# Alex Melen

> Alex Melen is the co-founder, co-CEO and CFO of SmartSites, the digital marketing agency he started with his brother Michael in 2011. He founded T35 Hosting at 13 in 1997, worked on Samsung and Walmart accounts at Publicis’s MediaVest, and wrote Automotive Search Marketing. Based in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, he speaks internationally about search, advertising, AI and building an agency.

- **Role:** Co-Founder, Co-CEO and CFO at SmartSites
- **Organizations:** SmartSites, T35 Hosting, Publicis / MediaVest
- **From:** Kyiv, Ukraine
- **Education:** Babson College
- **Known for:** Built T35 Hosting to more than one million users, according to his public biography., Co-founded SmartSites; the company reports ten consecutive Inc. 5000 appearances from 2017 through 2026., Named one of BusinessWeek’s Top 25 Entrepreneurs Under 25 in 2006.

## Career timeline

- **1992** — Moved from Kyiv to New York with his family at age eight, as recounted in his Marketing Movers interview.
- **1997** — Founded T35 Hosting at age 13.
- **2001** — Named to YoungBiz Magazine’s Top 100 Young Entrepreneurs in America.
- **2006** — Received Babson College’s Student Business of the Year award and BusinessWeek Top 25 Entrepreneurs Under 25 recognition.
- **Before 2011** — Tried finance and actuarial roles, then spent approximately three years at MediaVest working on Samsung and Walmart digital marketing.
- **2011** — Co-founded SmartSites with his younger brother Michael Melen.
- **2023** — Published Automotive Search Marketing: A Car Dealer’s Guide to Google through Leaders Press.
- **2026** — Released a second edition covering Google and AI search; continued international speaking on AI advertising and agency operations.

## Achievements

- Built T35 Hosting to more than one million users, according to his public biography.
- Co-founded SmartSites; the company reports ten consecutive Inc. 5000 appearances from 2017 through 2026.
- Named one of BusinessWeek’s Top 25 Entrepreneurs Under 25 in 2006.
- Received Babson College’s Student Business of the Year award in 2006.
- Author of two editions of Automotive Search Marketing.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Presented Advertising Inside the Answer at Technology for Marketing / eCommerce Expo in London on September 23.
- **2026-10** — Appeared on The FODcast on October 6 to discuss AI shopping and ecommerce.
- **2026-10** — His website lists the second edition of Automotive Search Marketing, including a new dedicated part on AI search.

## Links

- Website: https://www.alexmelen.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmelen
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/amelen
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexMelen
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex.melen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexmelen

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/alex-melen
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-27