400% growth for Voices.com in a $26 billion industry: Company to launch NYC offices

Since Voices.com joined the Canadian Technology Accelerator Digital Tech program (CTA Digital Tech) in January 2015 from London, Ontario, the company’s sales have been climbing rapidly following two years of steady growth.

Voices.com is the online marketplace that connects voice-over talent to businesses that want to hire them. The company has 250,000 registered users, split between voice talent and voice clients, with more than 3,000 voice-over jobs posted each month.

The company is estimating its year-over-year growth at 400% in an industry estimated to be worth $26 billion dollars — part of what’s driving the decision to expand Voices.com operations to New York in Sept, 2015.

David_Ciccarelli_CBCDavid Ciccarelli (left) at the CTA offices interviewed by CBC-TV correspondent Steven D’Souza

“In our first 60 days alone with CTA Digital Tech we did $100,000 of business in the New York market. This is an increase of 50 percent from just a few months before that,” explains David Ciccarelli, Chief Executive Officer of Voices.com, who runs the company with his wife Stephanie Ciccarelli – recently named a top female entrepreneur in Canada by Profit magazine.

The Canadian Technology Accelerator is a program run by the Consulate General of Canada in New York, and one of nine in the US – it helps high-growth Canadian tech companies gain market traction in the US, by connecting the companies to investors, potential partners and helping them increase their client base.

“Being part of the CTA has had a very positive effect on our company,” says Ciccarelli, who says the opening of the NYC offices is key to company growth. “We want to maintain our momentum.”

“We’re looking to add high energy sales team members to our new New York office,” adds Kaitlyn Annaert, HR manager for Voices.com.  “We’ll be starting with a small team, making room for what we feel will be rapid growth.”

Doubling sales each year; on track for $100 million in revenue

 

Dubbed a mix between EBay and LinkedIn, voice talent showcased on Voices.com is used by companies for video games, advertising, movies and other media.  Voices.com charges premium subscription fees, takes a percentage from contracts paid through the site, and offers project management services for complex projects.

Ciccarelli said Voices.com is on track to make $15 million in gross revenue over the next 12 months. He said every year, the company has roughly doubled its previous year’s sales. He estimates Voices.com will exceed $100 million in annual revenue within three years.

In April, Voices.com received $2 million in funding from Canada’s BDC Capital, part of $5 million the company has raised so far.

voices

New York is an obvious market for Voices.com as the city has a high concentration of its client base: ad agencies, production houses for Fortune 500 companies, and a wide-range of voice over talent connected to the television, theatre and motion picture industries.

Expansion into the US and international markets

 

The company estimates that 85% of customers are located in the US, along with the majority of its voice-over talent. By expanding into office space in the heart of Manhattan will help the company work face-to-face with many of its leading clients

Voices.com clients and talent work with dozens of broadcasters including ABC, NBC, ESPN, PBS and The History Channel, companies such as Google, Microsoft, Cisco, American Airlines and Ford, and organizations such as the US Army and the US government.

The company headquarters remains firmly planted in London, Ontario. The company has plans to go global as an industry leader.

“Moving into the heart of New York City is a step that is keeping up the incredible momentum the company has experienced for many years to come,” explains David Cicarelli.


Watch the CBC.ca report on the CTA featuring Voices.com

About the Canadian Technology Accelerator:

The Consulate General in New York runs three technology accelerators that target high-potential early-stage companies in three sectors selected through a competitive process. The companies receive international business acceleration from partners in the private sector, working closely with Trade Commissioners of the International Business Development section of the Canadian Consulate.

CTA Digital Media: Ad Tech, Data Analytics, FinTech, E-Commerce, SaaS and on-line Content) selected through a competitive process.

CTA Digital Tech Companies

 

CTA CleanTech: Green chemistry and advanced materials; energy/water data, analysis, management & control; clean energy; clean transportation and mobility, clean web, consumer engagement and smart grid

CTA CleanTech Companies

 

CTA Health IT: Focussing on patient-centered solutions using health information technology including mobile devices (mHealth) and telemedicine (eHealth).

CTA Health IT Companies

For more information: ctanyc @international.gc.ca

About our current CTA Digital Tech companies:

 

questology_SnipQuestology helps companies optimize User-Generated Content (USG) to amplify and enrich customers’ overall brand experience. Our custom platforms aggregate, analyze and display UGC – creating unique and impactful social media experiences that fuel community building for brands, events and venues.

RaceRosterLogo RaceRoster is the fastest growing registration website in North America for endurance event organizers and participants. Businesses, charities and non-profits use Race Roster’s cloud-based platform to manage event registration, fundraising, and to improve participation and marketing

seevibes_logo+tag_rgb  Seevibes is the leading provider of smart data targeting for efficient social media advertising. Seevibes works with the top brands and media agencies looking for the best solution to scale their campaigns

Tulip RetailTulip Retail is a store associate tablet solution for the sales floor that brings the best of online retail to the brick-and-mortar stores of leading retailers. Tulip Retail works with experience-driven traditional retailers, blending digital commerce with physical stores

veriday_logo2iDigital Agent by Veriday is a custom website marketing system for financial advisors to support branding and client retention. The proprietary software speeds up and simplifies the content compliance process and integrates social media, blogs and email marketing

Voices_Logo_2013 Voices.com is the leading global marketplace for voice-overs: Radio and television stations, advertising agencies and Fortune 500 companies rely on Voices.com to search for, audition and hire voice talent

 

For more information: ctanyc @international.gc.ca

 

TCS_1