Software development startup Pogo Studio is planning to grow its headcount before the end of the year following a series of client wins.
The fast-growing firm has won contracts with Signal Mutual, one of the US’s largest shipping and port authority insurance groups; NHS Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland/NatWest, Miller Homes and social enterprise Hey Girls.
Founded by CEO Jack Francis in 2016, Pogo is planning to add at least four people to its headcount of 10 over the next few months.
US-based Signal Mutual appointing the Edinburgh-headquartered software specialist as its main agency to manage website and digital projects over the next year.
Pogo, which is chaired by Jack’s father Neil Francis, is targeting developer roles and a medtech non-executive director appointment in its next phase of growth having earlier this year appointed Trickle Founder and CEO Paul Reid to its board.
Jack Francis said: “We’ve really doubled down during Covid and it’s great to see the client roster growing with activity across the commercial and public sectors, including the growth of business outside the UK. “
It’s testament to the hard work of our team and we’re excited to move into hire mode and our next phase of growth.”
The company launched a Digital Healthcare unit this year, with its first product Tailored Talks having already generated almost £200,000 in revenue within the NHS.
Tailored Talks is a digital platform that aims to allow doctors to get the right information to patients and carers, supporting the move from hospital to home.
It is currently being trialled with NHS Lothian in partnership with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland. Pogo is also developing a patient management solution called Patient Calendar.
Jack Francis added: “Overall, we’re on track to increase revenue by around 50 per cent across the business in 2020 and we think the digital health sector is going to ramp that up in the months and years ahead.”
Pogo Studio is set to embark on its first external investment round in Q4, targeting angel syndicates, venture capitalist firms and social impact funds, and has just appointed Chiene + Tait as its corporate finance advisor.
Pogo Studio chairman Neil Francis said: “We’ve seen some world-class software development companies come out of Scotland in recent years, startups like Kotikan and Cultivate, and we want to be one of the next big success stories in the space.
“Finding the right investors to help fuel this ambition is part and parcel of the strategy and we are now beginning to engage with the investment community across the UK along these lines.”
Source: Insider