July 10, 2015
The Tennessean
by Collin Czarnecki
Nashville might be home to a growing technology community, but about a half-hour south of the city, two Franklin companies are proving the local tech scene knows no boundaries.
And even though historic Franklin offers a more laid-back environment than the hustle and bustle of Nashville, Caddis Interactive and LeanKit aren’t showing any signs of slowing down.
In fact, they’re thriving.
“I think Williamson County is just kind of flying under the radar on the tech space right now,” said Jake Fagan, president of Franklin-based Caddis Interactive.
Since its founding 41/2 years ago, the digital marketing company, which specializes in brand development, has grown from two employees to 20. Caddis Interactive has experienced so much growth that it just relocated to a larger office at 216 Noah Drive.
The move is the company’s third expansion within Franklin since 2010.
Rather than flock to downtown Nashville, Fagan said, the company chose to carve out its own niche in Franklin.
“We love Franklin, we love the downtown and the small feel,” Fagan said. “We chose Williamson County, we wanted to live here. We actually didn’t have a client within the state of Tennessee in the first two years. So I think we’re the ultimate example of a company that wanted to live here and work here and build a company around that lifestyle.”
Along with growing its team, Caddis Interactive also has expanded its portfolio over the past few years with a range of clients, such as Paypal, Starbucks and Montana Decoy Co.
“Our range is more about understanding the project and being open and honest about what our skill set is and really just about building a relationship with the client,” Fagan said.
Caddis Interactive isn’t the only technology company that Franklin has attracted. Chris Hefley, CEO of LeanKit, said the project management software company found the charm of Franklin’s historic downtown too hard to ignore.
“We just fell in love with downtown Franklin and being able to walk to lunch together and walk around town,” Hefley said. “It’s become sort of a culture of the company that we’re sort of nestled in here among all of the antique shops and we can walk to lunch together.”
Like Caddis Interactive, LeanKit also has been based in Williamson County since its inception. Founded in 2011, LeanKit’s four founders began working out of a shared office space in Maryland Farms before relocating to downtown Franklin above the Franklin Antique Mall on Second Avenue.
And when it came time to move again two years ago, the company found a conveniently located 10,000-square-foot space — across the street.
Although Nashville is home to resources for tech companies such as the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and Nashville Technology Council, Hefley feels Williamson County has its own perks.
“Being out here has kind of been insulating from all the noise and it’s allowed us to keep our heads down and working,” he said. “It’s been, I think, a healthy separation, and there are probably drawbacks to it too, but I think the results and success we’ve had sort of speaks for itself.”
LeanKit has 80 employees and plans to double in size in the next year and a half.
“We’re growing just about as fast as we can possibly handle,” Hefley said. “And we’re hiring about three to six people per month.”
Being based in Franklin is the best of both worlds for companies such as Caddis Interactive and LeanKit, said Amanda Murray, Williamson Inc. vice president of economic development.
“The close proximity to downtown Nashville and all the amenities it has to offer is a huge benefit for residents,” Murray wrote in an email. “You can spend the evening going to an NHL game or seeing the symphony perform without having to give up the high quality of life Franklin and Williamson County residents value.”
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