BIG DESIGNS.
LITTLE STRESS.
BIG GROWTH.
LITTLE MESS.
ALWAYS at an affordable price.
BE BIG WHILE REMAINING SMALL.
OUR SERVICES
WEB DESIGN +
DEVELOPMENT
PROTOTYPE
DEVELOPMENT
BUSINESS PLAN +
PITCH DECK CREATION
LOGO
DESIGN
BRANDING +
ORGANIC GROWTH
CONTENT
CREATION
SOCIAL MEDIA
MARKETING
SEARCH ENGINE
OPTIMIZATION
WHO WE ARE
We are a family of creators, artists, and innovators. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you build a brand that is not only unique to you, but true to who you are. We are passionate about understanding your mission and vision, so your message is clear to your audience and customer.
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We understand that the big brand and marketing agencies are expensive, but smaller businesses deserve the same treatment and results at an affordable price. Let us be your partner in helping you build a powerful brand, bigger business, and happy customer base.
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You’ve made it! Welcome to Forte + Family. For almost a decade, our team has brought a new look to brands across the country (but mostly, New York 😉 - it's our home). We are extremely passionate about what we do and have always put our clients first. From the initial meet to the finish line, our team’s uniquely personal attention will keep you in the loop as your creative experience unfolds. We are also not your typical brand geniuses, our team of dope innovators and entrepreneurs are also creatives, who know how to build a business from the bootstraps. We genuinely look forward to the opportunity to work with you and welcome you to the family.
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To much success,
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Lawrence Forte III
Founder of Forte + Family Technologies
"If you don't build your dream, someone else will hire you to help them build theirs."
Dhirubhai Ambani,
Founder of Reliance Industries
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OUR FOUNDER
Lawrence Forte III is the Founder & CEO at Forte + Family, the #1 black-owned branding and marketing agency in New York. Lawrence, also a 2X award winning web designer, oversees all executive leadership with a focus on total company growth, including strategic capabilities, enriching client relationships, and championing a diverse and inclusive culture. His strong belief in treating clients as family has fostered a team built on empathy, trust, collaboration, hustle, and genuine passion behind every project.
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Awarded and crowned as the winner of several startup pitch competitions and having one of his startups acquired, Lawrence has earned his reputation as a trusted voice and coach in helping startups and small businesses succeed. He has been featured in publications such as The Rochester Business Journal and has been a mentor to hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs over the course of a decade.
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Before becoming a leader in the business development and startup space, Lawrence was a non-profit executive and school teacher. Since then, he has been a gifted web developer and designer, certified master motivational speaker, and a recipient of multiple accolades. Mr. Forte also sits on the board of two (2) EdTech startups serving public schools and districts across the country.
Select Meet Lawrence under "I'm interested in"
Dear Reader,
I wouldn't be genuine if I didn't share with you that I am a self-taught web designer and developer. No formal education and no highly educated technology professor. Actually, I had no intention of ever building websites or writing code or making websites look absolutely phenomenal (laughs), but here I am happy as a clam.
I guess it's only right that I share with you how I got to this point. I mean, don't you want to know? Whatever, I'll tell you anyways! Winter of 2007, I was expelled from college. I never went to class and the thought of studying made me go insane. I won't even mention the feeling I got every time I walked into a library... yuck.
Unfortunately, my college didn't accept students failing and skipping class (silly, right?), so I was expelled and applied to a local community college. My dad talked some good sense into me, so I decided to actually do something about my past failures. I studied hard at community college and after 1.5 years, I reapplied back to my former college. Guess what happened? I got back in!
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Sadly, the good news didn't last for too long. My dad, who was absolutely my best friend, passed from a heart attack a month later. The man who motivated me to stay in school, dies. Just like that. You're probably wondering what any of this has to do with web design and development, but I promise I'm almost there.
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A year later, after his passing, my friends convinced me to get out of my dorm room and see the movie: The Social Network. Yoooo the best movie ever! I quickly began to think about why there weren't more black software programmers and web developers. My dad would always tell me, "Anthony, whatever you do in life, work to be the best at it." So, I wanted to be the best at something I knew would be difficult to learn, while I was an English Literature major and a junior, in college.
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I began building websites for classmates and working on a variety of projects with friends from a local tech college. Since then, I have won several web design awards and have earned hundreds of happy clients.
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I genuinely understand that building a website for your business can be confusing, expensive, and downright stressful. Sometimes, you feel like giving up; I understand the feeling, but please don't give up. As you can see above, I've won some accolades, but as you've also learned, I've faced many setbacks first. Don't let your website or online presence be the reason you don't make it. My team and I are passionate about building you a website and brand you're proud of. Let's do this!
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OUR GROWTH FACTS
100%
HAPPY FAMILY MEMBERS
478
WEBSITES LAUNCHED
1,200
LOGOS
CREATED
123
PITCH DECKS
BUILT
GET STARTED NOW!
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TESTIMONIALS
“I do not have the creative skills at all to build a website nor did I have a huge budget to pay for someone to do it. Forte + Family was not only extremely affordable, but my website makes my business look like a Fortune 500 company. Customers find me all over the region and they're eager to receive my services! My sales have grown profoundly. I couldn't be happier with their professionalism, service, and ability to perform and adapt to my needs."
Robert Boillat / America Upholstery / CEO
I don't understand social media by any means. I know even less about how to market to my target demographic. I was referred to Forte + Family by a dear friend, and upon meeting them, I immediately knew why my friend made the referral. They were knowledgeable and through diligent research they helped me find my ideal customers. I now have two impactful social media accounts that have attracted thousands of new customers, across the country, to my essential oil candle brand. Thank you so much, Forte + Family! We are a legit national brand!
Monique Adebayo / Nyati Candle / CEO