Humble Beginnings – 1999
Focused on presenting images in a better way, one of David’s first sites was ranked #1 for “Funny Pictures” on AOL.com. Moving on from Soderfors, David opened an internet cafe in the Swedish town of Tierp in 2000. “SiliconX” was the after-school hangout where kids gathered to play Counter Strike.
David worked around the clock in the back of the Cafe, designing, learning flash, and eventually building a website for his first web design company called Dolphin Ocean. Then, the first designers were hired.
First Site of the Year – 2001
In 2001, Dolphin Ocean changed its name to Fantasy Interfaces and moved to Uppsala, Sweden, closer to Stockholm. Fantasy shared an office with a gaming company called Starbreeze Studios. Four people strong, Fi designed and developed the Starbreeze website which won The FWA Site of the Year award in 2001. This significant honor received attention by larger clientele.
Second Site of the Year – 2003
After moving to Stockholm in 2002, Road Runner and Microsoft Xbox became loyal clients. Fantasy dropped Interfaces, became Fantasy Interactive, expanded the team and quietly toiled away. In 2003, Fantasy Interactive introduced the concept of dynamic deep linking (DDL), which served as the foundation for the Road Runner portal, which secured Fantasy Interactives second The FWA Site of the Year honor.
Oh, hello Ford! Is that AOL behind you? 2004 – 2005
After the success of Road Runner and Xbox clients came left right and center; two such clients being Ford and AOL. Fantasy traveled to the US every two months, to stay close to their 100% US-based clientele. The company slowly grew in Stockholm to accommodate the demand, but quickly realized a US-based office was in order, which opened in New York City on July 27th, 2005.
New York in Full Swing – 2006
Marcus Ivarsson (Executive Producer), took the lead in Sweden and David opened Fi-NY along with Camilla Ostblom (COO) and Stephen Martin (Executive Producer). Fantasy began hiring its first American employees while engaged in relationships with MTV, NBC and AT&T. Meanwhile, back in Sweden, Fantasy Interactive won the Supergasell Award for becoming the most successful organically grown company in Sweden.
Fi – Present Day
Although our core goals and philosophies remain the same, the organization recently adopted the name “Fi” and continues to grow with new clients, projects, and even new offices on the horizon. We’re just getting started.