We’re delighted to share our selection as a 2017 Indiana Innovation Award winner! Presented by Centric, the Indiana Innovation Awards recognize individuals and organizations successfully leading the innovation in Indiana.
The award will be presented at the Day of Innovation on Thursday, October 12th at Butler University. Tickets for the Day of Innovation are available at dayofinnovation.com.
FISHERS, Ind. (Oct. 2, 2017) – Fuzic, a marketing tech platform that provides custom audio advertising and licensed music for location-based businesses, announced plans today to expand its operations in Indiana, creating up to 255 new, high-wage jobs by 2020.
“The rapid growth of Fuzic and Indiana’s tech community is music to my ears,” Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. “In Indiana, our business environment is hitting a high note with low taxes, affordable cost of doing business and world-class network of talented Hoosiers. That perfect harmony is taking our economy to the next level of growth, especially in the technology sector, with tech job growth in Indiana currently outpacing the nation.”
The company will invest $3.66 million in a new 11,736-square-foot office in the Braden Building in Fishers’ Nickel Plate District, tripling the size of the company’s current office footprint. The new office, which the company plans to move into in January, will support the development of its software as a service-based marketing platform that enables companies to centrally control music, messaging and advertising to any degree of personalization in their stores.
“Indiana is an outstanding state to launch and grow a business,” said Brent Oakley, chief executive officer of Fuzic. “We’re especially proud to be part of the Fishers tech scene and contribute to this great community that was just named by Money Magazine as the top place to live in the country.”
Fuzic is growing rapidly since its launch in January 2016, with hundreds of organizations around the world adopting its platform, ranging from small companies to large organizations with thousands of locations. Founded by Oakley with the concept of marketing to customers at his central Indiana-area Prime Car Wash locations, Fuzic plays customized audio marketing messages that are recorded and mixed with a custom music playlist. Earlier this year, the company gained former Salesforce Marketing Cloud chief executive officer Scott McCorkle as its executive chairman.
“The tech scene in the Indy region is incredibly vibrant, and Fuzic is a great example of the outstanding innovation happening in these companies,” said McCorkle.
Fuzic is currently hiring across all parts of the company, including software development and sales, with plans to add about one dozen new positions through the remainder of this year. New positions are expected to pay an average wage that is more than 70 percent above the state average. Interested applicants may view current openings at www.fuzicmedia.com/join_fuzic/ and apply by sending a resume to jobs@fuzicmedia.com.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Fuzic Inc. up to $3,355,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $145,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The Fishers Redevelopment Commission will consider additional incentives at the request of the company.
“Brent and the Fuzic team exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in Fishers,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “Fuzic’s exponential growth is a testament to their drive and the unique innovation ecosystem we’ve built here. It’s exciting to see the momentum continue to grow as we move Fishers forward as a smart, vibrant, and entrepreneurial city.”
Central Indiana has developed as a top U.S. technology hub, with tech-related jobs growing in the region at a rate that is double the U.S. average and the fifth fastest growing in the nation, according to commercial real estate firm CBRE. Fuzic’s news continues major technology-related job growth announcements just this year from companies including Infosys, Knowledge Services, myCOI and Levementum.
About Fuzic, Inc.
Fuzic, Inc. is a marketing technology company based in Fishers, IN. Founded in 2016 by Brent Oakley and Nathan Miller, Fuzic lets businesses fully-control on-site marketing through customized music playlists fused with on-demand, professionally recorded audio announcements. For more information, visit www.fuzicmedia.com.
About IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state. Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
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Media Contacts:
Jessica Wenclewicz (Fuzic) – 317.863.2824 ext. 410 or jessica.w@fuzicmedia.com
Abby Gras (IEDC) – 317.232.8845 or agras@iedc.in.gov
We are delighted to announce that Fuzic has been selected as a finalist for the Rise of the Rest Indy pitch competition!
Revolution’s Rise of the Rest with Steve Case is a nationwide effort to work closely with entrepreneurs in emerging startup ecosystems. The pitch tour hits Indy on October 12th, at which time Fuzic will present among the best of Indy’s tech companies.
Prior to the pitch, Rise of the Rest will host a Fireside Chat featuring Steve Case and Revolution Partner/Hillbilly Elegy best-selling author JD Vance.
Tickets for the event, held at Union 525, are free and open to the public. The Fireside Chat starts at 3 pm, Pitch Competition at 4 pm, and Happy Hour is at 6 pm. We encourage you to RSVP, and come cheer us on!
Fuzic, Inc. Secures $3.52M in Total Funding
Investors include High Alpha, Allos Ventures and Hyde Park Venture Partners
Indianapolis, Ind. – Fuzic, a marketing technology startup, announced today the completion of a $3 million seed funding round, bringing total funding raised to $3.52 million.
The round, which will be used to advance product development and expand market reach, was led by High Alpha, Allos Ventures and Hyde Park Venture Partners.
“We are very impressed with Fuzic’s growth and early customer adoption,” said High Alpha Partner Mike Fitzgerald. “This is a strong, accomplished team who is perfectly positioned to build Fuzic into the market leader in location-based marketing.”
Fuzic engages on-site customers through custom audio messages and licensed music playlists. Managed online, it is easy to use for a business owner with a single location, yet powerful enough for a large organization. Companies with hundreds or thousands of locations can centrally control music, messaging, and advertising to whatever degree of local personalization is desired. Powered by a network of on-demand professional voice talent, messages are recorded, produced and ready for play within hours of request.
Led by CEO Brent Oakley, the company has experienced rapid growth since officially launching its music and messaging platform in late March of this year. Operating in over 300 location-based businesses, Fuzic has seen a 50-percent increase in its client base in just six weeks. Early product adoption has branched across industries including retail, restaurants, fitness centers, family fun parks, car washes and car dealerships.
“We’ve seen great customer adoption, and we’re excited to further develop our software to service the on-site needs of location-based businesses,” Oakley said. “This funding round and the partnerships with High Alpha, Allos Ventures, and Hyde Park Venture Partners provide us with the support and resources to create a truly best-in-class marketing platform.”
For more information, visit www.fuzicmedia.com.
About Fuzic, Inc.
Fuzic, Inc. is a marketing technology company based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 2016 by Brent Oakley and Nathan Miller, Fuzic lets businesses fully-control on-site marketing through customized music playlists fused with on-demand, professionally recorded audio announcements. For more information, visit www.fuzicmedia.com.
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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Media Contact:
Fuzic
Jessica Wenclewicz
317.863.2824 ext. 410
Jessica.w@fuzicmedia.com
Scott McCorkle, former Salesforce Marketing Cloud CEO, joins as Executive Chairman
Indianapolis, Ind. – Fuzic, a marketing technology startup, announced today the launch of its new on-site marketing platform that enables custom audio advertising and licensed music for location-based business of all sizes and industries. The company also announced Scott McCorkle as its new Executive Chairman.
McCorkle, an Executive in Residence with venture studio High Alpha and previous CEO of Salesforce Marketing Cloud, will work closely with fellow board member and veteran businessman Ted Schenberg (Owner of Strand Diagnostics and Animated Dynamics) to guide Fuzic co-founders Brent Oakley and Nathan Miller in business and product development.
“It has never been more important for retail and location-based businesses to control their environment. Intentional use of music and messaging allows businesses to create an environment that encourages customers to shop more, spend more, and ultimately have a better experience,” McCorkle said.
Oakley, a long-time retail entrepreneur, saw an acute need for location-based businesses to have more control over their atmosphere and on-site marketing and advertising. “Fuzic was born from my need as a business owner to have an easy-to-use, software-as-a-service platform that fused music and messaging through custom audio advertising integrated with licensed music,” Oakley said. Following a soft launch at the end of 2016, more than 100 location-based organizations have already adopted Fuzic, now generally available
Fuzic engages on-site customers through custom audio advertising and licensed music playlists. Managed online, it is easy to use for a business owner with a single location, yet powerful enough for a large organization. Companies with hundreds or thousands of locations can centrally control music, messaging, and advertising to whatever degree of local personalization is desired. Powered by a network of on-demand professional voice talent, messages are recorded, produced and ready for play within hours of request.
Fuzic also announced the acquisition of a mobile-development company, Pragmatix Studio. Co-founded by Chris Keaney and Barry Geipel, Pragmatix Studio developed mobile apps for some of the largest brands in the world. This acquisition will accelerate product development, giving executives who manage location-based businesses the needed online and mobile control of their messaging and music. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Adding Scott and Pragmatix Studio to the Fuzic team brings even more energy to our fast start,” said Oakley. “We are excited to provide location-businesses of all sizes a much-needed solution for their on-site marketing.”
For more information, visit www.fuzicmedia.com.
About Fuzic, Inc.
Fuzic, Inc. is a marketing technology company based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 2016 by Brent Oakley and Nathan Miller, Fuzic lets businesses fully-control on-site marketing through customized music playlists fused with on-demand, professionally recorded audio announcements. For more information, visit www.fuzicmedia.com.