Member Article

bdaily goes behind the business of new venture Nine with software entrepreneur David Frame

Successful software entrepreneur David Frame shares his experience of setting up his most recent venture, Nine. Alongside his new business partner, high profile digital strategist Andy Walton, David has big plans for the purely coding focussed software house, Nine.

What key challenges has your company recently faced?

The scaling of the team is always the hardest part. We have set the benchmark extremely high as we’ve built a team out of the very best software developers available. We’re unyielding when it comes to our standards, so bringing in people of the highest calibre is the biggest challenge.

What is your biggest achievement over the past 12 months?

Again, building the team. We’ve attracted some absolute superstars into Nine, who’ve not only bought into what we’re all about but have created an environment where we thrive.

We’re delivering projects into the likes of Grainger plc and P&G, alongside some outstanding privately held companies, so the team has risen to the challenge and delivered world class results from our North East base. I have to say, that’s the biggest buzz – knowing we’re delivering world class solutions from right here in South Tyneside. That makes me smile every time.

What is your biggest focus for the coming year?

To maintain the organic build is the focus. We’re entirely debt free and very well-resourced, so we want to continue the build at our own pace.

We won’t break the principles that we have built this business upon by going for high volume growth too quickly. We are already winning some unbelievable contracts with global brands so we want to persist with this progress, building on our early success, but at a steady and reliable pace that preserves our company values along the way.

If you had to choose one top piece of advice for someone just starting out in business, or is currently operating within your industry sector, what would it be?

In terms of general business, from my experience of developing new companies I have learnt to focus on building a recurring revenue model which will smooth cash flow and give a steady annual base to build upon.

The software space is a really exciting place to be right now, so to anyone starting out in the industry I would say welcome on board; you’re in a thriving market place. Also for that reason you will need to make sure your offering is distinct from anything else as you will find very strong competition.

Can you share with us your view of the current landscape of business, in this region or generally and where your organisation sits within it?

We’re pleased with where the development of Nine’s market is heading. We don’t operate in a vertical as we work alongside businesses from a range of sectors, and this spread helps to mitigate our risk.

The North East is a great region for entrepreneurial spirit and we are just one example of the big things that a small company can do. We have some outstanding business talent in the region that shouldn’t be limited to working with solely regional companies. I believe the future of North East business will show SME’s increasingly winning much larger contracts from overseas companies.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Andy Walton .