Smashing Boxes specializes in the creation of innovative technology for brands and startups. The company’s strategists, designers and developers work in small collaborative teams to craft products and services spanning Web, mobile and connected devices. Founded in 2010, Smashing Boxes is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, with an office in Montreal and clients across North America. The company plans to launch operations in New Orleans in early 2016.
Gov. Jindal said, “Since 2008, Louisiana has pursued a highly successful strategy to attract software development, digital media and information technology employers across our state. The entrance of Smashing Boxes into the New Orleans market will add another chapter to the city’s growing success story as the No. 1 city in the U.S. for creative professionals. We wish Smashing Boxes well on this new chapter in their story, we know they will find success with the highly skilled and creative talent in New Orleans, and we’re proud that more families will benefit from our efforts to make Louisiana the best place in the world to live, work and raise a family.”
Smashing Boxes recently earned recognition as one of the Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America by Entrepreneurmagazine. The company has developed a reputation for achieving rapid growth while embracing a balanced quality of life for its employees. When company leaders were introduced to New Orleans during New Orleans Entrepreneurship Week in May 2015, they were attracted to the creative spirit and set of values that the company shared with the city’s residents.
“I was struck by a like-mindedness with the local entrepreneurs and technologists,” said Jordan, the company CEO. “There’s a communitywide spirit of commitment that’s truly inspiring. Our ambition as a company is to shape the future of technology in New Orleans. We see a real opportunity to do just that – to help build a leading tech community.”
LED began discussing project possibilities with Smashing Boxes in May 2015. To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered a competitive incentive package that includes the comprehensive solutions of LED FastStart®, the nation’s No. 1 state workforce development program. In addition, the company is expected to utilize Louisiana’s Digital Interactive Media and Software Development Incentive.
“When I came into office and as we worked to diversity the local economy, digital media clearly stood out as a growth industry,” New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “Over the past few years, we have made an aggressive effort to attract additional high-quality companies that offer opportunities for New Orleanians. I am delighted to welcome to latest digital media company, Smashing Boxes, to New Orleans. Every day we will work with our local and state economic development agencies on strategies to ensure that New Orleans and Louisiana continues to be one of the best places to do business.”
Since 2008, New Orleans has welcomed investments from a wide variety of digital interactive media and software development companies, including GE Capital, Gameloft, High Voltage Software, Performance Software, 4th Source, inXile and more. Smashing Boxes’ approach to integrated Web, mobile and emerging technologies adds a new dimension to the New Orleans technology sector.
“This exciting software announcement comes as a result of direct work between GNO Inc., New Orleans Business Alliance, and the Smashing Boxes team over the past nine months,” said President and CEO Michael Hecht of Greater New Orleans Inc. “Smashing Boxes is an outstanding digital company that could have brought its 85 new jobs anywhere in the world, but they chose greater New Orleans because of our attractive digital media incentive, world-class culture and great overall business hospitality.”
“As more and more knowledge-based companies like Smashing Boxes invest in the New Orleans economy, they validate our city as a place to build high-growth companies,” said President and CEO Quentin L. Messer Jr. of the New Orleans Business Alliance. “We’re very excited that the months of collaboration among our economic development partners have yielded a new committed addition to our business community. For more companies like Smashing Boxes, New Orleans represents the ideal intersection of quality of life and economic opportunity for digital media and software innovators.”
About Smashing Boxes:
Smashing Boxes partners with forward-thinking brands and startups to solve problems through the creative application of technology. The company fuses strategy, design and development to create high-impact digital products and services. Founded in 2010, Smashing Boxes is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, with offices in Montreal and, launching in early 2016, New Orleans. For more information, visit smashingboxes.com.
