Tim Valenti and Greg Lindberg formed Cubik Media, Inc. in 1996, after working together in San Francisco's fast-paced advertising industry. The Internet was still in its infancy and Lindberg's technical knowledge of website development, combined with Valenti's brand-knowledge and sales ability, proved a potent combination.
"We were so nervous that first day," said Valenti. "We had a staff of two and one client – the Mitchell Brother's legendary O'Farrell Theater." While the O'Farrell Theater website was their first client, the Valenti and Lindberg team never imagined that their ultimate fortune would lie in adult entertainment.
"For the first few years, the O'Farrell was our only adult client," said Lindberg. "Instead, we focused on high-tech and high-concept projects like IBM, Hitachi, Etrade and Eidos Interactive (producer of Lara Croft Tomb Raider video games)."
It wasn't until 1997 that Valenti and Lindberg – bouyed by their knowledge of online video streaming – decided to launch an adult video website, GayMovieChannel.com. The original concept was used on a video booth model where visitors could purchase credits to watch gay porn movies. The phenomenal success of GayMovieChannel birthed NakedSword.com; the subsequent tech bust at the end of the decade led Valenti and Lindberg to more aggressively develop their adult business.
Today, Cubik Media owns numerous adult websites, including its flagship VOD site NakedSword.com; TimandRoma.com, home site of the Tim & Roma Show; WetPalms.com, the official site of the gay soap Wet Palms; and GayPornBlog.com. In addition, Cubik has built websites for major adult studios including COLT Studio Group, Titan Media, Lucas Entertainment and the Falcon Family of Companies.
"While we've excelled in the adult realm," Lindberg, said. "We keep a strategic balance of non-adult clients. In addition to providing a greater breadth of income, they force our team to think outside the sometimes narrow aesthetic of adult. But, ultimately, our heart lies in adult because it's fun and interesting."
The future promises even greater growth as Cubik Media and NakedSword form strategic partnerships with companies like Club Jenna, Playgirl and Specialty Publications.
"As long as our drive to produce high-quality, multimedia sites is strong, our potential is limitless," Valenti said. "The next ten years are going to be explosive!"
For more information, visit NakedSword.com.
