SALES and marketing data experts 4icg have seen an unprecedented increase in technology procurement during the third quarter of 2019, driven in part by the group’s service to promote growth among venture capital-backed companies.
From July through September, 4icg achieved a run rate of £9.2m of sales pipeline identified every day. That represented a 50% increase on the same period last year.
Headquartered in Glasgow and operating across more than 30 countries, 4icg works with many of the world’s biggest technology brands through its three subsidiary companies: Fierce Digital, Pursuit Marketing and Software Advisory Service. Together, they have created more than £1.6bn of sales pipeline for clients during the past 12 months.
Co-founder and managing director Robert Copeland said the group’s Private Equity and Venture Capital Channel – which focuses on growth enablement for VC-backed businesses – has seen “incredible traction” during the past six months.
“We look forward to building that momentum over the next 12 months, and increasing the value of our clients’ investments,” he said.
“The voracious appetite of our technology clients continues to drive growth for our business both at home and in European and emerging markets. With more than 1,000 clients, including four of the top five largest technology companies in the world, 4icg is now a truly global player.”
Chief executive Patrick Byrne, who set up the company with Robert, added: “With our three key brands strategically aligned, our vision to become the global leader in identifying and influencing technology buying decisions is now bearing fruit.
“2019 has been an exciting year, and with entry into new key buying markets during the next six to 12 months, our growth will only continue to accelerate.”
4icg began life as Pursuit Marketing, which generates targeted technology sales leads based on business market data. From this evolved Software Advisory Service, which began trading in 2015 as a market to help technology buyers find the right solutions for their business needs. Fierce Digital was set up in 2017 to deliver specialist email marketing, social media management, SEO and PPC services.
The group employs a combined total of 150 people across the three businesses working with major technology brands such as Google, Microsoft, Sage and Samsung. Its client base includes firms that are or have been backed by leading private equity houses such as Sequoia, New Enterprise Associates, Kleiner Perkins and Apax Partners.
