What Borealis Software does

Borealis Software Ltd is a Scotland-based (Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire; registered in Edinburgh, company number SC334202) software development consultancy founded in 2007 by Kevin Shea. The firm delivers bespoke desktop, server, and web-based software development alongside technical consultancy and support services, with disclosed engagement depth spanning CAD, embedded applications and device control, financial services, and web service development. Named historical clients include Veripos (satellite positioning control software), Kromek (airport baggage-scanner control and image-processing software), Intelliscan (BT-network GIS), and Art Department (web application development), indicating a project-driven mix of enterprise device-control work and smaller web engagements.

The firm builds on a conventional multi-language technology stack (C++, .NET, Python with Django, PHP, Java, JavaScript, SQL Server, MySQL) and operates a proprietary product, the Tempo Constraint Engine, a C++ core constraint-solving component with .NET and Python bindings positioned for scalable scheduling, timetabling, and logistics workloads with a minimal application footprint. Tempo is explicitly framed as a foundation for further Borealis products and is offered via licensing for client integration or via Borealis-delivered integration services, in addition to which the firm has begun offering Android mobile-application development as an emerging service line.

Commercially, Borealis generates revenue from three streams: bespoke software development and technical consultancy on a professional-services basis, Tempo product licensing on a one-time-license basis, and infrastructure/automation advisory engagements. Pricing is quote-based with no publicly disclosed rates, the go-to-market is sales-led direct outreach via website contact, phone, and email, and the firm maintains a client area with project tracking to support ongoing engagements. Operationally, Borealis ran as a bootstrapped, founder-led limited company with 1-10 employees and no external funding; in October 2025 it was acquired by Irth Solutions, an infrastructure-management platform provider serving energy, utility, and telecommunications customers.

Name

Borealis Software

Legal name

Borealis Software Ltd

Website

https://borealis-software.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Borealis Software Ltd is a Scotland-based software development consultancy delivering bespoke desktop, server, and web applications alongside its proprietary Tempo Constraint Engine, serving enterprise clients in embedded device control, geospatial, infrastructure, and web sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Software Development Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Other Computer Related Services (541519), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Systems Engineering & Technical Program Management (BPAHAIAI)

Keywords

• Custom software development
• Constraint solving software
• Infrastructure software tools
• Embedded application development
• Consultancy and support

Headquarters

HQ city

Laurencekirk

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bespoke Software Development: Custom software development services covering desktop, server, and web-based applications for clients ranging from small consultancies to international corporations.
2. Tempo Product Licensing: Licensing of the Tempo constraint engine for integration into client software. Customers can integrate Tempo themselves or hire Borealis for integration services.
3. Technical Consultancy: Consultancy and support services specializing in infrastructure tools, mathematical solutions, computational geometry, simulation, and numerical modelling.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Borealis Software provides bespoke software development services covering desktop, server, and web-based applications for businesses ranging from small consultancies to international corporations. The company also licenses its proprietary Tempo Constraint Engine for integration into client software and offers technical consultancy specializing in infrastructure tools, mathematical solutions, computational geometry, simulation, and numerical modelling.

Product overview

Borealis Software is a software development consultancy providing bespoke software development services along with proprietary products. The flagship product is the Tempo Constraint Engine—a C++ core constraint-solving component with .NET and Python bindings designed for scheduling and timetabling applications. The company also offers bespoke development services and is entering the mobile application market with Android development services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tempo: Tempo Constraint Engine - an advanced software component providing a novel approach to solving constraints on collections of variables, targeting scheduling and timetabling applications.

Products and services

• Tempo Constraint Engine Advanced software component providing scalable constraint solving for scheduling, timetabling, and logistics applications. The core engine is written in C++ with supported bindings for .NET languages and Python, and can be licensed for integration into client software or integrated by Borealis on the client's behalf.
• Android Development Mobile application development services for the Android platform, representing Borealis Software's entry into the mobile application market with services for clients seeking Android apps.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Thoughtworks: Global technology consultancy specialising in bespoke software delivery and platform engineering. Comparable to Borealis on the custom-development/services side, but at much larger scale and with structured delivery practices.
• Endava: Public IT services firm delivering bespoke software, digital transformation, and platform engineering across financial services, telecom, and other verticals. Overlaps with Borealis on bespoke software development services for enterprise clients.
• Irth Solutions: Parent company since October 2025 and operator of an infrastructure management platform for energy, utility, and telecom asset owners. Most directly comparable as Borealis' new strategic owner, embedding Tempo and bespoke delivery into a much larger platform footprint.
• Gurobi Optimization: Leading commercial mathematical optimisation solver used for scheduling, planning, and constraint solving at enterprise scale. Comparable to Tempo on the underlying constraint/optimisation capability, but operating at vastly greater scale and R&D investment.
• Google OR-Tools: Google's open-source toolkit for combinatorial optimisation, including CP-SAT solver. Competes directly with Tempo in the constraint-solving category, with the backing of a hyperscaler and an active contributor community.

Direct peers

• Black Pepper Software: UK-based bespoke software development consultancy delivering custom applications across multiple platforms. Directly comparable on geography, scale, and custom-development services offering.
• Itransition: Custom software development consultancy offering bespoke web, mobile, and enterprise application development. Most directly comparable mid-sized peer to Borealis' services business model and GTM motion.
• Timefold (formerly OptaPlanner): Open-source and commercial constraint/optimisation solver for scheduling, routing, and timetabling. Closely comparable to Tempo's product category and target use cases, with significantly larger developer community and enterprise distribution.
• ANT (ANT plc): UK software/embedded systems specialist. Directly comparable through Borealis founder Kevin Shea's prior employment and the overlap on embedded/device-control and bespoke software work for specialist industries.
• D-Cubed (Siemens PLM): Developer of the D-Cubed geometric constraint solvers, now part of Siemens PLM. Direct technical peer to Tempo on constraint-solving methodology; Borealis' founder Kevin Shea previously worked at D-Cubed, and both target CAD/engineering/scheduling use cases.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/borealis-software-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Borealis Software