Cogapp celebrates 40 Years
December 2, 2025
When Cogapp (aka Cognitive Applications Limited) was registered on 2nd December 1985, we didn’t have much of a plan beyond our desire to explore the exciting possibilities of new kinds of software with interesting people doing worthwhile work.
Time rolls on! A few days ago we celebrated 40 years pursuing this quest at a party in Brighton, our home city.
Here is the speech I gave on that occasion.
““I’m going to make a short speech and then I’m going to propose a toast.”
“Normally at Cogapp we eat cake on a Thursday afternoon, but every forty years we add an extra helping on a Friday evening.”
“Firstly, thank you all for coming out tonight to help us celebrate.”
“This is a very special occasion.”
“All of you here have contributed in one way or another to Cogapp, the organisation, its history and its future prospects, that we’re celebrating tonight.”
“I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”
“As the saying goes, self-praise is no recommendation but no-one can deny that we have an amazing back catalogue. You can see screenshots from a selection on the slideshow projection.”
“Our time reporting system tells me that we have done more than 1,500 projects — and I know for a fact that there have been more than that because the time reporting system (beloved by all who use it) only got going in the 1990s.”
“It’s hard to pick from so many, but it’s worth calling out some of the highlights:”
“- our original work for the National Gallery, their Micro Gallery project which provided the basis of our success with other museums and in digital publishing with Microsoft and others;”
“- the dozens of projects we did for Microsoft in the 1990s (and with Apple before them);”
“- the Kidney Patient Guide (an online guide for people affected by kidney disease which we built in the late 90s and have supported ever since) — Tom Bowen who was our partner for that original project is here with us tonight;”
“- our work for the National Portrait Gallery — started in the 1998 and still going strong 27 years later;”
“- our redevelopment of the website for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York which can still reasonably claim to be the largest project of its kind in the cultural sector;”
“- our UX and front-end work for the London 2012 Olympics — Alex Balfour, who ran the digital work for 2012 wrote to us after the games saying ‘To everyone at Cogapp — the only creative agency that could last the course. Brilliant work.’”
“These case studies and a host of others, exemplify the spirit of the business: innovative, brave, thoughtful, persevering and creative.
How has this portfolio been possible?”
“I played my part.”
“I started the company in 1985 with Gilly Furse (who sends her regards from Co. Wexford). And for 37 years, until 2022, when I handed over to Andy Cummins, I was Managing Director.”
“Andy: you are doing an amazing job. I feel very blessed to have been able to hand over our baby to such a rare talent. You can be very proud of your work. I wish you great joy nurturing Cogapp into the future.”
“Everyone here has played their part in Cogapp’s success.”
“You all know what you’ve done and how you have supported our mighty enterprise. On behalf of the company and its community, I thank you all, collectively and personally.”
“In addition to the obvious groups: colleagues; associates (Malcolm Garrett notably included) and advisors (thank you, particularly, Roger Browning), I would specially like to acknowledge Cogapp’s husbands, wives, partners, children and extended families.”
“None of this would have been possible without your loving support. I salute you and thank you (and apologise for all the Cogapp-related disruptions you have had to endure).”
“Before I finish, I’d like to mention two people:”
“Firstly, my wife, Manya — Manya has been my unacknowledged coach, mentor and the back-room HR department during my time as MD. You took on a huge burden with our children, Tom and Annie, to enable what I was doing at Cogapp. Thank you so much for that and for everything you’ve done and everything you do. The rest of you owe Manya more than you will ever know!”
“And, secondly, Ben Rubinstein.”
“If I was the front-man for most of Cogapp’s history, Ben has been the back-room supremo, the engine, the rock and a huge creative force.”
“To quote just one anecdote from a long list…”
“We were flying to Seattle to talk to Microsoft about publishing a CD-ROM for the National Gallery. A pretty decent project in its own right, but not as it turned out the end of the story.”
“On the plane and then overnight in our hotel, Ben, unprompted, took their Musical Instruments CD-ROM for Windows and built them a working equivalent for Macintosh. When we met them the following morning we had the best reveal ever.”
“The Microsoft team were completely flabbergasted and we went on to be their most successful technical partner for digital publishing.”
“Ben — thank you so much. You are a total star. It’s been a blast.”
“So finally…”
“I’d like to propose a toast:”
“To doing great work for lovely clients… to making the online world a bit better with every project… better for the people who use our work and better for our clients… to fostering a supportive working environment where everyone can learn, grow and do their best work… to playing a useful part in our community and helping with the changes needed to ensure a sustainable future.”
“Here’s to all that and to the next decade and beyond.”
“Here’s to Cogapp!””
