Two thriving Atlanta agencies—Dragon Army and Dagger—have officially moved into their new office space at The Willoughby in Old Fourth Ward. Invest Atlanta was invited on a quick tour of the new building with our economic development partners from the State of Georgia and the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
Invest Atlanta assisted the companies with their launch strategy, helped them get more involved with Atlanta’s startup community, and pointed them towards the critical business resources in Atlanta that will be crucial as they manage important client relationships.
Dragon Army focuses on web, mobile, and innovation, and its client roster includes Coca-Cola, HoneyBaked Ham, Turner and United Way, to name a few. Many of the company's nearly 50 employees are graduates of local colleges and universities. (And FYI, they're currently hiring as they plan to create 200+ jobs in Atlanta!)
“We’re focused on innovation and emerging technologies, so mobile, AR, VR, AI, chat/voice and wearables are all key areas where we play,” said Director of Corporate Communications Jessica Carruth.
The company has moved multiple times in a short period, from the Atlanta Tech Village to a Midtown office to a floor they rented from Georgia State University. Now they plan to quickly grow into their new space in the Willoughby building.
“For those folks who have been here since the start, which is about 5 years ago, we’ve never fully settled in a place that felt truly ours,” said Jenn Leahy, SVP of Business Development and Client Partnerships at Dragon Army. Leahy added that after an extensive search for the right new home, they'd finally “hit it all” with The Willoughby.
Their agency neighbor at the new development, the content strategy agency Dagger, concentrates on content creation, video production, and in-depth analytics research. They have 40+ employees and serve a diverse roster of clients that includes NCR, AFLAC, and Sweetwater Brewery. Both Dragon Army and Dagger have worked with IHG, and the American Cancer Society.
The Willoughby is located within walking distance of the Atlanta BeltLine. The brand-new development offers 60,000 square feet of space, a café, and a communal rooftop that looks out over the Downtown and Midtown Atlanta skylines. Though the development is new, the designers made sure to use reclaimed materials throughout, including recycled lighting fixtures.
The second floor is currently vacant, with Dragon Army and Dagger planning to move into the available space once they expand. However, they’re currently putting it to good use by leasing the space to 48in48, a nonprofit that builds 48 websites for 48 nonprofits during a 48-hour hackathon style event. Over the course of 48 hours, volunteers build fully functioning sites for nonprofits that bring to life the mission of each organization.
“The best part is the big reveal when all the nonprofits come in, and we say, ‘Here’s your new website!’” said Carruth. “People go crazy. It’s very rewarding.”
Stay tuned for information about their upcoming launch event in late August!