In Just a Year, Tech Startup Outgrows Frederick Road Space

In just under a year, one of Baltimore's fastest-growing technology companies has outgrown the offices it leases on Frederick Road and is looking for more space--fast.

Todd Marks, CEO of the award-winning , said the company needs between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet as soon as possible in Catonsville.

"We expected the bank would support our growth for three years, but we outgrew it in 10 months," Marks wrote in an email.

The company, which started in 2002 in the basement of Marks' Oella home, has grown to 36 full-time employees. Last June it moved from rented space above restaurant into the old bank building at 640 Frederick Road and the intersection of Ingleside Avenue.

In the last two years, the company has received multiple awards for its work developing mobile apps, websites and social media products. The Chesapeake Regional Tech Council selected Mindgrub as its Rising Star company for the year. The Baltimore Business Journal awarded the company first place in app creation and the Baltimore Sun named it an up-and-coming mobile agency.

Locally, the awarded the company the innovative technology award for 2011.

Marks, who graduated high school in Columbia and started his professional career as a teacher, said he has always enjoyed being in Catonsville and likes the historic feel to the area.

Occasionally he can be seen riding his skateboard down Frederick Road or driving his Vespa to work. Many of the employees are young and Marks has also hired students as interns and graduates as full-time employees.

The company has also opened up its Frederick Road offices, inviting other technology-minded leaders for special events and presentations.

At a tech meetup in early May, about 12 people gathered in the basement of the company's offices to hear employee Matt Forr talked about the technology he used to develop assisted software for the blind.

Marks said in an email that he wants his employees to learn to be able to sell themselves and their work.

"It gives many of our employees the opportunity to start speaking in a safe environment so they can hopefully go out and be an evangelist for Mindgrub much like I have done over the years."