Hoxton Mix in TechRound: Our CEO on Turning a “Boring” Business Into an AI Company

Our CEO and co-founder, Chris Sees, sat down with TechRound this week for a wide-ranging interview on the journey from a Shoreditch coworking space in 2010 to what Hoxton Mix is today — and how one of Britain’s least exciting business categories became an AI company.

You can read the full interview here: A Chat With Chris Sees, CEO and Co-Founder at Hoxton Mix — TechRound

Not desks — business infrastructure

The conversation starts with the moment the penny dropped. Customers were never really renting desks. As Chris put it, “they wanted the infrastructure to run a business without the cost and commitment of a traditional office.” Rising business rates and the shift to hybrid working only made that clearer.

That’s what “business infrastructure as a service” means in practice: “Our customers aren’t buying square footage when it comes to the postcode, they’re buying the ability to run a business with a professional front.” A registered office address, mail handling, compliance support — and the software that automates all of it.

Slowing down to speed up

One of the more candid parts of the interview covers the six months we spent rebuilding operations rather than shipping new features. Growth had exposed the cracks, and papering over them wasn’t an option. “Spending six months improving processes wasn’t the exciting choice, but it meant we slowed down to speed up again.”

It’s also why operational excellence gets equal billing with product innovation. A good product wins a customer; “consistency, customer service and AI-first operations means they stay.”

Lessons from 16 years

Asked what stands out after 16 years of building, Chris offered two lessons. First: “The scar tissue is where the value is – the hard parts are where you learn what’s worth knowing.” And second: “Surround yourself with people you’d happily work alongside for free because, in the early days, we effectively were working for nothing.”

It’s been a busy stretch for Hoxton Mix in the press — our CTO Ben Rometsch recently joined a TechRound expert panel on AI, and we shared our view on vibe coding in The Independent.

Want the professional front Chris talks about, without the office overheads? Explore our virtual office plans.