Investor Keadyn acquired a stake in Mangrove, the Rotterdam-based digital agency for web and mobile. How large the stake is and how much was paid is something the parties are keeping to themselves. Managing partner Roel Schiefelbusch did however disclose that it is a minority interest and that they will work together for at least five years, during which it will never become a majority interest. This way, the founders of Mangrove (Robert Leefmans, Oscar van Veen and Roel Schiefelbusch) are assured to retain control of the company.

With the investment from Keadyn, Mangrove wants to accelerate growth and put their name firmly on the map. During the last year Mangrove went through an internal reorganisation. The expert-teams were replaced with independent self-guiding teams in which each expertise-area is represented. These areas are: design, technology and marketing. Each of these is supplemented with supporting services such that ultimately each team consists of a group of ten people. There are now three teams, but with the investment the aim is to expand to more, and also to invest more in the development of young talent.

In terms of profiling themselves abroad, the Rotterdammers have always been quite humble. Nonetheless – in the coming period more will be invested in the Mangrove brand. The knowledge and expertise of the agency will be expressed more explicitly. “We are well known for our design work and the user experience we provide, but did you know that we have more developers than designers?”

Together with Keadyn, the agency will actively search for companies to acquire. The focus is mainly on marketing specialists. Data driven marketing will after all increasingly be part of Mangrove’s activities.