Brainlabs has acquired influencer marketing agency Fanbytes, strengthening its portfolio to deliver a full range of performance channels for clients.
With expertise in platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat, Fanbytes has carved out an unrivalled reputation for delivering award-winning campaigns powered by its proprietary data tool Bytesights. Their client list includes Samsung, H&M, Estee Lauder, Mattel, Ubisoft, and Nike.
The 60-strong Fanbytes team is led by CEO Timothy Armoo who started the company in 2017 whilst at university and was named last year in Forbes’ 30 under 30 Europe list. Under the guidance of Timo and co-founders Ambrose Cooke and Mitchell Fasanya, the company has expanded to offer their services to over 500 brands across the globe and grown 130% YoY for the last five years.
Sharing Brainlabs’ data-led, test and learn approach, Fanbytes has powered its success with Bytesights: an extensive dataset of over 3 million influencers directly connected to TikTok and Instagram enabling brands to monitor growth, predict trends, identify the best influencers, and pinpoint conversations around their products, competitors and sectors.
Fanbytes has built notoriety for innovation through industry-first projects like Bytesquad, a collective of six top TikTok creators who made history in 2020 by creating Europe’s first ever TikTok house. The project secured brand partners including 2K Games, Rubik’s and Public Health England as partners.
In 2020, Fanbytes launched the Fanbytes Impact Fund, a £250K fund dedicated to addressing the pay gap between black and non-black influencers and to provide funding and agency expertise to black-owned businesses. In its first year, the fund supported 14 black-owned businesses and 85+ black creators.
On the acquisition Brainlabs Global CEO Daniel Gilbert said:
“I’m super excited about welcoming Fanbytes to Brainlabs, not only because I’m in awe at what they’ve achieved in such a short space of time but I also see them as an essential piece of the jigsaw in our digital media offering. Influencer marketing has rapidly become an integral part of the digital media mix so to be able to offer it alongside our other capabilities under one roof is a huge advantage to our clients.
Plus, we get to work with the entrepreneurial trio of Timo, Ambrose and Mitchell who have built an amazingly smart and successful business.”
Fanbytes CEO Timothy Armoo said:
“From day one, Fanbytes has been about more than just an ambition to fundamentally change how brands can speak to consumers (and vice versa); but always being one calculated step ahead in how we achieve that. From being first advocates of Snap and TikTok before the industry took either seriously, to literally inventing new ways for brands to use those channels, we’ve always carved our own path, and helped our clients carve theirs, and we’re excited to continue this with Brainlabs.
Through Brainlabs’ global network we can supercharge what we do, bringing our technology, expertise and talent to an even bigger audience. We’ve also found a kindred spirit that shares similar ambitions.”