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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA digital-media company that includes billionaire Mark Cuban as one of its early investors is moving its offices and video production studio from Noblesville to Fishers in the spring.
7Hops.com Inc., which does business as ZergNet, is a “content recommendation” company known for directing millions of page visits per month to online publishers through those familiar internet ads found at the bottom of web pages often referred to as clickbait.
The company was founded in 2011 by Carmel native Reggie Renner, who got fellow Indiana University graduate Cuban involved a short time later.
While 7Hops is technically headquartered in New York City, ZergNet has largely operated out of Noblesville. When they’re not working remotely, the tech company’s 53 Indiana-based employees work out of a 3,000-square-foot space in the Noblesville Shoppes & Suites at 16095 Prosperity Drive.
Plans call for moving those operations and adding more workers in a 9,100-square-foot space at 11787 Lantern Road in Fishers starting in March. The new space will allow the company to expand its video production studio.
Renner, who is CEO, said the move signifies a shift in focus from New York to ZergNet’s Indiana operations.
“We do a lot of entertainment-focused journalism, so we can’t do everything in Indy, but Indy is going to be the main focus,” Renner said. “It’s 1,000% because of the people. I love Hoosiers, and hiring Hoosiers. They work hard, they’re smart and there’s not a lot of media companies in Indy trying to poach our employees.”
In addition to its advertising technology, ZergNet owns and operates a number of websites where it provides original content. The company’s video studio produces more than a hundred long-form videos a week. ZergNet has more than 15 million subscribers on YouTube.
Since March, ZergNet has hired 20 largely remote workers in Indiana. It has 108 employees nationwide.
The company raised $3.2 million in venture capital in 2014 from a group led by New York-based investment firms Greycroft Partners, Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments and Lerer Hippeau Ventures.
The city of Fishers is supporting ZergNet’s move through its master-lease program, which provides companies with flexible and short-term lease opportunities in Class A office space. ZergNet’s two-year lease with the city’s redevelopment commission shows it will take over the space formerly occupied by software-as-a-service firm Emplify in the Meyer-Najem Building.
Emplify, according to the city, is moving to the nearby Switch building.
“Today’s news is a testament to Fishers’ long-term commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive business environment,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said in a written statement. “I’m grateful to ZergNet’s leadership team for entrusting Fishers as the place for their future growth in spite of these challenging times.”
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