Accela

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Accela is a private American company that makes software to help governments run more smoothly. It was founded in 1999 from a merger of Sierra Computer Systems and Open Data Systems and is based in San Ramon, California. The company’s leaders include CEO Noam Reininger, who took the role in January 2024, and it employs a few hundred people.

Accela’s main product is the Accela Civic Platform, which digitizes government processes. Its Civic Applications support services like permitting, licensing, and code enforcement, and the company also provides permitting for solar energy projects and disaster response efforts.

The platform is used by state and local government agencies in the United States and in other countries. Notable customers include San Joaquin County (CA), Pima County (AZ), San Antonio (TX), San Diego (CA), Baltimore County (MD), New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the City and County of Denver (CO), El Paso (TX), and many other cities, counties, and agencies.

Accela has grown through acquisitions and partnerships. Between 2014 and 2015, it bought ten companies such as PublicStuff, GeoTMS, IQM2, Envista, Kinsail, Government Outreach, Decade Software, Civic Insight, Springbrook Software, and SoftRight. Berkshire Partners acquired Accela in 2017. In 2018, Accela partnered with Microsoft Azure to power its cloud services, and Gary Kovacs became CEO later that year. In 2023, Francisco Partners announced a new investment, with Berkshire remaining a major investor. In 2025, Nortal acquired Accela’s Middle East division.