Fanbytes, the social media and influencer marketing agency, has been acquired by digital media agency Brainlabs.
Fanbytes currently offers services to over 500 brands from across the globe and will lead on Brainlabs’ influencer offerings moving forward.
Founded in 2012 by former-Google ad consultant Dan Gilbert, Brainlabs has grown in recent years through a number of acquisitions after selling a minority stake to private-equity group Livingbridge in 2019.
Since then, the company has acquired performance marketing agency Hanapin, SEO specialist Distilled, CRO experts User Conversion, Amazon experts Molzi, Canadian programmatic agency Medianet, and creative studio Consumer Acquisition.
Gilbert said: “I’m super excited about welcoming Fanbytes to Brainlabs, not only because I’m in awe at what they’ve achieved in such a short space of time but I also see them as an essential piece of the jigsaw in our digital media offering.
“Influencer marketing has rapidly become an integral part of the digital media mix so to be able to offer it alongside our other capabilities under one roof is a huge advantage to our clients.”
Fanbytes was founded in 2017 by then-university students Timothy Armoo, Ambrose Cooke, and Mitchell Fasanya, who serve as the company’s CEO, chief operating officer, and chief technology officer, respectively.
The company’s average number of employees sits at 40, and it operated at a loss of £176,075 against a total equity of $1.4m in 2021, according to the company’s latest filings on Companies House.
In a statement, Armoo said: “From day one, Fanbytes has been about more than just an ambition to fundamentally change how brands can speak to consumers (and vice versa); but always being one calculated step ahead in how we achieve that. From being first advocates of Snap and TikTok before the industry took either seriously, to literally inventing new ways for brands to use those channels, we’ve always carved our own path, and helped our clients carve theirs, and we’re excited to continue this with Brainlabs.
“Through Brainlabs’ global network we can supercharge what we do, bringing our technology, expertise and talent to an even bigger audience. We’ve also found a kindred spirit that shares similar ambitions.”
(Pictured in main image: Gilbert, left, and Armoo)
