Back to the Beginning with Ben Underwood

How did you and Adam meet and when did you decide to start a business together?

When we were five on the playground. We used to live quite close together. We started little schemes with each other. Like, school dinners were 95p and we found a way to get the 5p by charging the other kids to play on Adam’s yo-yo. Then we got a camera and took photos of local cats, then used those to make a calendar and sold them to the girls at school. 

We both went onto different things after high school and didn’t think we’d be working together again. Then in 2015, I’d been on a trip to Japan and when I came back I got the idea to start a video business. Adam had broken his leg in a motorcycle accident and asked if he could get involved. 

The company was originally called “Fifty Squid Limited.” What made you change it to Squideo?

The idea was it was a fifty-pound video: squid to rhyme with quid. We thought of it like McDonalds, we were just assembling it from pre-created content; we wanted customers who wouldn’t usually be able to afford videos to come in, choose what they wanted from a menu and walk away with a video. That got us a few clients, but the videos started to look quite similar. Which is when we decided to rebrand and switch things up. 

The original logo had a squid in it. Did the squid ever have a name? And what made you choose a squid as your emblem? 

No, it didn’t. We always meant to do that! I think the idea first came because it rhymed with quid, and the service would cost fifty pounds. Also, squids are intelligent. I think.

Squideo went fully remote in 2020. Is there anything you miss from the old offices? 

Definitely the camaraderie and getting to see people every day. We used to have a regular tournament to see who would make tea for the day; we’d throw tennis balls and whoever’s rolled the furthest would end up on duty. Fun stuff like that. 

And whatever happened to Squideo’s pet fish: Ink and Squidge?

Oh, man! Well, one of them… [EMILY: Crossed the rainbow bridge?] … yeah, I think it went down the toilet. The other one went to another business that was in the same office building as us. Once we were down to one fish we realised it wasn’t really worth the expense and time to maintain the tank. 

And the technology boom post-COVID?

Yeah. We didn’t see a lot of clients in person even before the pandemic, apart from some people who weren’t really comfortable with the technology. But now, everyone knows how to use at least one video conferencing platform. And that has really freed us up to work with clients from anywhere in the world. 

We’ve been able to stay in touch as a team really well since going remote, through regular meetings and occasional staff outings. Last time was a trip to the bowling alley; where do you want to go next?

I think an escape room currently has the most votes. That’s been a popular request. Although, Callum’s mentioned going driving on a proper range, and maybe having a full game of golf. I’ve always wanted us to do a Christmas trip to Amsterdam. I used to go on that years ago, using the ferry, so that’d be great.

Escape room next, probably. Providing we have a few good months!

I took a deep dive into Squideo’s social media accounts before we met and I have just one more question left from those; do I want to know what happens in the Squideo van?

[Laughs] In the van. A friend of Adam’s was wrapping cars and vans, so we thought it would be a cool marketing technique. Like people would see this orange van and think, that looks cool I’m going to check it out. Not sure it really worked. Adam mostly used it to take motorcycle parts to the scrap heap. We did rebrand it and he still has it; it’s just about hanging in there. 

Finally, can you give us an insight into where Squideo is heading and what projects you have on the horizon?

We’re working a lot with different NHS trusts and local authorities which we’re keen to pursue. For the team, I don’t think we want to expand massively past a couple more people. I like the level we’re at, I just want us to build more brand awareness.