US-owned social network for athletes Strava is to relocate its international operation to Bristol from London as it looks to recruit new staff for its marketing and business development teams.
The rapid-growth San Francisco-headquartered firm said it has chosen Bristol because of the city’s growing reputation as one of the UK’s pre-eminent creative and technology hubs. 
The firm will grow its Bristol team to around 10 staff, based in newly refurbished offices in Broad Plain, off Temple Way.
Strava is the latest in a line of tech firms to move to Bristol. Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei is setting up an R&D centre in the city while American supercomputer giant Cray last year opened its new European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters here. Fast-growing online takeaway food business Just Eat has set up a specialist technology centre in Bristol.
Strava’s platform allows athletes to track their performance via iPhone, Android or dedicated GPS devices.
It also helps its members analyse and quantify their uploaded activities, as well as providing motivation and camaraderie from the global Strava community.
Since its launch in 2009 by Michael Horvath and Mark Gainey, Strava has grown from a handful of members to tens of millions of athletes around the world and 150,000 new members sign up every week. Last year Strava athletes uploaded a staggering 5.3 activities every second. 
Bristol’s strong talent pool and international and national transport connections were key factors in attracting Strava to the city.
Its bosses also said Bristol’s surrounding countryside was ideal for enacting the company’s belief that “there is always time for a run or a ride”.
Marketing VP Gareth Nettleton said: “We are delighted to be relocating to Bristol as a significant step in 2016 to expand our international marketing team and achieve our ambitious international growth goals.
“Bristol is the perfect location for us as a business; it reflects our ethos as a company in terms of innovation, creativity – and importantly – practicing what we preach in being active in the cycling and running communities.”
Matthew Cross, head of inward investment at Invest Bristol & Bath, said: “It is a testament to the strength and scope of this region’s world-class digital tech cluster that a San Francisco company like Strava has decided to relocate its European headquarters to Bristol, as it expands its international team.
“Strava is a forward-thinking and innovative brand that is having an impact across the world – so we’re very pleased they’ve chosen this city as the place for them to do business in Europe.” 
Strava is the latest in a line of tech firms to move to Bristol. Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei is setting up an R&D centre in Bristol while American supercomputer giant Cray last year opened its new European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters in the city, and fast-growing online takeaway food business Just Eat has specialist technology centre in Bristol.
