2001

The Beginning

The Beginning

December

Former co-workers, DJ and Alejandro meet up online and began to experiment with the concept of delivering small projects from Alejandro's hometown of Bogota, Colombia. Their first project is a site for JH Whitney, a leading private equity firm.

2002

A Site is Born

A Site is Born

July

DJ and Alejandro hook up with former Underline client Kristine Harding of Nickelodeon and are hired to pitch for Pringles. Kristen requests access to their 'new site' ...which did not exist. Over the weekend,DJ and Alejo turn Alejandro's personal website – Zemoga.com into what will become the online home, and name of their new venture, Zemoga.

2003

Turn Your Head and Cough

Turn Your Head and Cough

May

DJ and Alejandro hire their first employee, former Underline team member Dan Licht, to direct the growing portfolio of work for Nick.com. Not long after, Federico Ortega joins the team and helps launch our project management offering.

2004

Employee 1 (and 2)!

Employee 1 (and 2)!

March

Zemoga opens its first Colombian office, a tight cramped space in the luxurious "El Chico" area of Bogota.

A Real Office

A Real Office

May

Zemoga opens its first Colombian office, a tight cramped space in the luxurious "El Chico" area of Bogota.

Colombia Gets a Second US Ambassador

Colombia Gets a Second US Ambassador

November

DJ's first trip to Bogota includes trying guaro (a.k.a. “firewater”) for the first time …which leads to him losing his return plane ticket. DJ vows (after realizing his fears regarding Bogota were unfounded and inaccurate) 'I shall return...again...and again...and again!'.

A Meaningful Partnership

A Meaningful Partnership

December

As the Colombia based staff grows to 8 people, Zemoga begins work on Lifebank USA with long time partner Palio.

Our First Fiesta

Our First Fiesta

December

Zemoga starts a tradition of office parties by taking the Colombian office (all 8 of them) to 'Salto de Angel' or The Jumping Angel. It’s Dan Licht’s first visit and after the trip, he becomes another unofficial ambassador for Colombia.

2005

Move Over, Harry Potter

Move Over, Harry Potter

January

Federico mentions one wintery day in New Jersey that he has never seen snow. As Fede, DJ, Dan and Alejo walk out of Lifebank USA discovery session, DJ notices the change in barometric pressure (as well as the darkening clouds) and yells 'I command it to snow'. It immediately does, leading Fede to believe that DJ has magical powers.

We Speak Their Language

We Speak Their Language

May

Zemoga expands in to the Education category, adding language instruction leaders Berlitz to its client roster.

You Never Looked So Good

You Never Looked So Good

November

Art history is made when Dan Licht creates the first 'Z Portrait'.

2006

Busting at the Seams

Busting at the Seams

May

Zemoga’s growth results in a move to spacious new offices in El Chico.

Award Winning Games

Award Winning Games

May

Zemoga's receives two Art Director’s Club Awards for our work on the SKITTLES snowboard game we created for NICK.COM.

We Have No Outstanding Warrants

We Have No Outstanding Warrants

June

Zemoga expands its media client base by building a customized player for A & E’s “Dog, the Bounty Hunter”.

Another New Office

Another New Office

September

DJ is kicked out of his basement and opens up Zemoga’s Wilton, CT office.

Picture Perfect Partnership

Picture Perfect Partnership

October

Zemoga starts its partnership with IMP and begins defining what would become the innovative photo sharing site, Hoorray.

Becoming Flash Leaders

Becoming Flash Leaders

November

RTT, one of the world’s leading developers of 3D modeling taps Zemoga to provide Flash based solutions for Lexus

We Speak Their Language 2

We Speak Their Language 2

November

Zemoga provides strategic support to leading Spanish language agency, LatinVox. We help them develop innovative interactive solutions for some of their key clients in the Spirits category. Salud!

2007

The ZCrew Gets Internet Famous

The ZCrew Gets Internet Famous

February

Gnarls Barkley move over! Zemoga gets political with our “Crazy Redux” video on YouTube. The clip goes viral generating hundreds of thousands of views (despite some questionable dance moves from Zemoga staffers).

Cruisin'

Cruisin'

March

Zemoga builds and launches the innovative FJ Cruiser Configurator for Toyota.

Leading By Example

Leading By Example

March

DJ, Alejo, Dan and new PMO head Andres Hernandez travel to new client Calistoga Ranch in Napa Valley, CA to experience first hand the product service through deep research and product interaction. Of course, much wine was consumed, along with a trip to the worst casino in the world… seriously.

Gold Pencils

Gold Pencils

May

Industry recognition of Zemoga’s outstanding work continues when the company receives 2 Gold Pencil Awards from the One Club. Dan Licht is disappointed that they aren’t actual gold pencils since he wanted to “Pimp my sketchbook”.

Selling the Sizzle

Selling the Sizzle

May

The company continues it’s growth in the Travel and Leisure category by redesigning the digital offering for MORTON’S Steakhouses. Not surprisingly, DJ insists on doing the bulk of the market research on this project singlehandedly.

Partnering With Internet Giants

Partnering With Internet Giants

May

Zemoga officially moves up to the Internet Big Leagues, partnering with YAHOO! And CRYSTAL LIGHT on a custom sweepstakes promotion.

We Start Taking Lunch Breaks on 7th Avenue

We Start Taking Lunch Breaks on 7th Avenue

November

Zemoga opens NYC office two blocks away from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (home to aspiring models and designers). Dan swears the location is entirely coincidental (even though he went to school there).

How to Become Our Favorite Client

How to Become Our Favorite Client

November

IMP flies 23 Zemoga staff members to Marbella, Spain for a week of merriment and innovation. That is not a typo...a client took 23 Zemoga staffers to their huge 'Villa' in Marbella.

2008

Can You Hear Us Now?

Can You Hear Us Now?

January

Zemoga ushers in a communications revolution as the ZPhone is rolled out to a wide range of clients.

It's an Honor Just to be Nominated

It's an Honor Just to be Nominated

April

Zemoga’s Crazy Redux video receives Official Honoree Distinction at the 12th Annual Webby Awards

Time to Work on Our Six Packs

Time to Work on Our Six Packs

May

Rodale joins the Zemoga client roster. MEN’S HEALTH Publisher Jack Essiq swears he will never look at crash test dummies the same way ever again.

They're Full of Bull...Sprint?

They're Full of Bull...Sprint?

June

DJ and Alejo run with the bulls. OK...they watch most of it from above...but DJ does manage a quick jog alongside the steers.

We'll Always Remember the Masks

We'll Always Remember the Masks

August

15 US based friends of DJ's (plus the whole company) attend a surprise 40th birthday for DJ thrown by Alejandro at Andres Res Des Carnes. There is video. It's worth a look.

Helping Make History

Helping Make History

September

Zemoga partners with ROCK THE VOTE to create, “A Million Reasons to Vote”. Can we be cutting edge and socially responsible at the same time? Yes we can.

2009

What's Bandeja Paiesa?

What's Bandeja Paiesa?

January

Zemoga reaches out to it's customers with FROM BOGOTA WITH LOVE, the company's first blog. FBWL focuses digital trends, new technologies and innovations and (most importantly) the unique culture of Zemoga.

More Fun Than Fingerpainting

More Fun Than Fingerpainting

February

Zemoga helps build a truly unique automotive site. BMW's Expression of Joy project uses the car as a paintbrush, effectively communicating their unique driving experience (with a little design help from the Z-team of course!).

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

March

America's retailer joins the Z-family of clients. Zemoga redesigns the user interface for Sears.com and K-Mart.com, kicking off an ongoing design and development partnership that is changing the face of retail online.

We'd Like to Thank the Academy (again)

We'd Like to Thank the Academy (again)

April

The awards keep coming as Zemoga wins a Webby for our work on A MILLION REASONS TO VOTE and a Telly for our work on the DUAC "Science of Acne" video

They Grow Up So Fast

They Grow Up So Fast

May

Zemoga expands it's offices in Bogota as the Z-team grows to over 80 members. Alejandro sheds a tear as he remembers when the company was "just a baby".

There's An App for That

There's An App for That

June

Zemoga launches its first iPhone App, a mobile version of the classic "Quarters" drinking game. DJ swears that the bar we used is not based on his college haunt, the Alibi

We're #646!

We're #646!

July

Zemoga makes an impressive showing in the INC. 5000, ranking ast #646 on the list of America's fastest growing companies.

Because Diodes & Drugs Wasn't Very Catchy

Because Diodes & Drugs Wasn't Very Catchy

August

Zemoga and Palio team up to launch a new blog dedicated to digital media and the Pharmaceutical industry. PIXELS & PILLS proves so popular that the companies expand it in to a joint service offering.

140 Character Sensation

140 Character Sensation

September

Our "Twatif-the Office" video becomes a viral sensation, generating over 350,000 views and causing one ex-boy band member to start following DJ's tweets. Our beleaguered CEO later has to write an article for THE HUFFINGTON POST entitled "Justin Timberlake, Please Stop Following Me!"

Work Creative, Play Creative

Work Creative, Play Creative

October

Halloween at Zemoga is always a showpiece for the creativity of our team. Here's one of the award winning costumes from the 2009 party.

In Rarified Company

In Rarified Company

November

Zemoga's groundbreaking digital work receives further recognition as we are invited to join the exclusive Society of Digital Agencies.

Happy Birthday, Dear Firefox

Happy Birthday, Dear Firefox

December

The Mozilla Foundation becomes Zemoga's newest client. We build the Firefox 5th anniversary site and some of the Z-team get to attend the extremely cool birthday bash.

2010

Thank You, Mr. President

Thank You, Mr. President

January

Zemoga receives the prestigious PORTAFOLIO award at a ceremony hosted by Colombian President Uribe. The award recognizes Zemoga's position as one of Colombia's top exporters of services.

More Twitter Innovation

More Twitter Innovation

February

As part of our PIXELS & PILLS initiative, Zemoga & Palio launch the HEALTH TWEEDER, an eye catching Twitter aggregator that allows users to find filtered tweets related to various disease states. This innovative tool received major trade press coverage and went on to win numerous awards.

To Bogota With Love ... Again.

To Bogota With Love ... Again.

March

NYT best selling author and Social Media Guru Chris Brogan visits the Zemoga offices in Bogota. Like everyone who comes to Colombia, he instantly falls in love with the country and Zemoga's company culture. Come back again soon, Chris!

Zemoga Likes This

Zemoga Likes This

April

We add to our already impressive social media portfolio with two big name Facebook projects, adding new functionality to CONTINENTAL's FB page and building a new page for JAMIE OLIVER'S FOOD REVOLUTION COMMUNITY.

Changing of the Guard

Changing of the Guard

May

Alejandro kicks off the next chapter in Zemoga evolution, stepping back to focus on strategy (and opening our first ever American West Coast office). To help fill his sizable shoes, industry veteran Andres Navarro joins the Z-team as Managing Director of the Bogota Office.