{"id":26296,"date":"2019-09-12T15:13:47","date_gmt":"2019-09-12T15:13:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/about.35.197.208.187.nip.io\/?page_id=26296"},"modified":"2025-11-07T13:57:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T13:57:25","slug":"company","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/company\/","title":{"rendered":"Our company and what drives us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Built to support the creative ecosystem<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Zealous is a visual submissions management platform<\/a> trusted across every industry<\/strong>. We help you run better open calls, awards, and competitions \u2013 so you can focus on finding & celebrating exceptional talent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Built independent (and staying that way)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Founded by someone who chose creativity over convention, we answer to no shareholders. This means we stay true to our roots: supporting the creative sector while serving organisations everywhere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Image Zealous HQ 2015<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Creative-sector roots, universal appeal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you build for the creative sector’s demanding needs \u2013 rich portfolios, visual storytelling, complex judging \u2013 you build something universally powerful. That’s why foundations, corporations, and agencies across every sector choose Zealous.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Image Yair Neuman, winner of Zealous Stories Design <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Built for deep human storytelling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Creative submissions demand more than forms and checkboxes. We built a platform that showcases work fully and enables fair evaluation. Great talent deserves better than a PDF and a prayer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Image by Lee-Ann Olwage, winner of the 2021 Global Health 50\/50 Contest<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fueling the virtuous circle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every program you run creates opportunities. Every opportunity advances creators. Emerging talent inspires the next generation. This virtuous circle strengthens the entire creative ecosystem \u2013 and we exist to fuel it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Image of our team at the Emerge Awards 2018<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Building a fairer, more creative society is far more valuable than any acquisition offer.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Guy Armitage (Founder)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read our story<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Our story (so far)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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2011<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zealous is born<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An idea to bring together the creative sector is born in a cupcake shop in Cairo<\/a>. A WordPress blog is born to feature creators.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2012<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first version launches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zealous launches, focusing on finding the right collaborators for projects across the creative industries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pivot to opportunities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Creators don’t want a collaboration platform – they want opportunities. Zealous pivots to submissions management.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creative Festival<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zealous takes over a building on the Southbank welcoming 4,000 people to explore 100 featured artists across 3 days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2013-2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forbes & awards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Forbes features our founder about the importance of creativity. Guy wins h.club entrepreneur of the year<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2014-2016<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Team & tech growth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our team doubles<\/a> from 4 to 10 people. This allows us to serve our thriving community better.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2016<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Festival (part deux)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our second creative festival <\/a>welcomes 10,000 people, including industry talks, 100 featured creators.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2016-2017<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dialog through Meetups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We launch monthly meetups<\/a> to create dialog between creators & institutions. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2018<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emerge awards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the UK chooses to leave the EU, Zealous doubles down on celebrating UK talent with an award<\/a> (\u00a312,000 in prizes).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2018-2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zealous celebrates a creator every month<\/a>, with \u00a3250, a feature and portfolio reviews.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Covid response<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zealous offers its services free<\/a> of charge for all charities, with heavy discounts for anyone supporting the ecosystem at this time. Our team becomes fully remote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amplifying social issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We launch an annual \u00a31,500<\/a> prize for art addressing social issues. Our community chooses the theme, starting with mental health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

100,000 creators<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zealous is now big enough to fill Wembley Stadium (and have 10,000 standing outside – sorry!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our logo changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Ukraine war breaks out. Out of respect for our community Zealous drops the Z<\/strong> logo, replacing it with US<\/strong> as a symbol of unity<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2024-2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going international<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our submissions management platform is now used across many sectors – with 23% of our business in the US. The creator network is now shy of 200,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Our values<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When big decisions need to be made, our values act as our true north.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Profit with purpose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Growing your impact means meaningfully growing ours. Our profits amplify our ambition to unlock opportunities for the creative sector globally<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Built on transparency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best ideas come from anyone in our community. We share our findings openly and love feedback – good (and bad)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Always better<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We are building a place for all creators one brick at a time. Each day we grow and evolve our product and community engagement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Human<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our product was built to celebrate people; this extends across our communications and actions. We are people, not bots<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sharing is caring<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We’re only ever a click away should you wish to share feedback with us<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/path><\/svg><\/span> Get in touch<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Meet the team<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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News<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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