Flashtalking
Flashtalking, a global provider of digital advertising software, was launched by technical director Dan Freeman and managing director Paul Cunningham, from their respective Leeds and London homes in 2001. In 2005 Dan opened the first official office in the Round Foundry Media Centre.
The company designs software which integrates and monitors online advertising campaigns for clients including Walmart, AT&T, O2, Toyota, BMW, Marks & Spencer, Virgin Media and Virgin Atlantic. With offices in London, Cologne, New York, Chicago and most recently, San Francisco, all software development takes place in Leeds and each office then provides local support to its international client-base.
Dan Freeman initially worked from a ‘pod’ in the Media Centre, a self contained desk unit available to rent on a monthly basis for small start-up businesses. Over the next six years, the company experienced unprecedented growth and moved 6 times into increasingly larger spaces within the building, eventually knocking together four offices before finally out-growing the development in 2011 and moving to take over a full floor full in the recently refurbished Marshall’s Mill building, situated just a stone’s throw from the Media Centre.
Dan Freeman commented: “The Media Centre was the ideal location to start up our business as being able to work from the pod was perfect for us as we needed somewhere flexible which would provide us with a business address and an official ‘hub’ for our company, but without the legal tie-ins and costs of an office space.
“The Media Centre also gave us the high-speed internet capabilities and 24/7 access required by a media company like ours. As our business expanded and our client-base grew across the world, the management team and landlord were fantastic at accommodating our growth, whether it meant assisting a smooth transition into a new office or literally knocking down walls to create the right space for us.
“I think being surrounded by other ‘creatives’ here really helped us in those formative years, and we were both inspired and motivated by the creative energy of the area. That is why, when we outgrew the Media Centre, we remained in the area; it’s a real ‘digital hub’ which actually lives up to its name.”
Flashtalking is now based in neighbouring Marshalls Mill and employs over 300 people globally to work on a diverse range of digital campaigns which have helped to establish the business as a respected and innovative team at the vanguard of the industry.