Member Article

Middlesbrough 3D software firm sets sights on international expansion

Middlesbrough-based Spearhead Interactive, a 3D software firm, has unveiled long-term plans to open offices across five continents.

Dan Riley, Managing Director, hopes to the first international office in Tokyo in 2017, having set out a 10 year vision for the firm earlier this year.

Talks with potential partners are currently taking place following a successful trip to Japan late last year where Dan exhibited with Austrian virtual reality hardware providers Cyberith at the Tokyo Games Show; and also met with the Tokyo Metropolitan government and other business leaders to explore expansion opportunities.

The news comes as the firm recently welcomed a new programmer and producer, whilst the expansion is to continue with an additional five positions currently available.

Dan said: “We’re still in discussions at the moment so we can’t reveal too much but we are confident that we will be expanding our operation globally, starting with an office in Tokyo.

“We’ve had a very busy but also very successful first two years laying the groundwork for the business; this has enabled us to expand our company, our service offerings and also our workforce, and we want to build upon that as soon as possible.”

Founded in February 2013, Spearhead creates solutions to solve challenges faced by businesses, educators and governments using current and emerging technologies.

In particular, repurposing gaming technology to develop bespoke applications using 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) alongside relevant data to help make businesses more efficient. Software developed so far includes interactive assembly and operation guides for products and equipment and digital replicas of buildings and environments.

Recent figures showed the North East as having continued year-on-year growth for exports, despite a fall in exports nationally, and Dan is looking to add to that success by setting his sights firmly at an international scale.

Dan said: “In our first two years we have worked with a wide range of businesses from small SMEs within the North East across a multitude of sectors, right the way up to global multinationals.

“We’re at the stage now where we’re thinking in the long-term - we can either build a small lifestyle business and we’ll likely do OK, or we can keep working as hard as possible and see where the incredible journey we’re on takes us.”

The success of the firm has been spurred on by support from numerous business advice networks in the North East including Tees Valley Business Compass who offered guidance to Dan in the early days and continue to help open doors within the North East business community.

Dan added: “As a new business it’s often quite difficult to get in front of decision makers to be able to prove the technology to them and that’s where the likes of Tees Valley Business Compass come in. The North East is a great and beautiful place to be working out of and the support that is available is excellent.

“The idea is to set up smaller sales offices in these areas which will then outsource the development work back to the UK. The business at the minute is vast, we are all things to all men having worked with offshore engineering companies to bodybuilding nutrition protein companies. Our aim is to solidify our offer and continue to grow over the next 12 months so we can move forward with our international expansion plans.”

With trips to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Tokyo and Vienna scheduled for later in 2015, it is hoped Spearhead will build deeper export relationships in these territories, alongside continuing to engage with embassies, governments and business leaders regarding expansion.

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