By Anna Olcese
Mobiquity, a multimillion-dollar mobile tech services firm that launched in 2011, believes in doing business the old-fashioned way: by delivering value to its customers and creating jobs in America, particularly in smaller towns.
While many firms in the tech industry have downplayed personal service by creating offshore development centers, outsourcing support services to foreign entities and opening satellite offices in large cities, Mobiquity has taken a different path. The path led them to Gainesville, home of the company’s newest development center.
The Massachusetts-based company plans to create 260 jobs in Gainesville during the next three years and already has seven new employees starting an intensive training program.
The company will draw the majority of its workforce from the University of Florida’s top-notch engineering and mobile programs, which will give the mobile app firm a continuous talent pool while simultaneously fueling the city’s economy.
“When I visited Gainesville, I was impressed by the amount of innovation and collaboration in the tech sector,” said Bill Seibel, CEO of Mobiquity.
Seibel believes that Gainesville’s innovation culture, coupled with the low cost of living, will enable Mobiquity to convince talented engineers to stay in the area, as well as encourage those with other skill sets to relocate.
Fellow tech firm, Mindtree, influenced Mobiquity’s decision to come here.
“Mindtree was very positive,” said Andy Norman, Mobiquity’s senior vice president of service delivery. “I spoke with them and liked what I heard.”
“Gainesville is a strong entrepreneurial city full of startups,” Seibel said. “I didn’t see that from afar.”
Another factor that solidified Seibel’s decision was how friendly people are in Gainesville. The comfortable environment, welcoming attitude of the residents, and wealth of outstanding potential employees were in tune with the company’s philosophy of being a people-oriented business that employs only the best team members.
“Always do the right thing for the client,” Seibel said. “Never let the client down, especially if you have a professional services firm.”
Seibel believes that philosophy has enabled the two-year-old company to flourish. Mobiquity reached profitability in early 2012, and projects as much as $37 million in revenue in 2013. By 2015, that number will reach $100 million.
“The key is geographic expansion, where we create offices that work with local leaders,” Seibel said.
To achieve this, Mobiquity also is looking to expand to the Midwest and Southwest, as well as Canada and Europe.
About Mobiquity’s Services
Mobiquity develops apps that change the way people do business.
“Mobile will comprise 34 percent of the economy in a few years,” Seibel said. “It will move from stand-alone to a core way that businesses drive innovation in their companies.”
Mobiquity provides consulting and strategic planning to make that happen.
The company services a wide range of industries, from food service to pharmaceuticals. In one instance, Mobiquity worked with a major restaurant chain, placing iPads in restaurants to enhance the user experience and drive customer loyalty, thereby increasing the number of transactions.
A pharmaceutical company worked with Mobiquity to incorporate technology into a pill that allows physicians to determine when patients have taken their medications.
Applications have been created for use in medical devices, classrooms, and several other places where they may not have been used a few years ago.
“The coolest thing in business is having a company that provides services that many people think are impossible,” Seibel said.
That challenge — along with his mantra for the way business should be conducted — is what has enabled Seibel to drive Mobiquity to success, trumping multi-billion-dollar companies in their efforts to gain new clients and projects.
“We are chosen because of three things: One, our experienced leadership team, which has the reputation of never letting down a client; Two, a value proposition that will help clients grow; and three, being a people-oriented business that only hires the best, most-talented people to join the team,” Seibel explained.
The fact that Mobiquity chose Gainesville as a place where the company’s mantra would be enforceable says volumes about the city’s talent pool, business ethic and rise to become a hub for the tech industry.
Recent Developments
- Seven people started an intensive training program first week of June, with four Mobiquity people on the ground at that time
- Mobiquity is building a pipeline of candidates that they are working through; the quality and innovation of the candidates is impressive
- Mobiquity is starting to explore other business relationships in the area, and was happy to support and sponsor Taste of Gainesville
The Mobiquity team is very excited about being in Gainesville. Everyone has been so welcoming. They were delighted with the opening event!