THE BENTLEY brothers’ story begins in the early 1980s, a time when personal computers were just starting to become mainstream. Driven by a fascination with computers and their potential, five brothers – Barry, Keith, Greg, Ray, and Scott–embarked on a bold mission: to revolutionize the world of engineering design and construction through software.
“We were pretty loosey-goosey back then,” Barry reminisces about their early days. But their vision was clear. They believed they could bring engineering design out of drafting rooms and mainframe computers, placing it directly onto the desktops of engineers.
“Things were moving extremely quickly, and we were solving problems that were right at the state-of-the-art of computer graphics,” Ray recalls. “We were doing things that no one had ever seen before.”
Each brother brought a unique skillset to the table. Barry, Keith, Ray, and Scott excelled in software and computer technology, while Greg provided the necessary business acumen to navigate the challenges faced by startups.
Greg points out the user-centric approach, stating, “I have always thought that we should set our compass by what brings the greatest value to professionals accomplishing something important.”
Over the decades, Bentley Systems, the company they founded, grew into a global giant with over 5,000 employees and a revenue of $1.2B in 2023. Their software is now used by over 41,000 organizations in 194 countries, shaping infrastructure projects across the globe.
The company’s contributions extend beyond traditional engineering software. They are now at the forefront of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twins.
“The digital twin opportunity is as exciting as anything could be,” Greg states.
Keith adds, “If the digital twin represents the real thing, engineers get better insights on how to make it work better, how past decisions affected its performance, and ultimately those things are great business opportunities for software companies.”
As Bentley Systems enters a new chapter with Nicholas Cumins as CEO, the Bentley brothers’ legacy remains strong. Cumins acknowledges their significant contributions: “Those 40 years tell a story of the contribution that the Bentley brothers have made to the advancement of infrastructure engineering software. They also speak to the impact that Bentley software has had on the quality of life of people throughout the world by virtue of many thousands of user projects.”
Greg emphasizes their ongoing commitment to the future: “We are investing in the future. You want people with you who will likewise be making decisions to benefit the future.”
The Bentley brothers’ vision underscores the vital link between software, infrastructure engineering, and our quality of life. As Greg puts it, “Our quality of life depends on the quality of our infrastructure, which in turn depends on infrastructure engineering and engineers. Their work depends on the software tools that they have, and that depends on us at Bentley Systems.”
