Catalyte expands to Denver, acquires Statêra Digital

Baltimore-based Catalyte is expanding into Denver with the acquisition of the digital transformation practice of Statêra Digital.

Along with the deal, Catalyte plans to open a development center in Denver, said CEO Jacob Hsu. The company will implement its platform that identifies software developers from non-tech backgrounds and provides training programs.

Catalyte’s platform employs predictive analytics to identify individuals who aren’t working in technology, but have the attributes to become successful developers. Candidates don’t have to submit traditional items like resumes, and the company aims to remove bias from the hiring process, extending tech opportunities to underrepresented groups.

After providing training, Catalyte employs the developers and engineers who work on dev teams with the firm’s clients like Under Armour, AT&T and Microsoft. The company aims to build teams that are working in the communities where clients are located.

With the move into Denver, Catalyte enters an area where there’s a high demand for tech talent. As board chair of the Colorado Technology Association, Statêra CEO Carl Fitch often hears about from member companies about the pressure to quickly hire skilled tech workers. “It’s not just my experience. It’s the market experience out here,”said Fitch, who will become a managing director at Catalyte with the acquisition.

In expanding the sources of talent, Catalyte aims to help grow the size of that workforce. “The only way we’re going to find more developers is if we create them,” Hsu said.

The two firms are about the same age, with Statêra being founded in 2001. Hsu said he’s known Statêra for quite a few years, and the company’s team will help add expertise in the area of digital transformation for Catalyte. With the acquisition, more than 50 employees of Statêra’s digital transformation practice will join Catalyte. This division works with big brands and mid-market companies to plan, develop and manage how they will take advantage of new technology. A separate division that offers Salesforce consulting will remain as Statêra. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

For its part, Catalyte is planning to open 20 development centers by 2020. It’s grown through acquisition before, with last year’s deal to bring in Seattle-based software services company Surge. A Catalyte center in Chicago also opened in 2018, adding to locations in Baltimore and Portland, Oregon.