FreeBorders

About FreeBorders

Established in 1999, Freeborders was a global IT services firm that carved a niche by providing offshore application development, business consulting, and technology outsourcing. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company strategically operated with major development centers in China, including Shenzhen and Guangzhou, to offer a cost-effective service delivery model. This structure was based on the premise of building software in China for delivery to major industries in the US, a model that proved particularly attractive to the retail sector, whose constituents were already deeply familiar with Chinese manufacturing and supply chains.

The company catered to a diverse clientele across sectors such as financial services, high-tech manufacturing, and retail/consumer goods. Its service portfolio was comprehensive, encompassing application development and maintenance, quality assurance, and specialized technical expertise in enterprise solutions like SAP and Oracle. A notable part of its business was a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software division, which provided solutions to help fashion companies manage the process from design to production. This PLM division was eventually acquired by Lawson Software in March 2008 to bolster Lawson's own offerings for the fashion industry.

Throughout its history, Freeborders secured significant investment, raising a total of $62M from investors including FTV Capital, Actua, and Coral Group, which fueled its expansion. The company's journey as an independent entity concluded in late 2011 or early 2012 when it was acquired by iSoftStone, a large China-based IT services provider. Some assets were later acquired by Symbio in 2013. The acquisition integrated Freeborders' international client base and global delivery capabilities, marking the end of its operations under its own name.