Our company
Spot Runner is the first Internet-based ad agency that makes it easy and affordable for local businesses to advertise on TV. With Spot Runner's revolutionary approach, local businesses now have access to television, the most powerful marketing tool available—one that, due to its traditional cost and complexity, was previously out of reach.
Spot Runner offers a complete solution for television advertising—commercial production, media planning and media buying—in a single turn-key, self-service system. The entire process, which traditionally takes months and hundreds of thousands of dollars, now takes just days at a fraction of the cost.
Our founders
Spot Runner co-founders, Nick Grouf and David Waxman, first joined forces in 1995 to create Firefly Network, Inc., which was acquired by Microsoft in 1998. Its core product, the Firefly Passport, became the foundation for Microsoft's Passport and .NET initiatives. Next, they launched PeoplePC, Inc., which went public in 2000 and was acquired by EarthLink, Inc. in 2002. With several successful startups to their credit, Grouf and Waxman have now turned their considerable creative energy towards revolutionizing the advertising industry with the launch of Spot Runner.
Our team
We know that it takes a great team to build a great company and our team is world-class. We have experts from a wide variety of backgrounds forming an experienced, creative team—from companies like eBay, Kodak, Microsoft, Overture, Warner Brothers, and Yahoo.
Our creative production is handled in-house, and the team includes directors and writers, editors, graphics designers, sound engineers, and production managers – many of whom have more than a decade of experience in the advertising and entertainment industries with brands including Disney, Honda, Nike, Pepsi, and Sony.
Our investors
The impressive roster of companies and individuals that make up our list of investors is a testament to the strength of the Spot Runner mission and a validation of our revolutionary advertising platform's potential to shape the future of the industry.
Two firms instrumental in our inception were: Battery Ventures, a leading venture capital firm focused on investing in technology companies at all stages of growth; and Index Ventures, dedicated to working with entrepreneurs in world-class technology companies. Some of Battery Ventures' previous investments include Infoseek and Friendster; Index Ventures's track record includes Skype and Infospace among many others.
Joining these two companies are two of the world's largest advertising and marketing services companies, WPP and Interpublic Group, along with one the country's largest mass media companies, CBS Corporation. Together, these powerhouse names are backing Spot Runner's mission and vision as a company.
In addition, investors like Allen & Company, Tudor Investments, media executive Lachlan Murdoch, and financier Vivi Nevo have found Spot Runner a smart choice as an investment for the future of advertising and web technology.
Our awards
Not only have we attracted the attention of our investors and our customers, we've caught the eye of savvy technology and advertising voices as well. Here are some of the feathers in our cap.
2008 Los Angeles Venture Association's “Best Venture Financing in Software and Media”
The Los Angeles Venture Association (LAVA) presented Spot Runner with the award for “Best Venture Financing in Software and Media.” Spot Runner was selected from a competitive field for their innovative business model and successful funding rounds. LAVA is the oldest, most successful organization focused on the financing of companies from start to exit. Since 1985 they have been promoting the development and financing of emerging growth and middle market companies. Other awards presented by LAVA include: Best Venture Financing in Biotech and Medical Devices, Best Venture Financing in Communications and Semi-conductors, Best M&A Exit, Best Private Equity Deal and Best IPO.
2007 “Red Herring Global 100”
The Red Herring Global 100 represents the top, private technology companies across North America, Europe and Asia. Red Herring's editorial team diligently surveys entrepreneurship around the globe to select the Global 100. The winners are announced in December at the Red Herring Global Conference which draws unparalleled attention from CEOs, venture investors, government officials and senior corporate business development executives from around the world.
2007 W³ Award
Spot Runner was recognized by the W³ Awards with a Silver award in the Marketing Website category. The W³ honors creative excellence on the web and is the first major web competition to be accessible to the biggest agencies, the smallest firms and everyone in between. Website entries are judged based on creativity, usability, navigation, functionality, visual design and ease of use. The competition was sponsored by AdWeek, Brandweek and Mediaweek magazines.
2006 and 2007 Web Marketing Association's "Web Award" for "Best Advertising Website"
For two years in a row, Spot Runner has won the Web Marketing Association’s WebAward for “Best Advertising Website.” Now in its eleventh year, the WebAwards Competition is the premier annual website award competition that names the best websites in 96 industries while setting the standard of excellence for all website development. This year the competition had over 2,400 entries from 40 countries. “Best Advertising Website” is the top honor in the Advertising category – only one company wins this award. This year, there were 29 finalists. Each site is judged in seven categories: design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copywriting and ease of use.
2006, 2007 and 2008 AlwaysOn's "OnHollywood 100" award
Spot Runner made AlwaysOn's power list of the top 100 digital media and entertainment companies three years in a row. AlwaysOn's editors and panel of industry experts select a new generation of game-changing players in the digital entertainment space each year. To make the final selection, companies need to demonstrate that they excel in five primary evaluation criteria: innovation, market potential, commercialization, stakeholder value creation, and media attention or “buzz.”
2007 Stevie Award for "Most Innovative Company"
The American Business Awards' Stevie Awards were created to honor and generate public recognition of the efforts, accomplishments, and positive contributions of companies and business people worldwide. The Stevies have been called "the business world's own Oscar Awards" and are governed by a Board of Judges & Advisors that comprise many of the leading figures in American business. This distinguished group selected Spot Runner for The Most Innovative Company Award (with up to 2,500 employees) in 2007.
2007 Telly Awards
The Telly Awards honor the best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions. The Telly awards are judged by top advertising and production professionals who are also past Telly winners. The 27th Annual Telly Awards received over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Spot Runner was awarded seven Telly awards - three silver (highest honor) and four bronze. The ads won not for profit, retail store, sporting goods and low budget categories.
2007 Fortune Top Innovators
When Fortune Magazine, a leading provider of innovative business ideas and in-depth strategies and analysis, looked to select the top 24 innovators and entrepreneurs in the world, Spot Runner CEO Nick Grouf was at the top of their list. In their May 2007 issue, Fortune profiled 24 disrupters who went up against the odds, rattled old industries and tried to create new ones.
2007 Bulldog Reporter Awards
Spot Runner has won two 2007 Bulldog Awards — a Silver award in the “New Product Launch, Business” category and a Bronze award in the “Technology, Business” category. The Bulldog Reporter, a leading publication for PR professionals, presents the annual awards in recognition of the ability to influence public opinion through the media. Nominees are evaluated by a panel of working journalists based on creativity, originality, strategy, and overall results.
2007 Business 2.0 “Next Net 25”
In its March 2007 issue, Business 2.0 magazine recognized Spot Runner as one of the “The Next Net: 25 Hot Startups to Watch.” According to the publication, they "scoured the field, talking to investors and entrepreneurs about companies whose business plans best illuminate where the Web is headed and where the most lucrative opportunities lie."
2006 "Red Herring 100 North America" award
Red Herring Magazine's mission is reporting on how the world of innovation and entrepreneurship are transforming business and how the business of technology is transforming the world. Their "100" lists are known for recognizing new and innovative technology companies and entrepreneurs.
For more information
Spot Runner was built to bring affordable advertising to the local business. Our goal is to do everything we can do to make the process easier, better, and more effective. If you have any questions, or want to know more, call us at 888-880-SPOT.