Hi all, I’m one of the founders of Squarebird (recently acquired by SWC) and thought I’d introduce myself with a bit of the backstory.
You might assume my connection to the SWC of today came through a typical acquisition route, or the website industry… but it actually started with my interest in MSTR. I did, incidentally, happen to know Andrew from the past, and it all makes (I think) a great story worth sharing.
Back in 2013, I was hired to manage the digital marketing for a leadership development consultancy, where I was introduced to Andrew and Alex at Smarter Web as the company’s recently appointed website providers. I was quickly impressed with their work, and over the next 3 years we delivered several successful web projects together. I enjoyed working with them so much that I very nearly asked Andrew for a job.
Around 2015, Squarebird began to evolve for me and Nick (brother and co-founder) from freelancing into a fully-fledged web and marketing agency. Over the years that followed, we infrequently crossed paths with Andrew through mutual clients, passing enquiries back and forth when work wasn’t quite the right fit.
Fast forward a whole decade to spring of 2025, Squarebird now a successful 25-person digital marketing agency, I’m in a bar with a friend, about to call it a night, when we get onto the subject of investing. We discovered a mutual love for Bitcoin, MSTR, and Michael Saylor. Safe to say, further night caps were ordered, and our bedtime was put on hold for another couple of hours. We discussed at length how we hoped that someone would soon launch something similar to MicroStrategy in the UK.
A few days later, I’ve just woken up, reached for my phone… started scrolling through Instagram (terrible habit I know!) before my morning run… when I see the news.
A Bitcoin treasury has gone live on Aquis, and it’s called The Smarter Web Company.
I had three immediate thoughts:
- my morning run is firmly cancelled.
- I need to quickly do my research and invest at the bell.
- I must tell Andrew Webley that a PLC is using the same company name as his.
Then of course I discover, it IS the SWC I know, and it IS Andrew.
It just seemed unthinkable. The first Bitcoin treasury launching in the UK, with an operating business in my industry, in Bristol, being run by someone I know?
Those odds have to be pretty wild.
The penny dropped. I knew Andrew was incredibly driven and talented from my experience as a user of software he had developed years back, and with his background at HL… of course he would be into Bitcoin, and of course he would have the determination to go all the way to launching a PLC.
Once I had some shares in the bag, I emailed Andrew to congratulate him on the IPO and said how excited I was to see him leading the UK’s first Bitcoin treasury.
That also marked the start of the conversations that led to SWC acquiring Squarebird.
So, it’s always been far more than a typical acquisition. Since we joined the group, every day has been incredibly exciting, and I can honestly say that the SWC leadership team’s reputation for being relentlessly motivated to achieve their short and long-term goals, no matter the conditions, is well deserved and a true reflection of the day-to-day behind the scenes.
The buzz is infectious and a privilege to be contributing to.
As I said at the beginning, I think it’s a great story, and one that’s only just getting started.
Looking forward to building what comes next with the team and everyone here.
Politely, LFG. 🚀
@asjwebley @Croesus_BTC @the_desert_ape @aw_smarterwebuk @smarterwebuk