BrickRed Technologies

Exploring European business opportunities

Location: Amsterdam
Activities: Client proximity office/European headquarter
Industry: Information technology

BrickRed is a global software engineering firm for established and early-stage software product companies and software-enabled businesses. Through technology expertise and process-oriented outsourcing services, BrickRed has contributed in the success of many companies over the years. Established in 2002, the company has its development centre in India and client proximity offices in US, UK and the Netherlands.

With a clientele that includes  early-stage and established independent software vendors (ISV) and software-enabled businesses, BrickRed catered to their clients in the UK and European Union through a client proximity office in the UK, but soon realized the need for another client proximity office in Europe mainland specifically catering to the EU clients.

“BrickRed Technologies BV was set up in early 2010. The Netherlands has always been a force in the world economy with its growing list of innovations and its growing business stature in Europe. It was one of the best places in Europe to start the business because of its large local economy, open culture, friendly people, no language barrier and above all, easy accessibility to rest of the Europe,” says Rohit Makin, Executive Vice President, BrickRed Technologies.

Rohit attributes the company’s choice to pick Amsterdam to the city’s Schiphol Airport, saying that this was an important parameter as the office would cater to clients across Europe.

The Amsterdam office will start with one-two account manager or director-level people, and gradually develop into BrickRed’s European headquarters. “As the business grows, the number of people in there will increase to about 10 senior personnel, in the next four years,” explains Rohit.

While setting up base in Amsterdam, Rohit says that the company received tremendous help from the NFIA, WFIA and iAmsterdam. “I must mention that the contact persons in NFIA, iAmsterdam and WFIA were extremely helpful, resourceful and always willing to go the extra mile in helping a new company like ours in the region,” he says.

He explains that till date, all three organizations have brought BrickRed in touch with lawyers, tax experts and property agencies in the Netherlands, and also helped the employees of the company network with the expat community there.

BrickRed is benefiting from its presence in the Netherlands in many ways. As Rohit put it, “We plan to grow our business in Europe and in particular in Netherlands by a fast pace and our Amsterdam office is playing a very vital role in this vision.” He adds that their Netherlands-based employees enjoy the beautiful weather, world class infrastructure, excellent connectivity from Schiphol, and friendly and open-minded people.