CoSchedule awarded for tech leadership
Garrett Moon, right, and Justin Walsh, CoSchedule co-founders, were recently recognized by TechND for their dedication to growing technology within the state.
by Luann Dart
It all started with a bright idea from two technology entrepreneurs. That bright idea of Garrett Moon and Justin Walsh, CoSchedule co-founders, was recognized when they received the TechND's North Dakota IT Champion award during the 17th annual North Dakota IT Awards Program in August.
Their company, CoSchedule, has become the leading marketing calendar in the world, with more than 8,000 customers in more than 100 countries in just four years.
Moon and Walsh had already partnered in a venture, with a digital agency called TodayMade. As they juggled all the tools for content creation and social media promotion, the light bulb was lit.
"They thought to themselves, 'There's gotta be a better way to do this.' It was a light bulb moment. What if we created something that would allow marketers to be more productive? People have to be experiencing the same pain that we are experiencing as marketers. Sure enough, 8,000 customers and 100-plus countries later, they were obviously onto something," says Eric Piela, head of public relations and community management at CoSchedule.
That was the genesis of CoSchedule, a marketing productivity platform that allows marketers to create and manage content.
"Marketers are desperate for a tool that allows them to stay organized and be productive and efficient and collaborate with their team and that's what CoSchedule does," Piela says. "Our battle cry is, 'We're on a mission to organize the world, one marketing calendar at a time.' "
As a North Dakota-based company, CoSchedule's 65 employees are located in Bismarck and Fargo.
"There's a lot of energy and excitement around startups and there's a lot of great talent here," Piela says. "Matter of fact, we think there's plenty of talent, great talent, in our own backyard. We are always astounded at the quality of candidates that we get."
Just in 2017, the company has grown from 29 to 65 employees. Some are from North Dakota, others are returning home and others are transplants.
North Dakota also offers an economic climate that's conducive to technology startups, he says.
"It's a great place to start financially for a tech company. There's a great collaborative culture in North Dakota," he says. "We want to continue to prove that story that North Dakota can be a phenomenal place for technology startups."
As an IT champion, CoSchedule hopes to have an active voice in the path of technology in North Dakota, opening roadblocks and continuing to recruit a talented workforce.
"Everyone here is passionate about growing the tech space," he says.
CoSchedule was named as the best business tool built by a startup on www.Entrepreneur.com, selected as one of the top five startups in Tech.Co's 2016 Startup of the Year competition, and ranked as the number 22 Software as a Service company in the world.
In addition to its business growth, CoSchedule is invested in promoting technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in North Dakota. Employees have founded numerous organizations, including a Girl Develop It chapter, Start Bismarck and Game Jam. CoSchedule employees have also been involved with Tech Tailgate, Startup Weekend, FargoConnect and 1 Million Cups in Bismarck.
"Moon and Walsh's creation of a world-renowned company, combined with their dedication to North Dakota and commitment to growth of the technology and entrepreneurial communities across the state, make them very worthy of this award," says Jeremy Neuharth, TechND president and founder/CEO of Sycorr.
"There are larger technology organizations in North Dakota, but we definitely see ourselves as an aspiring up-and-coming company. Our goal is to be the flagship.That comes with hiring people who are passionate about the tech space in North Dakota," Piela says.