CentralSquare

The story of CentralSquare isn't about a garage startup, but a strategic roll-up. It began in 2018 when private equity firms Vista Equity Partners and Bain Capital saw a fragmented market. They decided to merge four separate companies: Superion, TriTech Software Systems, Zuercher Technologies, and the public sector business of Aptean. This move created a major new player in the specialized world of software for public sector agencies. The individual companies each had their own history. TriTech was founded in 1992, while Zuercher Technologies was started in 2003 by Michael Zuercher. These businesses were already established in providing tools like computer-aided dispatch and records management for police and fire departments. The merger, orchestrated by the private equity owners, was the defining event. It instantly created a company with a massive footprint, serving over 7,500 public agencies across North America. The goal was to combine their strengths to innovate and offer a more unified platform for everything from 911 dispatch to city administration, essentially building a comprehensive operating system for local government and public safety.