Mindgrub Technologies
Founded | 2002 |
---|---|
Founder | Todd Marks |
Headquarters | Locust Point, Baltimore, U.S.A. |
Key people | Todd Marks (CEO) |
Website |
www |
Mindgrub Technologies (referred to simply as Mindgrub) is software development and digital marketing firm headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. It designs and develops mobile, games, and web applications for organizations. Its mobile applications have included Parking Panda.[1] GEICO, Yamaha Corporation, DELL, Wendy's, and T. Rowe Price.[2]
History
Mindgrub was founded in 2002 by current CEO Todd Marks.[3] He worked for an IT consultancy in Chicago prior to leaving to start Mindgrub during the mobile application boom associated with the iPhone and iPad.[4] The company began in his basement before moving to various other locations, settling in Locust Point in Baltimore in 2014.[3]
Mindgrub expanded in 2013 by opening marketing offices in Washington D.C., New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston.[1][5]
In June 2014, Mindgrub moved to a 13,000 square foot office building in Locust Point, Baltimore, and added an additional 5,000 square feet in August 2015. The location was chosen by Marks who wanted to have a central point for employees who worked for the company.[3] The same year, Mindgrub acquired web design and marketing firm 4Thought, adding web design, marketing, and logo design to its offerings.[2] The companies had previously collaborated on projects and the employees of 4Thought were hired by Mindgrub as part of the acquisition.[2] Mindgrub expanded its web management in 2015 by becoming a Fast Track partner with Pantheon, migrating all of its clients' websites to the platform.[6]
Company culture
In addition to the headquarters being chosen for its convenience to employees, Mindgrub is known for being employee friendly. The office location is open space with activities for employees that include ping pong and a rock climbing wall.[2] The company itself was named one of the Best Places to Work in 2015 by Baltimore magazine.[7] In 2014 it was featured in the Baltimore Business Journal for its practice of giving employees a Bobblehead in their likeness after working for the company for five years.[8]
Products and services
Mindgrub develops custom apps, learning systems, and interactive websites. Some of its clients have included Yamaha Corporation, The Economist, Discovery Communications, and the University of Las Vegas.[9]
Mindgrub also develops applications for Google Glass, most notably for its use with healthcare applications.[10] Other Google Glass applications include a public safety app for firefighters to receive building layouts and an application for mobile walking tours and interactive maps.[10] Additional wearable technology Mindgrub develops for include the Occulus Rift, Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Gear and the Fitbit fitness wristband.[11]
In partnership with its sister company ViaPlace - a company also founded by Todd Marks - Mindgrub has developed several hyper local points of interest (POIs) and wayfinding applications for Yamaha, Johns Hopkins University, and UNLV.[10] In 2015 Mindgrub released a real estate finding application for start-up company Parker and an upgrade to UMBC’s Mobile Application leveraging beacons and hyper local messaging on campus.[10]
Mingdrub has a division called Mindgrub Games that develops games for mobile apps and web platforms.[12] Direct to consuemer games developed by the division include TAG Mobile Assassination, Windsquire: Race From Dragon Castle, Escape from Detention, and Avoid the Flood.
Awards and recognition
Mindgrub has won numerous awards, including a Marketing Excellence Award from the American Marketing Association in 2014.[13] It has won three Davey Awards in 2015, including Best Website Award and Best Use of GPS/Location-Based Technology Award.[14] It received both the Tech Business of the Year and maker of the Best Indie Game at the 2015 Baltimore Innovation Awards.[15] The same year it was recognized as one of the fastest growing companies on the Inc. 5000 list,[16] a feat is also accomplished in 2013 and 2014.[17]
References
- 1 2 Gainor, Cathy (22 May 2013). "Business Briefs". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Babcock, Stephen (24 April 2015). "Why Mindgrub moved into Baltimore, acquired a marketing firm and installed a climbing wall". Technical.ly. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- 1 2 3 Waldman, Tyler (5 June 2015). "From basement to Baltimore: Mindgrub celebrates new space". Technical.ly. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ Mariotti, Steve (10 February 2014). "Starting a company to be with your family. Todd Marks Discusses the Motivators and Hardships When Starting a New Business". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ↑ "Washington Area Business Diary for Week of May 27". The Washington Post. 26 May 2013.
- ↑ "Baltimore Web Developer Mindgrub First to Become Pantheon Fast Track Partner". PR Web. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ McCausland, Christianna (23 February 2015). "So, When Can You Start". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ Gantz, Sarah (30 September 2014). "If you work at Mindgrub for 5 years, you'll get a bobblehead of yourself". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ "Mindgrub company bio". Mindgrub official website. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Haber, Gary (21 March 2014). "Mindgrub is developing an app for Google Glass that will let surgeons download patient data during surgery". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ Zaleski, Andrew (18 March 2014). "Mindgrub now developing for Google Glass, smart watches and more". Technical.ly. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ Mariotti, Steve (7 February 2014). "4 Tips on Starving While Starting Up From Todd Marks". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ "American Marketing Association Awards". AMA Baltimore. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ "Mindgrub is the Recipient of Three Davey Awards". Mindgrub. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ Wink, Christopher (2 October 2015). "Here are the winners of the 3rd annual Baltimore Innovation Awards". Technical.ly. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ Babcock, Stephen (13 August 2015). "Here are the 8 Baltimore tech firms in this year's Inc. 5000". Technical.ly. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ Henry, Zoe. "Breakneck Growth in Charm City: Top 10, Private Companies in Baltimore". Inc. 5000. Retrieved 5 November 2015.