AOE Creative
AOE Creative is a Dallas-based creative agency founded in 2018 that provides branding, design, marketing, and social media services to gaming publishers, esports leagues, and consumer brands targeting gaming audiences, anchored by multi-year engagements with Activision Blizzard and Riot Games.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersPlano, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AOE Creative does
AOE Creative is a Dallas-based, founder-led creative agency founded in October 2018 by Simon Bennett, Markel Lee, and Nabil Pervez that specializes in branding, design, marketing, media production, and social media services for clients in gaming, esports, and broader nerd culture. The firm operates a professional services model organized around five service pillars (Branding, Design, Marketing, Media Content, Social Media) executed with conventional creative tooling including Photoshop, 3ds Max, AfterEffects, and Premiere, augmented by AR filter design and 3D capabilities. Core deliverables include brand identity development, social media management, live tournament coverage, event marketing, photomanipulation, motion graphics, and UI/UX design.
The client base is anchored by enterprise gaming and esports engagements, with multi-year agency-of-record relationships with Activision Blizzard (covering Call of Duty League and Overwatch League) and Riot Games (LEC and EMEA Masters). Other notable clients include LEGO Games, Coca-Cola, Paramount+, Team Liquid, OpTic Gaming, Cloud9, Houston Outlaws, and Cloud9 x Toei Animation collaborations. The agency sells primarily through direct sales/pitches targeting esports organizations, gaming publishers, and consumer brands seeking entry into gaming-adjacent marketing, with pricing structured around project-based fees and a recently launched $5,000 Brand Bootcamp productized consulting engagement.
AOE Creative is privately held, founder-owned, and self-funded apart from a 2019 seed round of $500,000 led by AXiomatic. Headcount grew from 3 founders in 2018 to approximately 30 staff and contractors by 2022, supporting active client engagements across North America and EMEA.
AOE Creative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AOE Creative
- Legal name
- AOE Creative
- Website
- https://aoecreative.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AOE Creative is a Dallas-based creative agency founded in 2018 that provides branding, design, marketing, and social media services to gaming publishers, esports leagues, and consumer brands targeting gaming audiences, anchored by multi-year engagements with Activision Blizzard and Riot Games.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AOE Creative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Gaming & Esports Creative Marketing Services
- NAICS
- Advertising Agencies (54181), Graphic Design Services (54143)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD), Creative Concepting & Campaign Development (BPAFAEAD), Creator Partnerships & Sponsorship Sales (Brand Partnerships) (MPAAAHAK)
Keywords
Where AOE Creative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plano
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
AOE Creative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Creative Agency Services: Project-based fees for branding, design, marketing, and social media management services for gaming and esports clients
- Brand Bootcamp Consulting: Discounted brand analysis and creative brief sessions offered at $5,000 for brand refreshment projects
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Brand Bootcamp: Season 1 - Revitalize Your Brand |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
AOE Creative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AOE Creative is a Dallas-based creative marketing agency that sells branding, design, marketing, media content, and social media services to gaming, esports, and nerd-culture clients. Its offerings span brand strategy and identity, UI/UX and web design, 3D design and AR filter development, campaign strategy, influencer and experiential marketing, video and motion graphics production, and ongoing social media and community management. Deliverables are produced on a project or retainer basis for enterprise clients such as Activision Blizzard, Riot Games, LEGO, and Coca-Cola.
Product overview
AOE Creative is a Dallas-based creative agency specializing in gaming, tech, and nerd culture marketing. The company operates as a service-based agency offering five interconnected service pillars: Branding Services (brand strategy, identity, merchandise, and packaging), Design Services (UI/UX, web, 3D, graphic design, and AR filters), Marketing Services (campaigns, SEO, influencer marketing, and experiential marketing), Media Content Services (video production, motion graphics, photography, and animation), and Social Media Services (management, community engagement, and analytics). The agency primarily serves esports organizations, gaming companies, entertainment brands, and entertainment companies seeking to connect with digital-native audiences. Notable clients include Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, LEGO Games, Paramount+, Team Liquid, OpTic Gaming, and Coca-Cola.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Branding Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 42M+ TikTok views and 4M+ engagements in 6 months for OWL and CDL accounts
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use AOE Creative
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AOE Creative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
AOE Creative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Riot GamesflagshipCollaborative partnership for League of Legends EMEA Masters website development, AR filter creation for social media, and ongoing esports content strategy including LEC coverage.
- LEGO GroupflagshipSelected as agency partner for complete branding revamp of LEGO Games division, including modernized logo, visual identity, and outreach strategy for gaming audience expansion.
- Activision BlizzardcoreMulti-year strategic partnership providing digital design and live social media coverage for Call of Duty and Overwatch esports leagues. AOE Creative serves as agency of record for social content creation and community management across major tournaments.
- Oxygen EsportscoreRecommended by Activision Blizzard to create branding for Boston Breach COD League team and Boston Uprising OWL team. Full brand identity development including visual style and team positioning.
- Charlotte PhoenixminorEsports organization partner for Coca-Cola campaign execution, providing brand integration platform for 'Bringing People Together' marketing initiative.
- Toei AnimationflagshipLicensing partnership for One Piece x Cloud9 apparel collaboration, navigating anime IP rights and production constraints for cross-brand merchandise.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AOE Creative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- MKTG: MKTG is a global experiential and activation agency with gaming, esports, and youth-marketing capabilities. It competes with AOE on live-event and brand-experience work for gaming clients like the Houston Outlaws activation campaigns.
- Wasserman: Wasserman is a large global sports, music, and entertainment marketing agency with a significant esports and gaming practice. It competes with AOE for the largest gaming and brand-into-gaming engagements but operates at much greater scale across many verticals.
- BEN — Branded Entertainment Network: BEN connects brands with creators and influencers across entertainment verticals including gaming and esports. It overlaps with AOE on influencer marketing and gaming audience activation but operates as a scaled platform rather than a bespoke creative agency.
- R/GA: R/GA is a large global digital creative and consulting agency with established gaming and entertainment clients. It competes with AOE on digital experience, branding, and campaign work but as part of a much broader cross-industry portfolio.
- GMR Marketing: GMR Marketing is a global experiential and sports marketing agency with gaming and esports activation experience. It competes for brand experiential work similar to AOE's Houston Outlaws activation campaigns but at significantly larger scale.
- Octagon: Octagon is a global sports marketing agency that has built out experiential and digital capabilities in esports. It overlaps with AOE on esports-organization clients and brand-into-gaming campaigns but serves a much broader sports-marketing portfolio.
Emerging players
- Vindex: Vindex is an esports infrastructure and services company building competitive gaming operations and content capabilities. While more operator-focused, it increasingly provides adjacent services to esports leagues and brands that overlap with AOE's client base.
Direct peers
- The Story Mob: The Story Mob is a PR and communications agency specializing in esports and gaming, providing media relations, brand storytelling, and event support to gaming clients. AOE Creative has actually worked with The Story Mob on a brand refresh, highlighting their close adjacency in serving the same esports client base.
- Loaded: Loaded is a creative agency focused on the gaming industry, offering brand strategy, design, and content production for game publishers and esports organizations. It is one of the closest direct competitors to AOE Creative in the gaming-specialized agency space.
Others
- Nerd Street Gamers: Nerd Street Gamers is a competitive gaming infrastructure company that operates tournament facilities and community platforms. It is a former AOE Creative client for brand strategy and social campaigns and represents an adjacent ecosystem player in the same esports community.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AOE Creative social profiles
Digital presenceAOE Creative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AOE Creative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
AOE Creative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AOE Creative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AOE Creative
What does AOE Creative do?
AOE Creative is a Dallas-based creative marketing agency that sells branding, design, marketing, media content, and social media services to gaming, esports, and nerd-culture clients. Its offerings span brand strategy and identity, UI/UX and web design, 3D design and AR filter development, campaign strategy, influencer and experiential marketing, video and motion graphics production, and ongoing social media and community management. Deliverables are produced on a project or retainer basis for enterprise clients such as Activision Blizzard, Riot Games, LEGO, and Coca-Cola.
Is AOE Creative a public or private company?
AOE Creative is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was AOE Creative founded?
AOE Creative was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is AOE Creative based?
AOE Creative is headquartered in Plano, United States, in the North America region.
How does AOE Creative make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Creative Agency Services are the primary driver. The others are brand Bootcamp Consulting.
Who are AOE Creative's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are MKTG, Wasserman, BEN — Branded Entertainment Network, R/GA, GMR Marketing and Octagon. Vindex is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are The Story Mob and Loaded. Nerd Street Gamers is listed as an others.
Does AOE Creative have an API?
No public API is recorded for AOE Creative.
What industry is AOE Creative in?
AOE Creative's product category is Gaming & Esports Creative Marketing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAAAA, Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies, with a secondary code of MPAAAAAD, Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX). Its NAICS code is 54181 and its SIC code is 7311.