When Dutch software engineering and IT consultancy Xebia sought to establish a U.S. headquarters, they had their pick of prime locations. With 28 offices around the globe, cities like New York, Seattle, or San Francisco could have been the obvious choices from a tech talent pool perspective. However, as Xebia’s COO, Sandeep Makwana, shared with Hypepotamus, Atlanta emerged as the standout option for several compelling reasons.
Yes, it was attractive to be close to the world’s busiest airport and one of the highest concentrations of Fortune 500 companies. It was helpful that Atlanta had a strong university system to help recruit top artificial intelligence and generative AI talent. And it was helpful that one of Xebia’s biggest clients was already located in Atlanta. But above other competing cities, Atlanta had something unique: A strong tie with the company’s home country.
The Netherlands and Atlanta share strong connections, and the country is the 8th largest export market for the State of Georgia. The city even played host to the Dutch Royal Family this summer as a sign of growing economic and cultural ties between the two places.
So the Dutch company has set up shop in Buckhead and is in expansion mode.
Xebia Building Community In Atlanta
The company’s leadership executives are spread out across the world (with Makwana sitting in Austin, Texas), but a growing number of them are located in Atlanta. That is strategic as the company looks to grow its Atlanta office, which is currently around 70 people.
“Our raw material is people,” Makwana added. “From a leadership and administrative perspective, you’ll see more and more [people] in Atlanta.”
Beyond local hiring (open positions listed here), Xebia has been working hard to integrate into Atlanta’s technology community. And to them, that means brining a bit of the Netherlands to the streets of Atlanta.
Since biking is a way of life in the Netherlands, Xebia launched its Bikes and Trikes initiative this fall. The company’s goal is to build more than 100 bicycles and tricycles for Atlanta-area school children by the end of 2024. The goal is to “foster community engagement, empower underserved families, and create opportunities for elementary-aged students,” according to a company statement.
“Our Bikes & Trikes initiative reflects Xebia’s belief in the power of community,” added Makwana. “We understand that as we continue to innovate in technology, we must also innovate in how we contribute to society. Building these bikes for children in need shows that we care deeply about the future of Atlanta. We are proud to work alongside our partners and customers to bring joy and opportunity to these families.”