When Simon Douglass was considering whether to start his own business, a former boss offered to front him the money. “I realized that I already had enough money saved up,” says Douglass. “That gave me the confidence I needed to strike out on my own.” So in 2014, Douglass used his life savings to launch the London-based Curated Digital, a full-service digital marketing company. It immediately got attention in the industry, with Douglass being nominated for Small Business Leader of the Year and the company on the shortlist for Startup of the Year. “That was amazing,” says Douglass. “It was reassurance that we were doing something right.”
Why did I start my own agency? I realized I could do things better by myself, instead of being told what to do.
For seven years, Douglass was a global account manager working out of Google’s London office. But he was frustrated by not being able to work directly with his clients. So after working for a couple of smaller companies—and a stint as a stand-up comedian—he decided to be his own boss. “When I started the company,” the 40-year-old entrepreneur says, “my only goal was to stop working for somebody else.” Although he calls the shots, he enjoys the constant collaboration with his nine-person team. They love kicking back at WeWork South Bank. “We go there when we need a break from the office,” he says. “We stop by for the free coffee, and if we’re there long enough, the free beer.”
Photos: Oscar May