Brand Value Accelerator Receives Investment

BVAccel, one of the largest and fastest growing Shopify Plus agencies, announced today that it has taken a majority investment from August Spark, a New York-based family office. August Spark founders, Michael Cassidy and Stephen Wall, will join BVAccel's Board of Directors as part of the transaction.

BVAccel, which launched in 2013, boasts a successful track-record of scaling innovative brands, such as MVMT Watches, RedBull, Rebecca Minkoff, Tommy John, Chubbies, Untuckit, and Boll & Branch. As one of the pioneer Shopify Plus agency partners, BVAccel has designed, developed, and optimized many cutting-edge digital storefronts. Customers also leverage BVAccel's marketing services due to their unique understanding of the customer journey and ability to drive decision-making through data. This combination of eCommerce, design, and marketing expertise creates a unique offering for high-growth, high-volume brands looking to serve consumers across multiple channels and devices. BVAccel has been recognized as a member of the Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies list and has also been named one of the Best Companies to Work for in San Diego by San Diego Business Journal.

Prior to August Spark, Michael Cassidy was the founding CEO of Undertone, a leading advertising technology company that was successfully acquired by marketing software firm Perion in 2015. August Spark was created to address the gap in investor expertise in the marketing and business services space, largely due to the proliferation of technology and the imperative for digital-first offerings. As a family office, August Spark takes a long-term, founder-friendly approach to its investment timeline versus the typical five to seven-year horizon of most private equity and venture capital firms.

"BVAccel is uniquely positioned to help the next generation of retailers and brands build technology, promote their products, and expand into physical retail and beyond," said Michael Cassidy, Founder and Partner of August Spark. "The company is only beginning to scratch the surface of its potential."

"August Spark took the time to learn our business and build a relationship with our team," said Kyle Widrick, Co-Founder of BVAccel. "We are confident that their expertise at the intersection of media and technology, along with their strong history working with brands, makes them our ideal partner."

With the new capital, BVAccel plans to increase headcount in key areas, including sales, marketing, and service lines, and will also invest in employee development and training. Additionally, the investment will allow BVAccel to greatly accelerate its product roadmap and build new capabilities to support global customers, including Amazon, offline sales support, and more.

About BVAccel:
Brand Value Accelerator (BVAccel) is a design, development, and marketing agency that equips merchants with strategies driven by the relentless pursuit of profit and loyalty. As one of the pioneer Shopify Plus agency partners, BVAccel has helped scale hundreds of digital brands. Headquartered in San Diego, CA with additional offices in Columbus, OH, Los Angeles, CA, and New York, NY, the BVAccel team consists of more than 125 eCommerce strategists, designers, developers, data scientists, marketers, and more.

About August Spark:
August Spark is a NY-based family office focused on investments in marketing, technology, and business services. The firm focuses on profitable companies where it can leverage its expertise in sales and marketing, setting and executing against growth strategy initiatives, building and supporting a great company culture, and digital transformations.