A former BBC researcher who launched a digital agency from his mum’s spare room with just £250 and a laptop has grown it into a thriving multi-million-pound business that now partners with some of the world’s most prominent brands and major government bodies.
Alex Suchet founded his company, Mystery Box, back in 2011 after identifying a major inefficiency in how traditional agencies operated.
At the time, he was serving as Vice President at one of the most awarded digital production studios globally, and the experience revealed to him just how bloated and creatively restrictive conventional agency models had become.
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Before making the leap into digital production, Alex had built a solid foundation in the world of broadcast television.
Starting out as a BBC researcher, he went on to produce over 100 episodes of prime-time TV and was already fronting more than 80 hours of live television by the time he turned 20.
His early work laid the groundwork for a career that would later see him become a sought-after presenter and voice-over artist, collaborating with global giants like Netflix, Samsung, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari across international markets.
But it was during his time at UNIT9 that the seeds of change were planted. According to Alex, traditional agencies were being held back by the very systems meant to support them – expensive office spaces, bloated infrastructures, and overly complex hierarchies were reducing creative output and making it harder to remain competitive.
He believed the future of digital work didn’t lie in big offices or layers of management, but in talent, agility, and the strength of the ideas being delivered.
Armed with this belief, he set out to build something different. Mystery Box emerged as a lean, talent-first digital production agency with a focus on stripping away the unnecessary layers that often stand between a good idea and a great final product.
Alex’s aim was simple but radical – to build an agency rooted in excellence and collaboration, free from the constraints of geography or office culture.
“From day one, the goal was to attract top-tier creative talent by offering them better working conditions – including the freedom to work remotely – and in turn provide clients with extraordinary value and uncompromised quality,” Alex explained.
“It made no sense to limit ourselves to talent who happened to live within commuting distance. The internet allowed us to work with the very best people, wherever they are in the world.”
In the beginning, the agency was little more than a laptop on a desk in a family home, but the foundation was built on years of hard-earned experience, a trusted network, and a reputation for delivering.
Thanks to those relationships, early clients were drawn to Mystery Box largely through word of mouth – professionals who had worked with Alex in the past and were now looking for a more flexible, personal and craft-driven alternative to the legacy agencies they had grown tired of.
Over the past 13 years, the business has expanded at a steady and deliberate pace. Mystery Box has managed to increase revenue year after year without inflating its structure or compromising on its creative independence.
Today, the agency creates high-end websites, innovative digital campaigns and immersive experiences for leading brands, entertainment studios, and public sector organisations around the globe.
What started as a one-person operation has since become a respected player in the digital space – known not just for its technical output but for its values-driven approach.
For Alex, the focus has never been on size for its own sake, but rather on sustainable growth, meaningful work, and long-term relationships with clients and collaborators.
That path hasn’t been without its challenges. In the early stages, there was the constant pressure to expand quickly – to take every brief, say yes to every deal, and grow at all costs.
But Alex soon realised that real success meant being selective, protecting the integrity of the work, and building a reputation based on consistency and quality.
Learning to turn down work that didn’t align with the agency’s values was a difficult but necessary lesson in ensuring long-term sustainability.
Another hurdle was fostering a strong, connected team culture without a central office. Building trust, encouraging communication, and cultivating shared purpose across a distributed workforce required a conscious, ongoing effort.
But according to Alex, the result has been a work environment based on mutual respect, collaboration and genuine pride in what they create together – proving that strong company culture doesn’t depend on physical proximity.
He’s also quick to credit the people around him for much of his success – mentors who believed in him, colleagues who pushed him forward, and family members who supported his journey from the start.
He singles out Piero Frescobaldi, Chairman of UNIT9, as a particularly influential figure – someone who took a chance on him as a 23-year-old and whose leadership and creativity made a lasting impact.
When it comes to his leadership style, Alex describes himself as an empathetic leader – someone who prioritises listening and understanding in order to bring out the best in his team.
He believes empathy is what fuels innovation and maintains trust, especially when navigating high-pressure situations.
While building a profitable business is an achievement in itself, Alex says the greatest reward has been the freedom to choose projects that align with his values, to work with people he genuinely respects, and to create a company that balances creative ambition with family life and personal wellbeing.
For him, the real win is in being able to make meaningful work with a team of people who take pride in what they do.
To anyone thinking of launching their own venture, Alex offers some clear-headed advice: don’t get distracted by appearances.
The bells and whistles – slick offices, industry awards, a polished social media presence – mean nothing without a solid product behind them.
Focus on doing great work first. Surround yourself with talented, honest people, stay lean for as long as possible, and keep learning – even when you think you’ve got it all figured out.
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