At six months old, Atlanta digital media agency Acadia has 100 employees and four acquisitions.
It’s a massive growth rate for a new startup, rivaled locally by restaurant technology startup Sunday, which raised $124 million before its sixth month in business.
But unlike Sunday, Acadia isn’t raking in venture capital dollars. The founders, two veteran entrepreneurs, have bootstrapped the growth so far. Acadia's rapid clip comes down to two things: investing in smart, experienced people and creating a diverse product offering, CEO Jared Belsky said.
Acadia is building a mix between a digital marketing agency and a tech startup, meaning the company wants to provide clients with people to guide their marketing needs as well as software solutions to make them more efficient. The company is targeting middle-market clients that may not have the resources to invest in corporate-geared marketing solutions.
Its clients include Greenlight Financial Technology, Arden’s Garden and Brown & Co. Jewelers.
The two founders bring decades of experience to the table. Belsky was previously CEO of 360i, a New York-based advertising and marketing giant with more than 1,000 employees. He’s active in Atlanta’s innovation ecosystem, serving as a board member of 2ULaundry and an operating partner at early-stage venture capital firm Overline.
He started the company with Sean Belnick, who created his first company when he was 14 years old. That company grew into Belnick Inc., an e-commerce furniture retailer for wholesale and consumer needs. Belnick remains on the board of that company after selling it in 2017 and also founded SB Hillview Ventures investment firm.
Belsky and Belnick had the operating experience to move fast. Next, they needed more people.
That’s when the acquisitions started.
The founders first bought Nicely Built, an e-commerce marketing agency founded in 2012. Then, they bought social media consulting firm Imagine Media Consulting LLC. Digital marketing services company Techwood Digital was the next buy. The final purchase — for now — was Lift 361, a customer analytics company.
Acadia wasn’t just acquiring those companies for their technology. It was the teams, all of which are based in Atlanta. Acadia also has office space in West Midtown to further emphasize its focus on collaboration and workplace culture.
“We have this great leadership team that’s the snowball that’s building,” Belsky said. “When you get 10 or so people together with a lot of experience, you move quickly.”
Because Acadia is funded exclusively by Belnick, the founders also don’t have to consult with a board or other investors before making these growth moves, Belsky said.
Another commonality among each acquisition? The product offerings are completely different.
The biggest pain point for marketing teams, which are usually small in high-growth or middle-market companies, is not having one platform for all their needs, Belsky said. By acquiring different marketing solutions, Acadia is building an omnichannel platform.
"If we had started out brick by brick, the most we could have done is one service,” Belsky said.
Acadia is slowing down its acquisition pace through the end of the year, Belsky said. But the company has its eye on growth points for digital marketing, including retail media and advertising at the point of purchase.
