What Young Hero does

Young Hero is a Brooklyn-headquartered youth-culture creative agency and production company founded in 2018, operating as Young Hero, LLC under co-founders Roberto Max Salas (Executive Creative Director) and Zoë Bunyard (Managing Partner). The firm serves enterprise brand marketers seeking authentic connections with youth and culture-forward audiences, combining creative agency services (campaign strategy, brand storytelling, showrunner-style creative direction) with in-house production capabilities spanning premium commercials, photography, animation, 3D design, post-production, and agile social content. Core client verticals include fashion/athletic (Nike, UGG, Jordan Brand, PUMA, lululemon, KidSuper), spirits/beverage (Lobos 1707, Absolut, Cantaritos, Runa, Abdón Coffee), social media platforms (TikTok, Facebook Curated), luxury retail (Neiman Marcus), furniture/lifestyle (IKEA), beauty (Nair), healthcare/telehealth (Ro), and ticketing (Vivid Seats).

The agency's technical footprint extends beyond traditional production into Web3 and metaverse experience design, with shipped work including the Absolut.Land Decentraland build (10+ interactive elements) and the Lesbian Bar Project digital bar, alongside the HYPERION NFT collection. A global creative network spanning Brooklyn, Mexico City, Los Angeles, and Seoul provides the talent roster that anchors the agency's "creator-led" positioning. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements priced via custom quote per scope, with no public rate cards or recurring subscription tiers. Distribution is direct-to-brand via business development, referrals, and industry reputation, with no intermediary channel partners. The company also generates ancillary revenue and brand equity through proprietary IP (Nocturnal Coffee ABDÓN) and earned media (Ad Age, AdWeek, LBB Online).

Name

Young Hero

Legal name

Young Hero, LLC

Website

https://younghero.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Young Hero is a Brooklyn-based youth-culture creative agency and production company serving enterprise brands like Nike, UGG, TikTok, IKEA, and Ro with campaign development, content production, social strategy, and Web3 experience design.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Creative Agency Services: Project-based creative and production services including campaign development, content creation, brand strategy, and production across film, photography, digital, and experiential formats for brand clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Young Hero is a youth culture creative agency and production company that develops and executes integrated brand campaigns, social content strategies, and experiential activations for enterprise clients. The agency combines creative-led campaign development, creator-led content production, and craft-led production capabilities spanning film, photography, animation, post-production, and Web3/metaverse experiences.

Product overview

Young Hero operates as a unified creative agency and production company offering youth culture-focused marketing services. The core offering combines creative agency services (campaign strategy, creative development, brand storytelling) with full-scale production capabilities (film, photography, animation, VFX, post-production). The company also provides social media strategy, content creation, and creator/influencer network management as integrated modules. Supplementary offerings include proprietary brands like HYPERION NFT and Nocturnal Coffee ABDÓN, plus The Bulletin as a content/news platform. The portfolio spans brand campaigns, experiential marketing, Web3 experiences, and original content series across global markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Creative Agency Services Full-service youth culture creative agency offering campaign strategy, creative development, brand storytelling, and cultural collaboration for enterprise brand clients seeking to connect authentically with younger demographics.
• Production Services Premium commercial productions and agile content shoots spanning film direction, photography, post-production, animation, VFX, and 3D design. Produces work across every scale from brief to final delivery for brand clients.
• Social Media Strategy and Content Social playbook development, content engine creation, daily social channel management, and creator/influencer network coordination for brand clients across platforms.
• Creator Curation and Talent Representation Network of global creatives and emerging artists with curation, talent matchmaking, and representation services that pair brand campaigns with culturally relevant creator voices.
• HYPERION NFT NFT collection and digital collectibles project launched by Young Hero as a branded Web3 initiative.
• Nocturnal Coffee ABDÓN World's first PM coffee brand developed by Young Hero for creators and night owls, featuring dark roasted lightly caffeinated blend along with branding, creative direction, production, web development, and 3D design.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300K+ total media impressions for Lobos 1707 brand launch
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers32 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TikTokcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Agency partner for TikTok NewFronts 2021, a dynamic 45-minute digital presentation showcasing the platform's cultural impact. Young Hero developed the design system and production for the annual industry event.
• FigmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for experiential event production. Collaborated on LA Tourism themed tailgate experience and IKEA OBEGRÄNSAD collection press event in Los Angeles. Figment provides experiential design and production capabilities complementing Young Hero's creative development.
• Lobos 1707coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComprehensive brand launch partnership including brand platform development, visual identity creation, integrated campaign, web design, and social/ media strategy for the Tequila and Mezcal brand. Partnership encompasses full go-to-market execution.
• JägermeisterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in The Lesbian Bar Project initiative, providing funding and brand support for the Web3 rally to save endangered lesbian bars in partnership with The Roku Channel.
• The Roku ChannelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for The Lesbian Bar Project premiere amplification, extending the initiative's reach through their streaming platform to bridge virtual audiences with in-person experiences.
• Lonely WhalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for environmental campaigns including Question How You Hydrate PSA and Museum of Plastic traveling gallery. Focuses on ending single-use plastic water bottle crisis through youth-focused creative.
• Point Break FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-partner with Lonely Whale on Museum of Plastic initiative and environmental awareness campaigns targeting single-use plastics.
• Ocean Heroes BootcampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bring the annual bootcamp online during 2020 pandemic. Young Hero translated training program into academic video series with illustrated design system, animation, and remote production approach.
• Working Not WorkingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for House of Vanity events, curating musical lineups and creative programming for industry networking events.
• TrebleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing partnership for event production including SXSW showcase village and World Pride celebration at House of Yes. Collaborative approach to emerging creator events.
• Facebook CuratedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for original content series including The Inevitables IGTV series documenting innovators and Making Progress series exploring brand marketers and creators.
• Abdón CoffeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduct development and brand launch partnership for Nocturnal Coffee brand targeted at night owls and creators. Young Hero developed branding, creative direction, production, web development, and 3D design for the world's first PM coffee.
• MyCoWorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch Reishi, a plastic-free leather alternative brand, during NYFW. Young Hero designed and produced the soft launch event in Nolita.
• RazorfishminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAgency partner for Nair Worship Yourself campaign, with Razorfish providing digital marketing implementation and Young Hero handling production.
• Allie AvitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector partnership for Nair campaign, with Allie Avital directing and Young Hero producing the empowering films and stills content.
• Charles BarkleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTalent partnership for Ro GLP-1 campaign. Barkley's personal story with GLP-1s (losing 50 pounds before losing access) provides authentic messaging for healthcare accessibility.
• The Atlas ProjectminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction partner for PUMA x Davido campaign, providing AI visualization and volumetric stage production capabilities for the jet-setting lifestyle depiction.
• Y7 YogaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for lululemon Proud Present Future campaign, featuring Y7 instructor Jo Murdock in lifestyle lookbook production.
• Rainbow RailroadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner for lululemon campaign, with Bintang's Story film sharing the journey of a Rainbow Railroad survivor to safety in NYC.
• Very Rare AgencyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAgency partner for Nike Move to Zero campaign, supporting European-based factory content capture with Gen Z cast and crew.
• Ginger InkminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction company partner for Nike Play New Kipchoge film, with Young Hero serving as post-production company. Agency was R/GA.
• UEGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency for Absolut.Land metaverse experience, with Young Hero leading 3D design direction and creative development.
• Swedish House MafiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIKEA partnership collaboration for OBEGRÄNSAD collection democratizing music production at home; featured in Absolut.Land metaverse jukebox.
• Serena WilliamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-profile talent partnership for Ro Serena on Ro campaign, leveraging Serena's cultural weight to challenge GLP-1 medication stigma.
• Luka DončićcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJordan Brand athlete partnership for Horse Kicks campaign, showcasing basketball star's playful personality through TikTok content.
• DavidocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational artist partnership for PUMA 30BG collection campaign, bringing Afrobeats star's jet-setting lifestyle to life through innovative production.
• Eliud KipchogecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOlympic champion talent for Nike Play New campaign, post-produced by Young Hero for Ginger Ink and R/GA.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GUT: Independent creative agency founded around the same era, similarly sized and culturally driven, with a comparable focus on cultural relevance and bold creative work for major brands.
• Mekanism: Independent creative agency built around cultural positioning and brand storytelling, with a comparable mix of CPG, lifestyle and tech clients.
• Ueno: Brooklyn-based creative studio of comparable size to Young Hero, sharing geography, boutique culture and a focus on design-led brand work for global clients.

Broad incumbents

• 72andSunny: Larger independent creative agency with a long-standing cultural-relevance positioning and a portfolio spanning fashion, beverage, sports and tech — directly overlapping Young Hero's verticals.
• Anomaly: Independent creative agency that has historically competed for the same kind of brand-building, culture-forward engagements for large enterprise clients.
• Wieden+Kennedy: Largest independent creative agency and Nike's lead agency; competes with Young Hero on Nike, Jordan and broader sport/fashion briefs while setting the cultural-creative benchmark.
• Mother: Long-running independent creative agency with a similar cultural, anti-holding-company stance and a track record of earned-media-driven campaigns for major global brands.
• Droga5: Premium creative agency (now part of Accenture Song) known for culture-first brand work for Nike, Amazon and other majors; competes for the same enterprise creative briefs Young Hero pursues.
• R/GA: Hybrid creative and production agency with deep Nike heritage (Play New post-production credited here) and a comparable mix of campaign, content and emerging-format work.

Others

• Tool of North America: Production company that sits adjacent to Young Hero's offering — supplying premium commercial and digital production that complements or competes with the agency's in-house production capability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/younghero

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Young Hero