Growing tech consultancies Mantel and Atturra make acquisitions
Two homegrown tech consultancies continue to make moves in the market, with Mantel Group acquiring developer Itty Bitty Apps and Atturra closing its deal for ERP consultancy Kettering.
Growing technology consultancy Mantel Group has acquired Melbourne-based mobile app developer Itty Bitty Apps, which joins seven other brands now under the Mantel umbrella. The purchase follows the acquisition of Kettering Professional Services by another burgeoning Australian IT consulting group, Atturra, in a deal which was completed on the 1st of March.
Founded in 2009, Itty Bitty Apps describes itself as dedicated to native mobile apps and one of the most experienced mobile consulting and product development companies in Australia, with SEEK, Lonely Planet and ANZ among its client roster. With a focus on UX, software engineering and design, the company offers services in app development, project delivery, maintenance and training.
“With Mantel Group behind us and complementary brands to work alongside, I’m looking forward to growing the team and having an even bigger impact in the Australian market,” said Itty Bitty Apps founder and CEO Sean Woodhouse. “Just as important, we are also excited to be joining an organisation that reflects the values we have established at Itty Bitty Apps over the past 13 years.”
The acquisition continues a recent roll for Mantel, which last year added Pretzel Lab, Azenix and Cuusoo to its house of specialist brands, while also expanding to the west with an office launch in Perth and more recently officially announcing the launch of a data & analytics practice under its AI brand Eliiza – guided by former Oliver Wyman consumer and industrial leader Emma Bromet.
“Mobile and bespoke device solutions that require great user experience are a key part of our client, and future client requirements. With Itty Bitty Apps, we further advance our position in having a specialised solution, unlocking great digital experiences for our clients and their customers,” said Mantel Group chief executive Con Mouzouris, who also praised Itty Bitty’s “excellent talent”.
Atturra
Meanwhile, another homegrown technology consultancy also continues to make moves, with Attura closing its acquisition of Brisbane-based manufacturing ERP solutions and implementation specialist Kettering Professional Services in a deal first announced in January (for an upfront consideration of approximately $3 million, and up to $2.25 million in deferred consideration).
“I am very pleased to welcome the Kettering team to Atturra,” said Attura CEO Stephen Kowal. “Kettering has a strong reputation in the manufacturing industry and is the only operating QAD partner in our focus market Australia. Kettering is not only culturally a match with Atturra but aligns perfectly with our strategy of being a leader in selected technologies and industries.”
The closure comes on the back of Atturra’s recent half year revenue report of $62 million, a 44 percent increase over the same period in 2020-21, while a late December IPO on the ASX raised around $25 million. The growing consultancy last year rebranded from FTS Group when integrating its numerous business, including 2021 acquisitions Noetic, Esam Consulting, and Mentum Systems.
