Raleigh startup to design website for Democratic convention

By: David Ranii | McClatchy-Tribune
Published: April 30, 2012 Updated: April 30, 2012 - 7:40 AM

RALEIGH -- Think of Business Empire Consulting as the brash newcomer that nominated itself for the job – and won.

The News & Observer reported that the 28-month-old Raleigh digital marketing agency beat out 11 competitors for the plum job of designing and hosting a new website for the Democratic National Convention, which is set for Charlotte in September.

Pretty heady stuff for a company created by a trio of 20-somethings – CEO Bryan Young, 25; Matt Laster, chief information officer, 24; and Brandon Blair, chief marketing officer, 24 – at the end of 2009 when they were students at N.C. State University.

Their 11-employee company has won larger pieces of business than the $70,000 convention contract, but the deal is worth much more in terms of exposure.

“We are ... very excited about this opportunity to showcase our ability on such a grand scale,” Young said. “To be involved in the planning and implementation of a project like this, at our age, is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will helps us build relationships, hopefully, around the country and definitely in North Carolina.”
The Democratic National Convention Committee chose Business Empire based on factors such as creativity and its work for clients such as the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, N.C. State University and Lonerider Brewing.

“We’re confident they have what it takes for a project of this magnitude,” said Nikki Sutton, deputy director for communications for digital media. The convention committee isn’t disclosing how much traffic it expects the website to handle.

Read more: http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2012/apr/30/raleigh-startup-design-website-democratic-conventi-ar-2223793/