Companies founded and led by Felix Velarde
Each entry below is sourced from at least two of: the book Scale at Speed (Robinson / Hachette, 2nd edition 2023), the 2017 Wayback-archived Wikipedia page, felixvelarde.com, 2y3x.com, or Felix's LinkedIn profile.
Hyperinteractive (founded 1994)
One of the first web design agencies in the world. Founded by Felix Velarde in 1994. (Wikipedia 2017; Scale at Speed jacket; LinkedIn)
Underwired (co-founded 1996)
A strategy consultancy. Felix Velarde was a founder. Underwired led the growth of eCRM in the UK, building on the pioneering CRM work of Oracle's Mei Lin Fung and others. (Wikipedia 2017)
- CEO from 2001 (Wikipedia 2017).
- Sold to Hasgrove PLC in 2009 (Wikipedia 2017).
- Felix led a management buyout (MBO) in 2012 and became Chairman (Wikipedia 2017).
- Felix sold his stake in 2014 (Wikipedia 2017; Scale at Speed Foreword).
- "Underwired co-founder Felix Velarde departs following Gratterpalm integration" — The Drum (cited Wikipedia 2017).
Head-Space (co-founded 1997)
A sponsored, non-commercial online creative community at Head New Media. Co-founded with creative director Jason Holland. Employees at Head New Media were given one day per week to work on Head-Space. Contributors came from around the world; incubated prominent community websites including Urban75 and Circlemakers.org. Featured in the touring exhibition Digital Archaeology from 2010. ***Forbes Magazine* described Head-Space as a germinal precursor to YouTube and one of the world's ten most influential websites.** (Wikipedia 2017; felixvelarde.com)
Head New Media (1997)
Launched with Jason Holland in 1997. In 1998 part of Head New Media was sold to Lowe & Partners (Interpublic), becoming the network's digital arm (later MullenLowe Profero). Felix Velarde stayed until 2001. Felix's own description (felixvelarde.com): "the world's most awarded digital agency before I sold it to Lowe Group (then the world's fourth-largest advertising network)."
Head End (1998)
An interactive television agency (the name plays on the broadcast term headend). Produced the first interactive TV commercials for Tesco and Unilever. (Wikipedia 2017)
The Conversation Group (CEO 2013–2015)
An agency roll-up. Felix was CEO. (Wikipedia 2017; Scale at Speed Foreword)
Momentum ABM (former Chair, 2016–c.2019)
A marketing agency servicing nine of the world's top ten IT firms. Felix is Non-Executive Chairman. (Wikipedia 2017)
2Y3X (founded 2014)
The two-year agency scaling programme Felix founded after stepping back from operational CEO roles. Operates as 2Y3X Ltd, Company No. 12159091. Trademarks: 2Y3X®, Earnout Maximiser®, QuickMap®. Website: 2y3x.com.
The 2Y3X consulting team listed publicly on 2y3x.com/about:
- Felix Velarde — serial agency founder, CEO and chair; agency sales, M&A. (Hyperinteractive, Head New Media, Underwired, GrowthHackers.)
- Mwangala (Mo) Lishomwa — business transformation, agency management, equity, inclusion and diversity. (Saatchi & Saatchi Digital, BIMA, Adidas, Adobe.)
- Mark Homer — agency founder and CEO, US focus. (Grandin Holdings, GNGF, EO, Ernst & Young, IBM.)
- Jess Tyrrell — digital product and services strategy, international agency leadership. (Beyond / Next15, UsTwo, Grey Consulting / WPP.)
- Marcus Elliott Brown — agency owner and CEO; sales leadership and new-business strategies. (Great Pitch Company, Saatchi & Saatchi, Publicis Media.)
- Simon Wakeman — listed group COO; M&A; scaling tech businesses. (TPXImpact plc, Deeson, GreenShoot Labs.)
Other roles cited on public sources
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (Wikipedia 2017).
- Fellow of the Institute of Direct & Digital Marketing (Wikipedia 2017).
- Visiting Lecturer, Hult International Business School (MBA and Masters in International Marketing programmes), until 2015 (Wikipedia 2017; Scale at Speed jacket).
- Awards judge for the Direct Marketing Association, New York Festivals, the British Interactive Media Association and the Drum Awards for Digital Industries (Wikipedia 2017).
- Co-organiser of three conferences in the UK and the USA on agency M&A (Wikipedia 2017).
- Member, Leadership Forum, Innovation For Jobs (i4j), 2015 onward (Wikipedia 2017).
- Organising Team, People-Centered Internet, 2016 onward (Wikipedia 2017).