design firm Parkside Interactive with support from GCS

GCS (formerly, GRAPH Strategy) is pleased to have provided Commercial Due Diligence to Ascent on its acquisition of Parkside Interactive, a leading European custom software and experience design business.

Founded in 2007, Parkside Interactive provides software development, UX, and design-led advisory services to a broad client base that includes LinkedIn, Shutterstock, Roche, Novartis, Bühler, and Raiffeisen Bank. The company operates across Austria, Switzerland, and Portugal, with a team of over 100 engineers, designers, and strategists.

The acquisition doubles Ascent’s footprint in the DACH region following its 2022 acquisition of Tekaris in Munich, significantly strengthening its engineering and design capabilities. The combined business enhances Ascent’s ability to deliver next-generation digital solutions that integrate Gen AI, analytics, and immersive user experiences, positioning it as a frontrunner in AI-focused digital services in Europe.

This engagement continues GCS’s close partnership with Ascent over several years. We have supported the business through multiple acquisitions, as well as on a range of strategic projects shaping its growth trajectory and market positioning.

GCS’s work on the Parkside acquisition focused on assessing market positioning, client relationships, and growth potential, as well as the strategic fit with Ascent’s existing platform and expansion plans.

The GCS team on the transaction was led by James Tetherton and James Woolsey, working alongside Stewart Smythe (CEO, Ascent) and the wider Ascent and Horizon Capital teams.