(Image: T&A)
An entrepreneur who says he built a six-figure business from scratch wants his growing AI company to help put the city "on the map".
Carter Stewart, 27, founded Go7 after becoming frustrated by slow decisions and resistance to artificial intelligence at marketing agencies.
The firm employs three people and helps businesses find customers through sales expertise and AI technology from its Heckmondwike offices.
Mr Stewart said: "I'm based in Bradford, I've always wanted to build something big here.
Carter Stewart at the Go7 offices. (Image: T&A)
"I'd like Go7 to be that.
"I just want to put Bradford on the map."
What does Go7 do?
Go7 acts as an outsourced sales and marketing department for its clients.
In simple terms, the company helps businesses identify potential customers, makes contact with them and develops those conversations into sales opportunities.
"To put it bluntly, we are basically the marketing department of other businesses," Mr Stewart said.
"The core service we provide is to find customers. It's all sales related."
Carter Stewart at the Go7 offices. (Image: T&A)
The company currently operates as a managed service, with staff carrying out the work on behalf of clients.
Mr Stewart plans to open up its AI platform to customers from January, allowing businesses to use the technology themselves.
History and future plans
Mr Stewart started the business alone almost four years ago.
He said: "It took probably two years to really refine the process and test things out and improve it.
"In the last few years, Go7 was born."
Looking ahead, he hopes to expand significantly over the next five years.
"The goal is really next year to launch the platform and, in five years, work with thousands of businesses and go to the US," he said.
Mr Stewart said a desire to embrace artificial intelligence was a major factor behind starting the business.
"The last agency I worked at banned AI, and I just couldn't believe it," he said.
"I understand why people have a certain opinion towards it but I feel like we should use it to our benefits.
"I feel like they're going to get left behind if they don't adapt to it."
Bradford is 'untapped market'
While acknowledging concerns around AI, he believes the technology should be viewed as a tool rather than a replacement for people.
As the company grows, Mr Stewart hopes it will create opportunities for people in the district.
"The more we grow, the more job opportunities there will be for us to hire in Bradford," he said.
He believes Bradford is still an untapped base for technology businesses.
"It's just never really mentioned in the headlines and I think we're waiting for that big tech start-up to blow up," he said.
"I think it might be our time."