Manifest
Manifest is a U.S.-based, full-service integrated marketing agency offering strategy, creative, performance media, editorial, social, technology, and delivery services to enterprise and mid-market clients across B2B, B2C, and D2C verticals, formed through the 2025 merger of Manifest and Aisle Rocket.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Manifest does
Manifest is a U.S.-based, full-service integrated marketing agency operating under Delaware parent ARS Advertising, LLC, with headquarters in Chicago and offices in New York, Washington DC, Phoenix, and Saint Joseph, MI. The agency traces its operating history to 1985 and currently employs 251–500 people (including 160+ internally branded 'Thinkers'), serving enterprise and mid-market clients across B2B, B2C, and D2C motions in verticals such as financial services, healthcare, CPG, home goods, technology, apparel, and travel.
The agency delivers work through eight integrated service lines: Data Intelligence, Strategy, Creative, Performance Media, Editorial, Social, Technology, and Delivery. Its Technology stack includes headless site architecture, content management and e-commerce platforms, and DevOps/infrastructure support, while its editorial and creative practices lean on generative AI for content production, AI-enabled content platforms, and process automation. A referenced IBM case study documented 200 initial creative assets expanded into 1,000+ derivatives with 26x higher engagement than paid social benchmarks, signaling active AI augmentation of the creative pipeline.
Manifest generates revenue through project-based fees, retainers, and integrated campaign engagements on a quote-based model. The agency is sales-led and enterprise-focused, targeting growth-focused marketers seeking an integrated alternative to holding-company networks. In March 2024, Aisle Rocket (ARS Advertising) acquired Manifest, and in October 2025 the two firms completed a merger under the unified Manifest brand, combining content strategy/brand journalism with digital experience, martech, and brand/product creative capabilities. Leadership comprises CEO Ross Shelleman, Partner/CXO Steve Slivka, Partner/CGO Melissa Bouma, and EVP of Strategy Geoff Director, with no disclosed venture or private equity backing.
Manifest firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Manifest
- Legal name
- ARS Advertising, LLC
- Website
- https://manifest.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Manifest is a U.S.-based, full-service integrated marketing agency offering strategy, creative, performance media, editorial, social, technology, and delivery services to enterprise and mid-market clients across B2B, B2C, and D2C verticals, formed through the 2025 merger of Manifest and Aisle Rocket.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Manifest industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Integrated Marketing Services
- NAICS
- Media Representatives (541840)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Brand Activations & Pop-Ups (Retail/Street/Guerrilla) (BPAFAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Product Launches & Brand Activations (Experiential Marketing) (MPAGAHAD), Sponsorship Activation & Experiential Marketing (THAHAGAC)
Keywords
Where Manifest is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Manifest business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Marketing Services Revenue: Full-service integrated marketing agency providing strategy, creative, data intelligence, performance media, editorial, social, technology, and delivery services to enterprise and mid-market clients. Revenue generated through project-based fees, retainer arrangements, and integrated campaign engagements.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Manifest product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Manifest is a full-service independent marketing agency providing integrated strategy, creative, data intelligence, performance media, editorial, social, technology, and delivery services to enterprise and mid-market clients. The agency focuses on shortening the consumer journey by bridging brand-building and performance marketing, particularly in the middle of the customer journey where engagement stalls.
Product overview
Manifest is a full-service independent marketing agency formed through the merger of Manifest and Aisle Rocket (ARS Advertising) in 2025. The agency provides an integrated suite of marketing services organized around eight core offerings: Data Intelligence, Strategy, Creative, Performance Media, Editorial, Social, Technology, and Delivery. These services work together as an integrated system, with the agency's approach centered on solving the 'middle journey' challenge—bridging the gap between brand building and performance marketing to help clients turn consideration into preference. The combined agency leverages Manifest's deep-rooted expertise in content strategy, brand journalism, and complex B2B storytelling with Aisle Rocket's capabilities in digital experience, marketing technology, and brand and product creative.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Data Intelligence
Quantifiable outcome
- Growth acceleration through shortened customer journey
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Manifest
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Manifest technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature5 records
Manifest partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Aisle RocketcoreIn March 2024, Aisle Rocket (also known as ARS Advertising, LLC) acquired Manifest. Following the acquisition, the firms merged under a single unified brand: Manifest. The merger combined Manifest's expertise in content strategy, brand journalism, and B2B storytelling with Aisle Rocket's capabilities in digital experience, marketing technology, and brand/product creative. The combined agency is fiercely independent and positioned to compete against larger holding companies.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Manifest competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- R/GA: Independent creative and digital agency offering integrated strategy, design, and technology services to enterprise clients — closely comparable to Manifest's full-service integrated offering and similar size band.
- Code and Theory: Independent creative and technology agency combining content, design, and digital product capabilities — directly comparable to Manifest's eight-pillar integrated model and its content-plus-technology positioning post-merger.
- Anomaly: Independent creative agency known for non-traditional, brand-plus-performance integration — comparable to Manifest's independent positioning against holding companies and integrated campaign approach.
- Digitas: Publicis-owned connected marketing agency spanning data, creative, media, and technology — directly comparable across Manifest's eight service pillars, though at larger scale and with holding-company backing.
- Huge: Digital experience agency offering strategy, design, marketing, and technology — closely aligned with Manifest's 'Technology' and 'Creative' capabilities and its experience-design emphasis.
- 72andSunny: Independent creative agency integrating brand, content, and cultural strategy for global brands — comparable to Manifest's independent status and integrated brand-plus-performance positioning.
- Mother: Independent creative agency operating across advertising, design, content, and digital — closely comparable to Manifest's independent model and full-service creative scope.
- Droga5: Creatively-led agency (now part of Accenture Song) with integrated strategy, creative, and capabilities work — directly comparable to Manifest's brand storytelling and integrated campaign strengths, though at greater scale.
Broad incumbents
- Publicis Groupe: Global advertising holding company encompassing creative, media, digital, and healthcare agencies — the principal holding-company incumbent that Manifest explicitly positions against as an independent alternative.
- Omnicom Group: Global advertising holding company providing advertising, media, branding, and marketing services — broad incumbent competitor whose portfolio agencies (e.g., BBDO, DDB, Goodby) compete with Manifest across enterprise RFPs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Manifest social profiles
Digital presenceManifest financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Manifest leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Manifest subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Manifest funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Manifest 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 Manifest
What does Manifest do?
Manifest is a full-service independent marketing agency providing integrated strategy, creative, data intelligence, performance media, editorial, social, technology, and delivery services to enterprise and mid-market clients. The agency focuses on shortening the consumer journey by bridging brand-building and performance marketing, particularly in the middle of the customer journey where engagement stalls.
Is Manifest a public or private company?
Manifest is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Manifest founded?
Manifest was founded in 1985. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Manifest based?
Manifest is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Manifest make money?
One revenue line is on record: marketing Services Revenue.
Who are Manifest's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are R/GA, Code and Theory, Anomaly, Digitas, Huge, 72andSunny, Mother and Droga5. Broad incumbents are Publicis Groupe and Omnicom Group.
Does Manifest have an API?
No public API is recorded for Manifest.
What industry is Manifest in?
Manifest's product category is Integrated Marketing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAGAF, Brand Activations & Pop-Ups (Retail/Street/Guerrilla), with a secondary code of MPAGAHAD, Product Launches & Brand Activations (Experiential Marketing). Its NAICS code is 541840 and its SIC code is 7311.