Software Shop

What Software Shop does

Software Shop, legally SOFTWARE SHOP DE COLOMBIA SAS, is a privately held specialized software distributor founded in 1987 and headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia. The company licenses and implements hard-to-find technical and scientific software for academic, corporate, government, and energy-sector clients across Latin America, operating in at least nine countries (Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and others served via a US hub). Its offering is organized into four portfolios: Qualitative (MAXQDA, NVivo, Amberscript, QDA Miner), Quantitative (Stata, Risk Simulator, EViews), Scientific (Maple, GAMS, SigmaPlot), and a general Software portfolio (PL/SQL Developer, Enterprise Architect, PDFelement, plus secondary vendors such as OriginLab, IHS Markit, Mentor Graphics/Siemens, Articulate, and Kahoot!).

The business operates a sales-led model with dedicated commercial advisors segmented by sector (academic, corporate, government, energy, mining) and by geography, supported by phone, WhatsApp, and email channels. Beyond licensing, Software Shop generates revenue from professional services: technical support and implementation, plus a substantial training practice that includes webcasts, workshops, specialized courses, certifications (including the CQRM — Certified Quantitative Risk Management program), and an extensive video content library (120 videos across 10 pages). Pricing is quote-based rather than publicly disclosed, and the company appears to operate without external venture or private equity funding, relying on organic growth.

The company's primary customers are universities and research institutions (with multi-year relationships such as a 6+ year engagement with Universidad del Rosario), supplemented by enterprise clients in energy (INTERCOLOMBIA-ISA, Red de Energía del Perú), industrial automation (HPUmatic), and government entities. The value proposition rests on providing LATAM-region access to international specialized software with localized language support (Spanish and Portuguese), in-region technical expertise staffed by credentialed specialists (statisticians, sociologists, psychologists), and structured training that reduces adoption friction for global research and engineering tools.

Name

Software Shop

Legal name

SOFTWARE SHOP DE COLOMBIA SAS

Website

https://software-shop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Software Shop is a Colombian-headquartered specialized software distributor licensing technical and scientific tools (Stata, NVivo, MAXQDA, Maple, GAMS) plus training and support to academic, corporate, government, and energy clients across Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Software Distribution

NAICS

Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers (42343)

SIC

Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045), Retail-Computer & Computer Software Stores (5734)

akta.pro primary industry

Software License Resale & Optimization (Perpetual/Subscription) (BPAEAOAC)

Keywords

• Software distribution
• Scientific software
• Statistical software
• Software licensing
• Software training

Headquarters

HQ city

Salamina

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing and Distribution: The company distributes specialized software from major vendors including statistical, qualitative analysis, scientific, and general software tools. Revenue is generated through licensing fees, subscription renewals, and new license sales across four product portfolios: Qualitative (MAXQDA, NVivo, Amberscript), Quantitative (Stata, EViews, Risk Simulator), Scientific (Maple, GAMS, SigmaPlot), and Software categories.
2. Training and Education Services: Software Shop generates revenue through training services including webcasts, workshops, courses, certifications, and specialized training programs. These are offered in multiple languages (Spanish, Portuguese) and cover software usage across their product portfolio.
3. Technical Support Services: The company provides technical support, expert assistance, and consulting services for software implementation and use, which complements their product sales and training offerings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Software Shop is a specialized software distributor serving Latin America, licensing and implementing hard-to-find technical and scientific software from global vendors. The company curates four portfolios — Qualitative (e.g., MAXQDA, NVivo), Quantitative (e.g., Stata, EViews, Risk Simulator), Scientific (e.g., Maple, GAMS, SigmaPlot), and Software (e.g., PL/SQL Developer, Enterprise Architect) — and bundles licensing with expert technical support, training, and implementation services for academic, corporate, and government clients.

Product overview

Software Shop is a specialized software distributor serving Latin America, offering four distinct product portfolios: (1) Qualitative Portfolio for unstructured information management and analysis (including MAXQDA, NVivo, Amberscript, QDA Miner); (2) Quantitative Portfolio for decision-making and problem-solving in risk, statistics, finance, and econometrics (including Stata, Risk Simulator, EViews); (3) Scientific Portfolio for high-performance computing in sciences and engineering (including Maple, GAMS, SigmaPlot); and (4) Software Portfolio for hard-to-find specialized software (including PL/SQL Developer, Enterprise Architect, PDFelement). The company provides software licensing, implementation services, training, and technical support across academic, corporate, and government sectors throughout Latin America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MAXQDA Comprehensive software for qualitative and mixed methods research analysis, supporting multiple data formats, content analysis, and statistical procedures; for academic and research institutions.
• NVivo Qualitative data analysis software for organizing, analyzing, and gaining insights from unstructured or qualitative information; for academic, government, and corporate research teams.
• Amberscript Automated transcription service for converting audio and video files to text, enabling fast and reliable transcription for interviews, focus groups, and meetings; for research and academic users.
• QDA Miner Qualitative data analysis software for coding, annotating, and analyzing text, images, and audio content; for researchers and analysts.
• Stata Statistical software for data science, researchers, and analysts, offering a comprehensive suite for data management, statistical analysis, and visualization.
• Risk Simulator Risk analysis and simulation software for decision-making, forecasting, and risk quantification in finance and business; for finance and risk professionals.
• EViews Econometric forecasting and statistical analysis software for time series, cross-section, and panel data analysis; for economists and analysts.
• Maple High-performance computing environment for mathematical computation, modeling, and simulation in engineering and scientific applications.
• GAMS Algebraic modeling system for mathematical optimization and operations research, enabling complex mathematical programming and simulation; for operations research professionals.
• SigmaPlot Scientific graphing and data analysis software for creating publication-quality graphs and performing statistical analysis; for scientists and researchers.
• PL/SQL Developer Integrated development environment for Oracle database development and PL/SQL programming; for database developers.
• Enterprise Architect Comprehensive modeling, design, and management platform for enterprise architecture and software development; for enterprise architects and software engineers.
• PDFelement PDF editor and converter for creating, editing, and managing PDF documents; for office and academic document workflows.
• Software Training and Certification Services Webcasts, workshops, courses, diplomas, and certification programs (e.g., CQRM) covering the company's software portfolio, delivered in Spanish and Portuguese by certified technical experts.
• Technical Support and Implementation Services Expert technical assistance, consulting, and ongoing support for software implementation and use, complementing product sales and training offerings.

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• StataCorpcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSoftware Shop distributes Stata statistical software, a comprehensive statistical software package used for data analysis, management, and visualization in academic and research settings.
• MAXQDAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for MAXQDA qualitative data analysis software, including standard and Plus versions, supporting mixed methods research.
• MaplesoftcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSoftware Shop distributes Maple mathematical software for scientific and engineering calculations, analysis, and visualization.
• GAMScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for GAMS (General Algebraic Modeling System) for mathematical modeling and optimization in scientific and engineering applications.
• EViewscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of EViews statistical software for econometric analysis, forecasting, and time series analysis.
• Risk SimulatorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Risk Simulator software for risk analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, and financial risk modeling.
• NVivocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of NVivo qualitative analysis software for qualitative and mixed methods research projects.
• QSR InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParent company of NVivo, partnering with Software Shop for Latin American distribution of qualitative research software.
• AmberscriptcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of Amberscript automated transcription software for converting audio and video to text for research purposes.
• CitavicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Citavi reference management and knowledge organization software for academic research.
• SimaProcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of SimaPro life cycle assessment software for environmental impact analysis and sustainability studies.
• Le SphinxcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of Le Sphinx survey design, data collection, and analysis software for research and market research.
• OriginLabminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of OriginLab data analysis and graphing software for scientific visualization.
• IHS MarkitminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for IHS Markit software solutions for engineering and technical applications.
• Mentor Graphics (Siemens)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of Mentor Graphics engineering software solutions (now part of Siemens) for electronic design and mechanical engineering.
• ArticulateminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of Articulate 360 e-learning authoring tool for course creation and digital content development.
• Kahoot!minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Kahoot! gamified learning platform for interactive educational experiences.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Ingram Micro: World's largest IT distributor with extensive Latin American operations. Overlaps in software distribution and channel services but does not specialize in the niche scientific/research software segment that Software Shop owns.
• CDW Corporation: Large US-based B2B technology products and services reseller (hardware, software, services). Overlaps with Software Shop on software licensing distribution to enterprise and academic/government buyers, though at far greater scale and breadth.
• Insight Enterprises: Global IT solutions distributor with presence across the Americas. Comparable as an enterprise software licensing resaler with attached services, though Insight is a multi-billion-dollar public incumbent rather than a niche regional player.
• SHI International: One of North America's largest software licensing resellers, with deep enterprise and public-sector coverage. Comparable in the software licensing-resale motion and attach of services, but a much larger, broader incumbent without Software Shop's LatAm specialization.

Others

• Arrow Electronics (Enterprise Computing Solutions): Global technology value-added distributor with enterprise-software licensing capabilities. Comparable channel model (VAR/distribution of third-party software) but operates at vastly larger scale and across many product categories.

Direct peers

• Licencias OnLine: Mexican-headquartered software licensing distributor serving Latin America. Operates an almost identical model to Software Shop: authorized reseller of third-party enterprise and technical software with multi-country LatAm coverage and attached services.
• CompuSoluciones: Mexican IT solutions VAR/distributor with broad enterprise-software resale across Latin America. Comparable as a regional B2B software distribution player, though broader in software scope than Software Shop's niche scientific focus.

Regional players

• Softtek: Mexico-founded IT services and solutions company with broad LatAm and global delivery. Adjacent peer — overlaps in regional LatAm enterprise-software delivery and support services, but is services-led rather than distribution-led.
• Grupo GBM (GBM Distribution): Costa Rica-based IT distribution and services group serving Central America and broader LatAm. Comparable as a multi-country LatAm IT distributor, though it operates with a wider portfolio of enterprise software and services.
• Neoris: Latin American-headquartered IT consulting and digital services firm. Comparable as a LatAm-rooted enterprise-technology player, though it is a systems integrator rather than a software licensing distributor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Software_Shop
• Facebookfacebook.com/SOFTWAREshopInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/software-shop
• Instagraminstagram.com/software_shop_/#

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Software Shop