About Us
How it Works
The xifd platform continually discovers new sources of content based on users' queries, grabs content from these sources on a regular basis, puts the content in a search index, and pulls out the most relevant matches. It also performs other kinds of analysis on the content it has, such as producing sentiment scores and time-series analysis. It does all of this in a scalable fashion, on multiple servers.
There's more to it than that, but you might glaze over. Tom can tell you ALL about it if you'd like.
The Fine People of Smesh
Tom Quick Founder
Herr Kapitän
Founder of Smesh and its predecessor company; currently Technical Director at fine digital agency Poke, winner of many Webbies and NMA's 'Most Respected Agency' 2008 and 2009. Once-upon-a-time academic Computer Scientist.
Tom conceived of Smesh's precedessor in 2005 while working as CTO at digital agency Digit. He started developing it in early 2006.
Tom has seen other people screw up so many times, that he decided he could hardly do worse, especially if he got a bunch of brilliant people to help him out.
James Booth Advisor, non-exec Director
Digital Marketing Uber-dude
In 2008, James and Torie Chilcott founded Rockabox Media (digital content creation and partners with Google in the new 'Shutters' rich-media ad format). Prior to this, he was co-founder and CEO of Tangozebra, the leading provider of digital marketing solutions in Europe, with a UK market share of 70% for its rich-media solutions. Tangozebra was sold to DoubleClick / Google in 2007.
In 2003 James was nominated as the most influential person in new media, by New Media Age magazine; two years later, Campaign Magazine placed him fourth in a survey of the greatest Internet pioneers. In 2006, he we was nominated at the NMA awards for the greatest individual contribution to new media.
James is an excellent drinking companion, with conversation ranging from amusing digital marketing industry anecdotes and insight, to motorbikes and chicks, depending on circumstances and blood / alcohol levels.
Rex Crowle Illustrator
Bringer of brand beauty and direction
Rex helps run games company Media Molecule. He was visual designer for Bafta-award winning PS3 game Little Big Planet, including its iconic mascot, Sackboy. He is also creator and director of MTV's Grip Wrench, amongst other things.
Rex's life consists entirely of having fun and drawing cool shit, but he's so nice, no-one hates him for it.
Sara Linfoot Commercial Director
Doer of deals
Sara played a leading role on the Guardian's digital commercial team for many years. Sara was responsible for the creative concepts and commercial deals that launched guardian.co.uk's Music site, a branded 3 day music festival in Second Life, the first use of the Guardian's commercial API and many other projects.
Sara may offer to renovate your house if you ply her with enough wine.
Ray Hilton Developer, Thinker
Implementer of ideas
Ray builds awesome software REALLY quickly, as his brain is a Turing Machine with a complicated OO framework on top. Ray worked with Tom at Digit in the early 2000s, and built much of Smesh's internal infrastructure. He is an expert at turning people's vague ideas into working implementations, in no time at all.
Ray describes himself as "a code monkey," though he's more of a software Silverback Gorilla. He specialises in wearing hats. He used to be notorious for enjoying his morning cup of coffee long after it had gone cold, but claims that he has quit the Dark Lord's bean.
Jonathan Hopkins Social Media business advisor
Bringer of social media insight and cunning
Jonathan consults for lots of top PR agencies and brands, primarily around their social media strategies. He's stuffed full of insight into what they want and need when it comes to social media monitoring. Jonathan manages to be a passionate social media specialist without being tedious and annoying; quite the contrary.
Jonathan is full to the brim with interesting ideas and insight, all of the time. (Well, nearly).
Jack Saunders God-like developer
All-round coding demon
Jack is youthful to an extent that makes everyone else in the company jealous. He is also wise and experienced beyond his years, to an extent that makes everyone else in the company jealous.