After two intensive weeks in Marseille, closing the Phidias acquisition and initiating the merger with Portcities France, our CEO, Gaspard Dessy, reflected on the principle that has quietly shaped Portcities from the very beginning: going out of your comfort zone.
1. Leaving The Comfort Zone
Gaspard often describes himself as a former “reserved geek,” uncomfortable with communication and foreign languages in his early years. Instead of avoiding those weaknesses, he chose to confront them, first through business school, then through a bold decision: starting his career with a one-way ticket to Indonesia.
What began in a furniture factory in Tegal, Central Java, quickly became an operational immersion. Tasked with improving logistics, he soon realized spreadsheets would not be enough.
“I began by attempting to overhaul their Excel files but quickly realized this approach wouldn't work. That's why we needed an ERP system.”
They chose Odoo, then still in its early versions, not because it was perfect, but because it was accessible. The software was not fully equipped to handle a factory of that scale, so the team had to adapt, experiment, and learn by doing.
That experience laid the foundation of Portcities: pragmatic problem-solving, adaptability, and a willingness to build in unfamiliar environments.
In 2015, Port Cities Indonesia was founded in Semarang, starting from a rented house, working from a garage, with what Gaspard describes as “Silicon Valley ambition with bootstrap economics.”
Growth came quickly. A breakthrough project in Indonesia accelerated the company’s expansion across Southeast Asia and beyond. Young talents were entrusted with opening offices in new countries, and Portcities eventually expanded into more than ten markets.
But rapid expansion also brought hard lessons.
“We moved too quickly,” Gaspard admits. Managing a complex international network required more structure, scale, and financial discipline than anticipated.
Several offices were consolidated, and the group implemented a clearer strategy: centralized back-office operations, technical centres of excellence, and stronger internal systems to ensure stability and profitability.
The ambition remained global, but growth needed to be sustainable.
That realization would later influence the group’s approach in Europe.
2. Portcities France & the French Market Context
Portcities established a physical presence in France as part of its European expansion strategy. After successful growth in Asia-Pacific and the Americas, Europe, particularly France, became the next focus due to its strategic market potential.
The French ERP market was mature and demanding. Many SMEs were either starting their ERP journey or seeking to upgrade outdated systems. While traditional ERP providers dominated the landscape, their offerings were likely considered complex and costly. In contrast, Odoo’s flexibility and accessibility made it appealing to growing businesses in France.
Recognizing this opportunity, Portcities France, led by Nicolas Grill, aimed to support SMEs in achieving structured growth and scalable digital solutions, drawing on the group's expertise from around the world. The French office could deliver both technical skills and cross-border experience.
However, as the market changed, it became clear that sustainable growth in France needs more than just an office. It is relationship-driven, reputation-based, and highly localized. Long-term partnerships, proximity to clients, and deep integration within regional business ecosystems are essential.
To establish long-term leadership in France, Portcities needed stronger local connections and deeper market integration. Though Portcities France had a solid foundation, reinforcing its local presence became a key strategic priority for success in this competitive environment.
This realisation paved the way for the next phase of growth.
3. The Merger with Phidias
France quickly emerged as one of Portcities’ most strategic markets in Europe. By then, the group had built strong international experience and delivery scale, but something was still missing.
"We had the scale and the international exposure, but in France, long-term growth requires deep local roots and strong relationships.”
Gaspard Dessy• CEO of Portcities
Our team in Marseille started networking, and for over one year, we have been working closely with Phidias, who was our competitor, then our neighbor, and then a partner.
A brief about Phidias
Founded more than 20 years ago by two engineers, Jean-Marie Micallef and Daniel Deyris, Phidias has built a strong reputation in the French Odoo ecosystem as a highly specialized and technically rigorous partner.
Over the years, the company developed deep expertise in complex Odoo implementations, serving a loyal client base that values long-term collaboration, reliability, and hands-on technical competence. Their strength lies not only in technical execution, but in maintaining close relationships with clients across the region.
With a stable team and a culture rooted in engineering excellence, Phidias established itself as a trusted local reference, particularly among SMEs seeking structured growth and durable digital solutions.
As Jean-Marie began preparing for retirement, discussions naturally evolved.
“We proposed a structured acquisition, but from the start, there was one non-negotiable condition,” stated Gaspard.
That condition was clear and firm: the entire Phidias team had to be preserved.
“That requirement immediately told me who we were dealing with. It showed integrity, responsibility, and a long-term vision that matched our own values.”
The discussions took time. Letting go of a company built over two decades is never an easy decision. But the alignment was evident: complementary strengths, shared values, and a common ambition to build something sustainable in the French market.
On January 23, 2026, Phidias was officially merged by Portcities France.
4. A New Chapter: Portcities Phidias
The creation of Portcities Phidias marked the beginning of a new phase.This was not simply a buyout, but the fusion of two distinct yet complementary DNAs:
The leadership of "Portcities Phidias" has been given to a duo, which we call "The Nico2"
- Nicolas Grill: Founder of Portcities France
- Nicolas Micallef: Former Commercial Director of Phidias.
In the short term, Portcities Phidias is focused on two clear objectives:
- Ensuring a smooth transition so that both employees and clients feel stability and trust
- Integrating systems, processes, and best practices to operate as a single, unified company
By balancing international scale with strong local execution, Portcities Phidias aims to establish itself as a long-term reference Odoo partner in France.
From the garage in Indonesia to the offices in Marseille, the lesson remains the same:
“Go out of your comfort zone, that's where the magic happens.”
This is our story in building a strong team and our commitment to delivering the best solution for businesses.
To learn more, you can visit our pages: Portcities France & Phidias