Ransomware protection software company HeraSoft bringing tech industry to Bartlesville

When husband and wife Anthem and Cynthia Blanchard were considering locations for the headquarters of their growing cyber security company, they were drawn to the combination of small size and big feel of Bartlesville — qualities made more valuable by the pandemic.

With a growing client list and $5 million round of series-A funding, ransomware protection software company HeraSoft needed a central location for its formerly dispersed administrative staff. Now the company is based in the former county courthouse building, 504 Silas St., and anticipates doubling or tripling its local staff in the next year.

“Real estate prices are very affordable, services on the whole are very affordable relative to a top 50 U.S. city. All of these things, for an early stage company like ours —  we’re not a Fortune 500 company —  we have to be really cognizant of everything we do. How we direct our resources is really critical,” Anthem Blanchard said.

“I think with the COVID era that’s upon us, people are appreciating less dense environments. Bartlesville is so neat … because it feels like a town that’s three to five times bigger.”

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While the company plans to move more administrative, sales and business development positions to its new headquarters, it will maintain offices for research and development in Houston and programming in Sao Paulo, Brazil, he said.

In its Sept. 7 meeting, the Bartlesville City Council approved a Bartlesville Development Authority program to offer those moving for the company $10,000 for buying a house in the city or $20,000 for building one as an incentive for inbound employees to live locally, instead of in Owasso or Tulsa.

BDA President David Wood said in May, when the Bartlesville Development Trust Authority was working with HeraSoft on possible building renovations, it contacted BDA about a possible opportunity.

“So for us it wasn’t about landing the company, it was about maximizing the community’s benefit from their decision – capturing new employees as new residents,” Wood said.

“There was very little downside risk for us to offer the relocation incentive with an unlimited potential upside. Apple Computers was started in a garage, so one never knows. It made sense for us to support them on a pay-as-they-grow basis. Certainly, diversification beyond the cyclical oil and gas industry makes Bartlesville more resilient.”

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With the large employment base and presence of both ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66 making the community feel bigger, and the growing role of the technology industry in the economy as a whole, Anthem Blanchard said he feels the company has a lot of room to grow in its new home.

“It’s interesting to come to Bartlesville and feel like you’re still in a city, but not have all the hassles. Everything is more efficient. In this day and age, you can do everything electronically and not have to suffer through traffic,” Anthem Blanchard said.

“All in all it’s a great location.”