Blog

Centralise: A New HubSpot Partner with an Expert Edge

Written by Centralise Team | Oct 15, 2024 8:00:00 AM

From Humble Beginnings to High-Tech Heights

Every great business starts with a story, and Centralise is no exception. Co-founders Daniel O'Reilly and Calvin O'Callaghan's journey to launching a cutting-edge HubSpot agency began in the charming towns and bustling cities of Ireland.

Daniel, a native of Wexford, grew up in the heart of rural Ireland, where rallying was the local passion. Later, he became a die-hard Leinster Rugby fan when the team started dominating the Heineken Cup. After years of helping out in the family supermarket and working in various retail roles across Ireland, Dan's entrepreneurial spirit led him to start his own IT, website, and social media business. This set the stage for his career at HubSpot, where he thrived as a leading Growth Specialist in the UK market. His award-winning skills eventually took him to London, where his expertise with HubSpot solutions became a driving force for growth. If you’ve ever spotted Dan, there’s a fair chance it was while he was enjoying a trusty M&S lunch.

Calvin, hailing from Cork (yes, with the accent to match), found his footing in the world of soccer and engineering. Studying Process & Chemical Engineering at university, he worked with pharmaceutical giants like J&J and BMS before venturing into the startup scene with companies such as SmartRoutes and Razor. His knack for business and passion for process improvement paved the way to a successful sales career at HubSpot. There, his expertise in operational efficiency saw him climb the ranks, earning promotions and accolades along the way. Calvin’s clear vision and sharp focus on business optimisation made him the perfect partner for Dan’s technical prowess.


How It All Began: Over a Pint at Flat Iron Square

The idea for Centralise was born out of a shared passion for business and startups. Over lunches, Guinness, and industry events across Dublin, Dan and Calvin frequently found themselves discussing the future of customer relationship management (CRM). One evening in London’s Flat Iron Square, the conversation turned serious. They realised they had the perfect combination of skills - Dan’s technical expertise and Calvin’s process-driven approach to launch a new kind of HubSpot partner agency. And just like that, Centralise began to take shape.

 

 


Spotting the Opportunity:
A Crowded Market with Clear Gaps

With 6,000 HubSpot Partner Agencies worldwide, the market for HubSpot services is well-serviced but fragmented. From their combined eight-plus years within the HubSpot ecosystem, Dan and Calvin noticed three key gaps:

Specialisation Over Generalisation

Many agencies offer a broad range of services, from various CRMs to branding and marketing, but this often means their teams lack deep expertise in any one area. Centralise aims to change that by focusing exclusively on HubSpot, becoming the go-to experts for businesses seeking to leverage the platform to its fullest potential.

The Evolution from Inbound to Revenue Operations

Since HubSpot’s early days of inbound marketing, the platform has expanded significantly, now encompassing sales, services, operations, CMS, and even commerce. The shift toward a comprehensive "Customer Platform" and "Revenue Operations" strategy presents an opportunity for Centralise to lead the way in helping businesses adopt this modern approach.

Complementary Skill Sets Driving Real Results

Dan’s technical know-how paired with Calvin’s process optimisation skills offer a balanced approach to solving customer challenges. With a combined track record of launching multiple businesses, they bring a depth of business acumen that makes them unafraid to roll up their sleeves and get the job done.


The Centralise Vision: Built on Strong Foundations

Since officially launching in July 2024, Centralise has been laser-focused on delivering world-class services based on three core principles:

  • 100% HubSpot: The team doesn’t dilute their expertise by offering unrelated services. They are all-in on HubSpot, covering everything from CRM implementations to advanced RevOps strategies.

  • Technology-Enabled Processes: Centralise doesn’t just implement technology—they optimise business processes first, ensuring that tech adoption truly adds value.

  • Research-Backed Solutions: Having spoken with over 200 HubSpot customers, Dan and Calvin know where the pain points are and how to solve them. Their approach is built on data and real-world insights, ensuring clients avoid common pitfalls.


 


The Team: A HubSpot Dream Team

In just three months, Centralise has assembled a rockstar lineup of HubSpot talent:

Jeremy Williamson (Head of Growth):
With eight years of HubSpot Partner expertise, Jeremy is known for his ability to tackle projects of all sizes and complexities, from small businesses to major enterprises.

Hannah:
If you aren’t already following her on LinkedIn, you’re missing out. Hannah’s blend of agency and in-house CRM experience brings invaluable insight into the ecosystem.

Fran:
Fresh from Auckland, New Zealand, Fran supports customers with onboarding and ongoing CRM admin work, drawing from her experience at one of the top three global partners.

Tom:
Centralise’s first hire, Tom brings eight years of report-building and training experience within HubSpot, even educating the HubSpot team itself on best practices. Just don’t mention Tottenham’s weekend results on Mondays.

Paul (Operations Guru):
Paul keeps the wheels turning, whether he’s building out ClickUp workflows or crafting social media campaigns. He’s the glue that binds this dynamic team together.

With the addition of a new Head of Services in November, who previously scaled a company from 7 to 80 employees, Centralise is set to bolster its ranks with even more top-tier talent.

Growth So Far: A Fast Start with Big Ambitions

In just three months, Centralise has made impressive strides:

Eight-Team Strong:
From an idea over a pint to a team of eight, Centralise has grown rapidly.

International Reach:
The agency is already working with clients across the UK, Ireland, Dubai, the Netherlands, and beyond.

Diverse Sector Experience:
Centralise serves a variety of industries, including tech, real estate, manufacturing, healthcare, fintech, and eCommerce.

High-Performance Culture:
The team is building a culture where expertise and fun go hand in hand.


The Road Ahead: Scaling Up and Doubling Down

 



Centralise’s rapid growth has seen them rise from an untiered HubSpot partner to Gold and then Platinum Status in record time. Now, they’re setting their sights on further expansion:

Hiring Spree:
Starting January, the team plans to expand its sales operations out of Dublin, with additional service roles in the UK from November. If you’re a Business Development Representative, Account Executive, or HubSpot Specialist, Centralise wants to hear from you.

Deepening Client Relationships:
Centralise isn’t just taking on new clients; they’re becoming trusted advisors, offering “CRM administrator” services to help businesses fine-tune processes, train teams, and optimise dashboards.


Notable Milestones ⭐️

New Website:
The Centralise website is currently under construction, and our sleek new homepage is already live. We’re hard at work building out the rest of our pages - exciting updates are on the way, so watch this space!

Domain Acquisition:
Centralise is proud to have secured Centralise.com as its digital home.

Growing Client Base:
With expertise spanning tech, cyber, retail, co-working spaces, and Salesforce-HubSpot migrations, the agency is quickly becoming a go-to partner for businesses across the UK and Ireland.


Want to Connect? ❤️

Jeremy Williamson (Head of Growth):
For migrations, integrations, and business cases: jeremy@centralise.co




Daniel O’Reilly (Co-Founder):
For demos and HubSpot expertise: daniel@centralise.co

Calvin O’Callaghan (Co-Founder):
For project simplification and team buy-in: calvin@centralise.co

Press Inquiries: daniel@centralise.co

 

Join Centralise on This Exciting Journey 🧭

From Wexford to Cork, and now to London and beyond, Centralise is setting a new standard in the HubSpot partner ecosystem. By staying true to their values and focusing exclusively on HubSpot, Daniel and Calvin are building something truly special. So, if you’re looking for a safe pair of hands for your HubSpot journey or want to join a dynamic team that’s just getting started, get in touch today!