# 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](https://felixvelarde.com/), [2y3x.com](https://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](https://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](https://2y3x.com/).

The 2Y3X consulting team listed publicly on [2y3x.com/about](https://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)*.