What Rise Interactive does

Rise Interactive, operating under the legal name 'Rise, a Quad agency,' is a full-service B2B digital media agency headquartered in Chicago and founded in 2004. The firm targets mid-to-large enterprise marketers through a direct, sales-led go-to-market and delivers media planning and buying across the paid digital landscape. Its offering is structured around three integrated service lines — Audience Solutions (proprietary audience intelligence and targeting), Media Solutions (omnichannel planning and placement), and Measurement Solutions (proprietary modeling for continuous performance optimization) — sold on a quote-based, custom-engagement basis with no public pricing.

The agency's underlying technology is a proprietary data and modeling stack layered on top of the major ad-platform ecosystems (Google, Microsoft, Meta, Snapchat, TikTok), with elite-tier platform partner certifications across each. Its go-to-market leverages the parent company's enterprise relationships, while remaining a distinct brand marketed on a 'no hidden fees, spreads, or margins' transparency promise and supported by an analyst-recognized industry standing — most recently inclusion in Forrester's Media Management Services Landscape in Q2 2026. Notable enterprise clients include America's Best, Dairy Management Inc., Nicklaus Children's Hospital, and Stanley Steemer.

Rise generates revenue on a professional-services basis through agency fees and client engagements, with media spend passing through the agency to publishers. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Quad — acquired via a $12.3 million round led by Quad in 2016 — Rise operates inside a larger marketing-services platform, with senior leadership comprising CEO Larry Fisher alongside dedicated technology, strategy, and people functions.

Name

Rise Interactive

Legal name

Rise, a Quad agency

Website

https://riseinteractive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Rise Interactive is a Chicago-based, Quad-owned full-service digital media agency that helps enterprise and mid-market marketers run data-driven omnichannel media campaigns using proprietary audience intelligence and modeling systems across Google, Microsoft, Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Management Services

NAICS

Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Activation/Experiential Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAO)

Keywords

• Omnichannel media agency
• Digital media planning
• Audience intelligence services
• Campaign measurement optimization
• Media buying services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Media Agency Services: Rise generates revenue as a full-service integrated media agency, providing audience intelligence, media planning and placement, and measurement and optimization services on a retainer/fee-for-service basis. As an agency owned by Quad, revenue is derived from client engagements and media buying.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rise Interactive is a full-service omnichannel media agency that provides audience intelligence and strategy, media planning and placement, and measurement and optimization services to enterprise and mid-market marketers. The agency executes campaigns across paid channels (search, social, video, OOH, audio) using proprietary audience data and proprietary modeling tools to deliver transparent, accountable business outcomes for clients on a retainer/fee-for-service basis.

Product overview

Rise is an omnichannel media agency operating as a subsidiary of Quad, offering a unified platform of three integrated solutions: Audience Solutions (for audience intelligence and targeting), Media Solutions (for omnichannel planning and placement), and Measurement Solutions (for performance tracking and optimization). These three modules work together as a connected system, with proprietary data powering insights across all touchpoints to deliver transparent, accountable business outcomes for clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Audience Solutions Audience intelligence and strategy services using proprietary data to identify and understand target audiences, enabling precise targeting beyond basic demographic segmentation. Targeted at enterprise and mid-market marketers seeking deep audience understanding.
• Media Solutions Omnichannel media planning and placement services that plan media around how people actually experience it, moving seamlessly across channels with the target audience. Targeted at enterprise and mid-market marketers executing cross-channel paid media campaigns.
• Measurement Solutions Measurement and optimization services powered by proprietary modeling systems and tools that provide continuous visibility into campaign performance and optimization opportunities, enabling real-time shifting of media efforts. Targeted at enterprise and mid-market marketers requiring accountability for cross-channel ROI.

Quantifiable outcome

• AI-powered strategy doubled dairy's engagement and reach for Dairy Management Inc.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• QuadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRise is a Quad agency — owned and operated by Quad, a major marketing communications company. As a Quad agency, Rise benefits from Quad's infrastructure, scale, and client relationships while operating as a distinct data-driven omnichannel media brand focused on transparency and business outcomes.
• Google (Premier Partner)flagshipTechnology or IntegrationRise holds Premier Partner status with Google, indicating certified expertise in Google advertising platforms including Google Ads, Display, Video, and other Google marketing solutions.
• Microsoft Advertising (Elite Partner)flagshipTechnology or IntegrationRise holds Microsoft Advertising Elite Partner status, recognizing top-tier expertise in Microsoft advertising solutions including Microsoft Ads and Bing.
• Meta (Media Certified Company)flagshipTechnology or IntegrationRise is a Meta Media Certified Company, demonstrating proficiency in Meta advertising solutions including Facebook and Instagram advertising.
• Snapchat (Business Partner)coreTechnology or IntegrationRise holds Snapchat Business Partner status, indicating certified capability in Snapchat advertising solutions.
• TikTok (Marketing Partner)coreTechnology or IntegrationRise holds TikTok Marketing Partner status, indicating certified capability in TikTok advertising and marketing solutions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tinuiti: Independent, US-based full-funnel digital media agency specializing in paid media, audience intelligence, and measurement across Google, Meta, Amazon, and other major platforms — directly comparable in offerings and partner-status playbook to Rise Interactive.
• PMG: Independent digital media agency combining proprietary analytics technology with media planning and buying across Google, Meta, Amazon, and TikTok — closely comparable in scale, tech-enabled positioning, and enterprise client focus.
• Wpromote: Mid-sized independent digital marketing agency offering paid media, SEO, and creative services to enterprise and mid-market brands; similar size, omnichannel model, and platform-partner certifications as Rise Interactive.
• Horizon Media: Large US-based independent media agency offering data-driven, omnichannel media planning and buying for enterprise clients; comparable in transparency and outcome-based positioning, with greater scale.
• Assembly (Stagwell): Stagwell-owned digital media agency offering omnichannel planning, buying, and measurement with proprietary data and analytics; similar tech-enabled, mid-sized positioning and enterprise client focus.
• Jellyfish (Brandtech Group): Global digital media agency within Brandtech Group offering paid media, content, and analytics to enterprise brands; similar omnichannel, data-led model and platform-partner ecosystem to Rise.

Broad incumbents

• Performics (Publicis): Performance media agency within Publicis Groupe, offering paid media, SEO, and analytics globally; competes for the same enterprise media-buying RFPs as Rise but with the backing of a major global holdco.
• Merkle (Dentsu): Data-driven performance media and customer experience agency within Dentsu, combining proprietary data, identity, and media capabilities; directly competes with Rise for data-led enterprise media mandates at larger scale.
• GroupM Nexus: WPP's centralized media operations arm managing planning, buying, and optimization across GroupM agencies; competes with Rise for the largest enterprise media mandates, with global scale advantages.

Emerging players

• Croud: AI-enabled digital media agency combining proprietary technology with a global on-demand network of marketers; emerging competitor to Rise's tech-driven, omnichannel positioning, particularly on mid-market and international RFPs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/988690
• Xx.com/RiseInteractive
• Facebookfacebook.com/18241927932

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rise Interactive