Rise and Shine and Partners

What Rise and Shine and Partners does

Rise and Shine and Partners is an independent, full-service brand navigation agency headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in 2006 by Kevin DiLorenzo, former CEO of Olson. The agency delivers integrated advertising, brand strategy, creative development, media planning and buying, design, and production services to mid-market and enterprise clients across at least nine verticals, including food and beverage (Anheuser-Busch, Land O'Lakes, Better Than Bouillon), retail (Best Buy, Lowes Foods, Lunds & Byerlys), healthcare (Houston Methodist, M-Health Fairview), travel and tourism (United Airlines, State of Washington, Explore Minnesota), sports (Minnesota Twins, PING), and government/non-profit (Minnesota Zoo). The firm operates under a combination of agency-of-record retainers and project-based engagements, with pricing quoted per engagement rather than publicly disclosed.

The agency's product surface combines four core service lines (Media, Strategy, Creative, Design) with two proprietary platforms: Black Rabbit AI™, a generative AI and machine-learning platform that replicates and optimizes creative ad units across text, image, and video modalities while keeping human curation in the loop; and Golden Hour Productions, an in-house production studio providing shoot, record, edit, retouch, render, animate, and mix capabilities. The firm reached 100+ employees and 24,000 square feet of headquarters space in Minneapolis's North Loop in 2025 following the acquisition of Adventure Creative Group.

Rise and Shine and Partners generates revenue primarily through professional services billed under agency-of-record retainers and project engagements with enterprise clients. The go-to-market motion relies on direct enterprise sales, competitive reviews (e.g., Lowes Foods selection via Ark Advisors), industry referrals, and award-driven inbound credibility. The firm markets itself through case studies, social media (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook), and a steady stream of industry awards including Ad Age Small Agency of the Year GOLD Midwest, Adweek Fastest Growing Agencies (#55 globally), Inc. 5000 (consecutive years), and AdFed Minnesota Best of Show. The firm is privately held, founder-controlled, and has not disclosed any external funding rounds.

Name

Rise and Shine and Partners

Legal name

Rise and Shine and Partners

Website

https://riseandshineandpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Rise and Shine and Partners is an independent Minneapolis-based brand navigation agency offering integrated advertising, brand strategy, media, design, and AI-enabled creative production services to mid-market and enterprise clients across food and beverage, retail, healthcare, travel, and sports verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advertising & Marketing Services

NAICS

Media Buying Agencies (541830), Public Relations Agencies (541820), Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creative & Brand Campaign Development (BPAFAAAB), Creative Concepting & Campaign Development (BPAFAEAD), Activation/Experiential Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAO)

Keywords

• Advertising agency services
• Brand strategy consulting
• Creative campaign development
• Media planning and buying
• AI-powered creative production

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Marketing Services: Rise and Shine generates revenue by providing integrated advertising and marketing services including brand strategy, creative development, media planning and buying, and production services to enterprise and mid-market clients. Revenue is project-based and retainer arrangements with clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rise and Shine and Partners is an independent, full-service brand navigation agency offering integrated advertising and marketing services including brand strategy, creative development, media planning and buying, design, and in-house production. The agency combines four core service areas (Media, Strategy, Creative, Design) with two proprietary platforms—Black Rabbit AI™ for AI-powered creative asset replication and Golden Hour Productions for in-house video, audio, and animation production—delivered to mid-market and enterprise clients across retail, food and beverage, healthcare, travel and tourism, sports, and other verticals.

Product overview

Rise and Shine and Partners is an independent, all-service strategic, creative and media agency operating as a brand navigation firm. The company offers an integrated portfolio combining core advertising services (Media, Strategy, Creative, Design) with two proprietary platforms: Black Rabbit AI™ for AI-powered creative ad unit replication and Golden Hour Productions for in-house video, audio, and animation production. The architecture combines human-led strategic services with technology-enabled creative production capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Black Rabbit AI™: Proprietary AI platform using a combination of AI, rules-based software and machine learning to replicate creative ad units for modern ecosystems. All curated and optimized by real live people creatives to keep messages human.
• Golden Hour Productions

Products and services

• Black Rabbit AI™ Proprietary AI platform that uses a combination of AI, rules-based software and machine learning to replicate creative ad units for modern marketing ecosystems. All assets are curated and optimized by real human creatives to keep messages human. Sold as a creative production capability to mid-market and enterprise clients.
• Golden Hour Productions In-house production studio that shoots, records, re-touches, edits, renders, animates, and mixes content. Built to eliminate barriers in developing and delivering timely content with greater efficiency for client campaigns.
• Strategy Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 110% year-over-year revenue growth in 2024
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers28 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Adventure Creative GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2025Strategic acquisition of Adventure Creative Group, a fellow independent agency with complementary culture and client roster. The deal solidifies the agency's position as a nationally recognized independent agency with expanded capabilities and resources. Scott Mitchell, founder of Adventure, joined the leadership team as a Consultant.
• Studio BVminorOthersMinneapolis-based interior design firm that designed both the agency's current North Loop headquarters and the previous Linden Hills office space.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Olson (now ICF Next): Minneapolis-based independent agency where CEO Kevin DiLorenzo previously served as CEO. Most directly comparable peer given leadership lineage, similar mid-market positioning, and overlap in full-service creative and media offerings.
• Carmichael Lynch: Long-standing Minneapolis independent full-service creative agency with comparable enterprise client roster and integrated creative/media capabilities. Direct geographic and category competitor for Midwest enterprise AOR business.
• Fallon: Historic Minneapolis creative agency with strong enterprise portfolio. Shares leadership lineage (DiLorenzo, Waldron both ex-Fallon) and competes for the same brand-strategy and creative mandates in the Twin Cities market.
• Colle McVoy: Minneapolis-based independent agency known for integrated creative, design, and media work. Directly comparable for AOR reviews across retail, healthcare, and CPG, and shares talent lineage (Ed Bennett ex-Colle McVoy).
• Periscope: Minneapolis independent agency offering full-service creative, media, and data capabilities. Competes head-to-head for Midwest enterprise clients and shares the same regional talent pool.

Broad incumbents

• Wieden+Kennedy: Larger globally recognized independent creative agency. Comparable as a competing independent alternative to holding-company networks on enterprise pitches, though operating at substantially greater scale and global footprint.
• 72andSunny: Independent creative agency known for culturally led brand work. Comparable independent positioning and integrated creative/media offering, though at a materially larger scale with broader geographic reach.
• Anomaly: Independently operated creative and media agency with comparable integrated services and similar enterprise client base. Competes for AOR mandates on a national rather than regional basis.
• Huge: Independently operated agency offering strategy, creative, media, and technology services. Comparable integrated offering and similar target enterprise client profile, with significantly larger headcount and global presence.

Emerging players

• Mekanism: Mid-sized independent creative agency with strong integrated campaign capabilities and award-winning creative output. Comparable in size category, indie positioning, and effectiveness-led case study approach, though concentrated in different verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/riseandshineandpartners
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rise-and-shine-and-partners
• Instagraminstagram.com/riseandshineandpartners
• Xx.com/RiseShineAgency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 and Shine and Partners