Fortico

A fresh start with a new partner

Elliot Banks is the founder of Fortico, a digital business that relocated from London to Cornwall to rebalance the pace of work and life. With a background in brand, design, and web, Elliot was looking for more than just suppliers, he wanted long-term partners who could help build, challenge, and grow alongside him.

“We’d made this big move, changed location, changed pace… but the one thing I couldn’t find straight away was the right agency to support us.”

The challenge wasn’t about capability. Cornwall has a vibrant creative scene, but Elliot had been burned in the past by agencies that overpromised and underdelivered.

He was looking for an agency that could bring organisational nowse and technical capability, but also align with how he preferred to work – through mutual trust, collaboration, and clear communication.

“When you’re a smaller agency, you want to actually feel like you’re important to somebody because your clients are important to you.”

Fortico needed more than deliverables, they needed connection. The challenge wasn’t about finding an agency. It was about finding the right one.

What We Did

• Technical integration
• Development support
• Discovery and planning workshops
• Agile delivery partnership
• System and platform consultancy
• Ongoing roadmap alignment
• Strategic advice and feedback loops

When You Know You’ve Found the Right Fit

Elliot had explored offshore teams and other agency relationships in the past, but often found the workflows clunky or the balance between collaboration and cost off. He was looking for something more aligned — a team that felt like a partner, not just a provider.

“In as much as we had a similar sort of process, it just clicked. There was a rhythm to how we worked together, and now I feel really confident to go in together on projects as partners.”

An ethical, conscious approach to business was also important to Elliot. The first project, a technical integration with a system Vu had prior experience in, set the tone.

The collaboration grew stronger over time. The combination of Vu’s workshops and Fortico’s creative thinking created a partnership where both sides brought value,  and both improved as a result.

“There’s a symbiosis to it. We bring clarity and process; Fortico brings agility and ideas, and that makes both of us stronger.”

– Dominic Cooper, Vu Online

“I prefer to build relationships. Hence why, it was important that you were close. Responsive. Know what you’re doing and you do it Well”

– Elliot Banks

Eowyn particularly appreciated how Vu took the time to genuinely understand Mix Diversity’s challenges, rather than imposing a rigid solution. 

“Sometimes you just need to test something to see how it looks, and we didn’t have that flexibility before. Every time we wanted to make a change, we had to formally request it.”

It wasn’t just about delivering a website, it was about creating a platform that empowered Mix Diversity’s team to confidently take control of their digital platform.

The Solution

A collaborative development partnership grounded in shared values, clear process, and responsive support — enabling Fortico to grow with confidence.

Since partnering with Vu, Fortico has been able to move through their pipeline with greater clarity and consistency. The pace is sustainable, the communication flows easily, and what began as project delivery has naturally evolved into a strategic partnership.

“You’re good at what you do, and it shows.”

– Elliot Banks

The working relationship has become intuitive. There’s no need to rebrief, no second-guessing. Shared goals, mutual understanding, and a reliable rhythm mean both teams can focus on what matters: building meaningful, effective digital products.

The result is more than a website or a system — it’s a long-term platform for growth, built on mutual trust.