The Founding of BzzAgent
In 2001, BzzAgent Founder and CEO Dave Balter set out to create a company that would allow marketers to accelerate and measure honest word of mouth, while giving consumers a fun way to try new products and influence brands. That vision became BzzAgent.
Since our inception, we've executed 600+ word-of-mouth programs for hundreds of major brands. We partnered with media agency GroupM (a WPP company) to launch in the United Kingdom and teamed with Rogers Media to expand to Canada. This massive client growth and geographic expansion was made possible by the landmark $13.75 million we received from General Catalyst Partners and Flybridge Capital Partners in late 2005. Our client successes, technical innovation and partnerships with major advertising, public relations and media companies - including Ogilvy Public Relations, Arnold Worldwide and the Interpublic Group - have established BzzAgent as the world's most recognized word-of-mouth media network.
Dave Balter, Founder/CEO
CEO Dave Balter founded BzzAgent in 2001. Since that time, his company has provided word-of-mouth media services for dozens of Fortune 500 companies and has been featured in The New York Times Sunday Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist and on National Public Radio.
A co-founder and current executive council member of The Word of Mouth Marketing Association, Dave is an international speaker on the topic of word-of-mouth marketing. The author of two books on the subject, Grapevine: The New Art of Word-of-Mouth Marketing and The Word of Mouth Manual: Volume II, Dave has presented for corporations, associations and non-profit groups around the world.
Dubbed a "serial entrepreneur" by The Boston Globe, Dave built and sold two promotional agencies prior to forming BzzAgent. In 2008, he was recognized as a Future Legend by the AdClub and he was named to the "40 under 40" list by The Boston Business Journal and Advertising Specialty Institute.
His commitment to corporate transparency has resulted in five innovative blogs, which were profiled in Inc. Magazine and the Harvard Business Review and later earned an Award of Excellence from the Society of New Communications research. Dave earned a B.A. in Psychology from Skidmore College and aspires to build the world's largest rock garden.
Dave Dugan, President
Dave Dugan drives a busload of responsibilities — from managing the company's media services team, to forming high value partnerships with agencies and technology companies, to leading the strategic direction of the business. He's well equipped for this essential role, however, given that he spent the past 11 years with digital marketing giant Digitas, where he most recently led corporate strategy. Dave's unique daily commute consists of a 15 mile boat ride through the Harbor Islands.
David Wagner, COO/CFO
David Wagner manages day-to-day operations and coordinates internal processes at BzzAgent, including the company's finance, human resources and administrative departments. David also coordinates BzzAgent's legal affairs. In the past, he held senior finance and operations positions at emerging technology companies and served as a corporate litigator. David is a regular at BzzAgent's Ultimate Frisbee matches.
Kurt Overberg, CTO
If a project involves technology, Kurt Overberg is responsible for its success. He leads the teams that build the Web applications that support our hundreds-of-thousands of Agents and those that support our internal staff. Before joining BzzAgent, Kurt helped develop one of the world's first "web shopping carts" for OpenMarket. But what's most impressive is this: music pioneer Thomas Dolby once bought him a burrito.
Founding Team
Special thanks to Jon O'Toole, aka BzzAgent Jono, the champion of the BzzAgents themselves; Matt Fletcher, the finest poker-playing cowhand financial controller you could have; Matt McGlinn, whose sleep is interrupted by dreams of colorful charts, data and spreadsheets; and Kristen Beveridge who has truly shaped the BzzAgent brand and makes sure we always look good.
BzzAgent has grown considerably in its short history. In the early years, the business grew through the creativity, energy, sweat, and hard work of the managing team, who still maintain the pulse and rhythm of what we do every day.
Without these individuals, there would be no BzzAgent.
Illustrations provided by Boston, MA artist Seth Minkin. To see more of Seth's work, please visit sethbminkin.com.