Direct Agents
Direct Agents is an independent AI-powered performance marketing agency founded in 2003, serving enterprise and mid-market clients across e-commerce, subscription, and B2B SaaS verticals with paid media, creative, SEO, and proprietary AI optimization platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Direct Agents firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Direct Agents
- Legal name
- Direct Agents, LLC
- Website
- https://directagents.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Direct Agents is an independent AI-powered performance marketing agency founded in 2003, serving enterprise and mid-market clients across e-commerce, subscription, and B2B SaaS verticals with paid media, creative, SEO, and proprietary AI optimization platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Direct Agents industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Marketing Services
- NAICS
- Media Buying Agencies (54183)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)
Keywords
Where Direct Agents is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Direct Agents business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Performance Marketing Services: Agency fees for strategic marketing services including paid media management, campaign optimization, creative services, and analytics. Revenue generated through retainer-based engagements and performance-based arrangements with enterprise and mid-market clients seeking measurable growth outcomes.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Direct Agents product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Direct Agents is an independent, full-service performance marketing agency that plans, buys, and optimizes paid media across Google, Meta, Amazon, programmatic, CTV, DOOH, and digital audio for enterprise brands. Its offering is augmented by proprietary AI platforms — KanopyAI for real-time campaign optimization, attribution, and incrementality; the MOTIF Creative Suite for AI-driven creative production and analysis; and proprietary Amazon SOV technology for competitive intelligence — alongside creative production, SEO/GEO, influencer marketing, and B2B demand generation services. The agency sells through retainer- and performance-based engagements, with a separate Launchpad engagement tier for growth-stage companies.
Product overview
Direct Agents is an independent growth and performance marketing agency founded in 2003, offering a portfolio of service offerings augmented by proprietary AI technologies. The core portfolio centers on paid media, performance marketing, creative services, influencer marketing, and SEO/GEO capabilities. Key proprietary technologies include KanopyAI (real-time performance optimization platform) and the MOTIF Suite (AI-powered creative operating system with variations, QA, evaluation, and scouting tools). Their Launchpad engagement model provides AI-driven media management for growth-stage companies, while GEO services optimize for AI discovery on ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other AI search platforms. The agency operates across e-commerce, subscription, and B2B SaaS verticals with offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Austin.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Launchpad: AI-driven media management solution designed for growth-stage companies, startups, and lean in-house teams seeking enterprise-level marketing performance.
- Kanopy AI
- MOTIF
Products and services
- KanopyAI
Quantifiable outcome
- 60% increase in clicks for Carhartt with 99% sales increase
- +10 more outcomes
Companies that use Direct Agents
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Direct Agents technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability10 records
Feature4 records
Direct Agents partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ShirofuneflagshipStrategic partnership marking Shirofune's U.S. expansion, integrating Shirofune's AI-driven automation suite into Direct Agents' retail media and e-commerce operations. Announced at Amazon's Ads unBoxed Conference, this is one of Shirofune's flagship U.S. partnerships. The integration delivers 27-47% reduction in ad management time and measurable revenue lift for clients. Companies will collaborate on product feedback, advanced feature testing, and educational initiatives as part of Shirofune's ecosystem of AI-enabled marketing partners in North America.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Direct Agents competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tinuiti: Independent performance marketing agency of comparable scale offering paid media, SEO, and analytics across major platforms with a similar mid-market to enterprise client focus.
- Wpromote: Mid-sized independent digital marketing agency with comparable performance marketing focus across paid media, SEO, and creative services for mid-market and enterprise clients.
- PMG: Independent digital agency focused on media, SEO, and performance marketing for enterprise brands, with similar proprietary technology investments and channel breadth.
- Brainlabs: Globally scaled performance marketing agency built around proprietary automation and AI tools, offering paid media and analytics capabilities closely aligned with Direct Agents' offering.
- Jellyfish: Global digital marketing agency combining media, creative, and technology services with comparable enterprise client focus and a similar AI-forward positioning.
- Adlucent: Performance marketing agency specializing in retail media and e-commerce advertising, with Amazon Ads expertise that directly overlaps Direct Agents' retail media practice.
- Acceleration Partners: Performance marketing agency focused on partner and affiliate programs with comparable enterprise client base and performance-driven service model.
- Hawke Media: Subscription-based digital marketing agency serving growth-stage and mid-market clients with fractional-style engagements analogous to Direct Agents' Launchpad offering.
Broad incumbents
- iProspect: Dentsu-owned global digital performance agency offering broader geographic reach, deeper platform relationships, and end-to-end capabilities beyond Direct Agents' U.S.-only footprint.
- GroupM: WPP's global media investment group with vastly greater scale, international footprint, and enterprise tooling - represents the upper bound of competition for global enterprise accounts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Direct Agents social profiles
Digital presenceDirect Agents financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Direct Agents leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Direct Agents funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Direct Agents 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 Direct Agents
What does Direct Agents do?
Direct Agents is an independent, full-service performance marketing agency that plans, buys, and optimizes paid media across Google, Meta, Amazon, programmatic, CTV, DOOH, and digital audio for enterprise brands. Its offering is augmented by proprietary AI platforms — KanopyAI for real-time campaign optimization, attribution, and incrementality; the MOTIF Creative Suite for AI-driven creative production and analysis; and proprietary Amazon SOV technology for competitive intelligence — alongside creative production, SEO/GEO, influencer marketing, and B2B demand generation services. The agency sells through retainer- and performance-based engagements, with a separate Launchpad engagement tier for growth-stage companies.
Is Direct Agents a public or private company?
Direct Agents is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Direct Agents founded?
Direct Agents was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Direct Agents based?
Direct Agents is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Direct Agents make money?
One revenue line is on record: performance Marketing Services.
Who are Direct Agents's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tinuiti, Wpromote, PMG, Brainlabs, Jellyfish, Adlucent, Acceleration Partners and Hawke Media. Broad incumbents are iProspect and GroupM.
Does Direct Agents have an API?
No public API is recorded for Direct Agents.
What industry is Direct Agents in?
Direct Agents's product category is Digital Marketing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAAAA, Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies. Its NAICS code is 54183 and its SIC code is 7311.