Vested

What Vested does

Vested is a global, financial-services-only marketing and communications agency founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York, with additional offices in London (EMEA headquarters) and Johnston, Iowa. The firm operates a fully integrated service model spanning nine core practices — advertising, AI optimization, brand and corporate reputation, content, creative studio, crisis communications, digital marketing and social media, executive communications, and public relations — and serves clients across banking, fintech, insurance, asset management, private equity, wealth management, and mortgage lending. Revenue is generated through strategic advisory engagements, ongoing managed-service retainers, and project-based delivery, with pricing quote-based and tailored to engagement scope.

Name

Vested

Legal name

Vested LLC

Website

https://fullyvested.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Vested is a global, financial-services-only marketing and communications agency founded in 2015, serving banks, fintechs, insurers, asset managers, private equity firms, and wealth managers with integrated PR, advertising, content, digital, and AI optimization services across the US, UK, and EMEA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Advisory Engagements: Clients engage Vested to provide guidance on communications, marketing, or brand strategy. Examples include support for mergers and acquisitions, crisis management, executive messaging, and work directly with C-suite leaders on corporate positioning and stakeholder communications.
2. Ongoing Managed Services: Clients retain Vested for continuous, recurring services such as content creation, digital marketing, social media management, PR support, or campaign execution. Contract-based recurring revenue model.
3. Project-Based Delivery: Clients engage Vested for time-limited projects, including website redesigns, campaign launches, creative production, research, or specific event support. One-time project fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Vested is a global integrated public relations and marketing consultancy purpose-built for financial services companies and fintechs. It delivers communications strategy, brand building, digital marketing, content development, crisis communications, and executive visibility programs, supported by proprietary technology platforms (Qwoted, Vested Media Map, and the VestTech AI stack) that enable AI-driven media targeting and measurement.

Product overview

Vested is a marketing and communications agency focused exclusively on financial services, providing a fully integrated suite of nine core service offerings: Advertising, AI Optimization, Brand and Corporate Reputation, Content, Creative Studio, Crisis Communications, Digital Marketing and Social Media, Executive Communications, and Public Relations. The agency operates as a unified service model where clients access multiple service lines within the same engagement, supported by cross-functional teams and shared project management. Additionally, Vested offers proprietary platforms under Group Vested including Qwoted (media query service), Vested Ventures (VC fund), Financial Narrative (professional community), Financial Narrative Independent Agency Network (global agency network), VCO System (freelancer network), and Talking Biz News (journalism news site). The agency also maintains technology partnerships with HubSpot, Fintel Connect, and Scrunch to extend its capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Group Vested: The parent agency at the center of a portfolio of brands, platforms, and networks including Qwoted, Vested Ventures, Talking Biz News, HQ Spaces, VCO System, and Financial Narrative.
• Qwoted
• Vested Ventures
• VCO System
• Financial Narrative

Products and services

• Public Relations Strategic public relations and media relations programs for financial services companies and fintechs, including press release development, media outreach, and ongoing press office support.
• Digital Marketing Digital marketing services for financial services and fintech brands, covering paid, owned, and earned digital channels to support brand awareness and demand generation.
• Content Marketing Content strategy, development, and distribution for financial services and fintech companies, including articles, whitepapers, social content, and editorial assets.
• Branding Brand strategy, positioning, and visual identity work for financial services and fintech companies seeking differentiation in regulated markets.
• Crisis Communications Crisis and issues communications support for financial services and fintech clients, including preparedness, response, and reputation protection during regulatory, operational, or market events.
• Social Media Social media strategy, content, and community management for financial services and fintech brands across LinkedIn, X, and other relevant channels.
• Analytics & Reporting PR and marketing analytics, measurement, and reporting services that quantify communications impact for financial services and fintech clients.
• Media Training Media training and executive coaching for financial-services leaders, preparing executives for press interviews, conference appearances, and high-stakes public speaking.
• Executive Visibility & Thought Leadership Executive visibility and thought leadership programs that position C-suite leaders at financial services and fintech companies as authoritative voices in industry and business media.
• AI Search Optimization (AISO) AI Search Optimization service that helps financial services and fintech brands improve visibility and citation in AI-driven search and answer engines, leveraging Vested's VestTech AI stack.
• Qwoted Proprietary platform that connects journalists with vetted expert sources, enabling financial services and fintech clients to surface as credible, on-demand commentators for media coverage.
• Vested Media Map Proprietary media intelligence and journalist database that maps financial-services media landscape, supports targeting, and powers Vested's PR campaign planning and measurement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% share of voice achieved for Bluestone Mortgages in some months
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers30 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• HubSpotcoreTechnology or Integration · 11 February 2026Vested joined HubSpot's ecosystem as a Solutions Partner, expanding its ability to help financial institutions, fintechs, and investment firms drive growth through integrated marketing, sales, and client engagement strategies. The partnership strengthens Vested's digital marketing capabilities including demand generation, content strategy, paid media, SEO, and marketing technology consulting tailored for banks, asset managers, and fintechs. Vested has managed client HubSpot instances for years and is expanding these capabilities as more clients look to consolidate technology stacks.
• Fintel ConnectcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 October 2025Vested partnered with Fintel Connect to enable affiliate marketing for banks, fintechs, and financial institutions. This partnership allows Vested to offer affiliate marketing capabilities to its financial services clients as part of its integrated marketing offering.
• Red Lab TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2021Vested acquired Red Lab Technologies to enhance its digital capabilities. Financial and strategic details of the acquisition were not specified.
• ScrunchsupportingTechnology or IntegrationFormal partnership with Scrunch, a platform for tracking brand presence, generating AI-optimized websites, and providing AI visibility insights and real-time monitoring for large language models. Supports Vested's AI search optimization practice.
• QwotedcoreTechnology or IntegrationOriginally developed inside Vested and now operates as a separate entity within Group Vested. A free platform connecting business and finance journalists with vetted expert sources. Raised a $3 million Series Seed led by Third Prime, with co-investment from Gaingels, Prosek Venture Partners, Vested, and a consortium of communications firms. Vested is a pre-seed investor and the platform was originally developed inside the agency.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Prosek Partners: Independent PR and marketing consultancy exclusively focused on financial services; also referenced as an investor in Vested's Qwoted spinout. Closest direct competitor in the FS-only agency niche.
• Hotwire (a Hotwire Global company): Global tech and financial services communications agency with comparable client mix across fintech, banking, and asset management; competes directly for integrated PR and marketing mandates.
• PAN Communications: Mid-sized integrated PR and marketing agency with a recognized financial services and technology practice, competing with Vested for mid-market bank, fintech, and asset-management engagements.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman Financial Communications: Largest global holding-company PR firm with a dedicated Financial Services & Capital Markets practice. Competes with Vested for enterprise financial-services mandates at a much larger scale.
• FTI Consulting (Strategic Communications): Public consulting firm with a large Strategic Communications segment serving banks, asset managers, and fintechs on crisis, M&A, and ongoing communications. Overlaps with Vested's crisis and corporate reputation work.
• BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe): Global communications agency with significant financial services practice. Competes for enterprise financial PR and integrated marketing engagements across geographies where Vested operates.
• FleishmanHillard: Large global PR network with deep financial services and fintech client rosters and integrated paid/earned/owned capabilities. Direct competitor for mid- and large-cap FS marketing work.
• Weber Shandwick: Top-tier global PR firm with established financial services and corporate reputation practices, frequently competing for enterprise financial-services mandates at the largest banks and asset managers.
• Hill+Knowlton Strategies: Global communications consultancy with a long-standing financial services practice, including crisis, capital markets, and public affairs work that overlaps with Vested's offering.

Emerging players

• Wachsman: Specialist financial services and fintech PR/comms agency with a strong focus on crypto, digital assets, and emerging technology clients — a thematic neighbor in Vested's digital-asset and fintech segments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vested
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMHPd5GLSqgx20opkRNSxFg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vested-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/teamvested

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A4 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Vested