C5 Alliance has invested in Garden Tags, an innovative social network for gardeners, which is currently used by over 90,000 users worldwide.

GardenTags brings together gardeners from around the world, creating an online community that allows them to share images and experiences. Users of the website and mobile app provide support and advice and have even worked together to build an encyclopedia featuring over 15,000 plants.

C5 will provide technical and strategic expertise, and funding to support GardenTags’ development. This includes a scalability strategy to ensure it continues to grow and perform on a global scale. The strategy will leverage several cutting-edge technologies, optimising GardenTags for coping with millions of posts and comments. C5 will also facilitate the ongoing testing and development of its platform, which will provide new opportunities for C5 interns, introducing them to technologies and best practice as part of a real-world development project.

C5 Alliance Group Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Aonghus Fraser has been appointed CTO of GardenTags and will oversee the implementation of the strategies. Aonghus currently provides technology strategy for several organisations across the Channel Islands including Digital Jersey, PlainSail, as well as clients in public, finance and legal sectors. 

The strategies will allow GardenTags to keep up with demand and remain up-to-date with the latest technology trends, allowing possible exponential growth in the same vein as other popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. 

GardenTags was co-founded by former C5 Senior Associate Consultant, David Scott, and his business partner, Daniel Richards, who formerly worked alongside Richard Branson as Virgin’s Group Digital Director.

Aonghus Fraser, commented:

“I’m thrilled to be working with David and the rest of the GardenTags team. This venture is a great fit for C5, and our consultants are eager to get started by implementing cutting-edge technologies to help this local business scale globally. One of our strategies for dealing with the global IT skills shortage is to ‘grow our own’ – developers, rather than plants – initiatives such as GardenTags provide an excellent opportunity for new recruits to develop their skills as the platform will undoubtedly continue to evolve in the future.”

David Scott, commented:

“We are delighted to have secured the support of C5 Alliance to help GardenTags to grow into a truly global social network for gardeners, allowing it to become the undisputed number one platform in this space. C5’s proven technical expertise forms an essential component of our partnership, and we are delighted to have Aonghus on board as our CTO.”

Find out more about GardenTags and download the app www.gardentags.com