From Banking to Digital Transformation: Ted Novak on Building Clique Studios & Defining Tech Success

What happens when a microbiology grad turned banker discovers his passion for technology and design? In the premiere episode of Pitch, Build, Scale, host Chris Fanchi sits down with Ted Novak, Managing Director and Partner at Clique Studios, to unpack a journey that’s anything but conventional.

From optimizing banking processes in the pre-Big Short era to co-founding a digital agency in 2010, Ted shares how he and his team at Clique Studios are redefining digital transformation—blending creativity, technology, and human-centric design to empower businesses. Expect insights on scaling a nimble agency, leveraging AI without losing the human touch, and why training clients might just be the future of tech partnerships.

Ready to ignite your spark of innovation? This is where it starts.Show NotesWelcome to the premiere of Pitch, Build, Scale! Host Chris Fanchi kicks off the series with Ted Novak, Managing Director and Partner at Clique Studios, a digital agency that’s been pushing the boundaries of design and technology since 2010. In this episode, Ted takes us from his early days in banking—streamlining investor reporting during the wild pre-2010 capital markets era—to co-founding Clique Studios with a mission to blend creativity and tech into transformative digital solutions.What You’ll Learn:

• How Ted transitioned from microbiology and banking into software development and design (1:21)
• The spark that led to co-founding Clique Studios—and why they chose to build a company, not just a freelance gig (6:04)
• Why design still matters in a tech-driven world, and how Clique stays ahead of trends (8:11)
• Digital transformation unpacked: From websites to enterprise platforms, and the power of pilots over perfection (13:29)
• The role of AI in scaling agencies—and why understanding still beats outsourcing (20:18)
• Scaling challenges: How diversity, transparency, and talent keep Clique thriving (26:31)
• The next 12-24 months: Trends in tech partnerships and the rise of upskilling clients (33:41)

Connect with Ted:Website: https://www.cliquestudios.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tednovakPodcast: https://www.tedlistenspodcast.com/ or search “Ted Listens” on SpotifyFollow Pitch, Build, Scale:Subscribe now to catch every episode!Website: Coming soon!Hosted by Chris Fanchi of Big North Marketing (https://bignorthmarketing.com)