the7stars
the7stars is the UK's largest independent media agency, founded in 2005 and headquartered in London. It provides media planning and buying, analytics, creative/production (via its Supernova unit), and technology services to a diverse portfolio of enterprise, government, and nonprofit brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What the7stars does
the7stars is a London-headquartered, privately held independent media agency founded in 2005 and self-described as the UK's largest independent media agency. The firm operates four integrated service pillars: Media Planning & Buying across TV, digital, OOH, radio, cinema and emerging platforms; Insight & Analytics focused on human-behaviour analysis and campaign effectiveness; Creative & Production delivered through its Supernova unit, which houses three in-house studios handling content, partnerships, talent/licensing, sponsorships and digital production; and Technology & Commerce, covering tech audits, data engineering and search experience. It serves a diversified portfolio of enterprise, government and nonprofit clients, with named relationships including H&M, Suzuki, CALM, People's Postcode Lottery, Patak's, TSB, Nintendo, Warner Music Group, Royal Mail, Admiral, McArthurGlen, and the UK government's Retail Investment Campaign, among more than 50 disclosed logos spanning retail, FMCG, financial services, entertainment, automotive, charity and public sectors.
The business is a B2B professional services firm generating revenue from media planning and buying fees, campaign execution and integrated creative production. Its go-to-market is sales-led: client acquisition runs through direct enterprise pitches, agency reputation and award-driven visibility rather than marketplaces or channel partners. As an independent (non-network) agency, the7stars positions itself on 'independent thought', media transparency (it was the first agency to adopt ISBA's agency contract framework) and integrated creative-plus-media delivery under one roof. It has no disclosed parent company, subsidiaries, or external funding rounds, and appears to be founder- or management-owned. The firm employs 251 people, has been named Campaign's Best Place to Work in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2025, and has held a place on the UK's Best Companies to Work For list for 12 consecutive years.
the7stars firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- the7stars
- Website
- https://the7stars.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- the7stars is the UK's largest independent media agency, founded in 2005 and headquartered in London. It provides media planning and buying, analytics, creative/production (via its Supernova unit), and technology services to a diverse portfolio of enterprise, government, and nonprofit brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
the7stars industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Media Agency Services
- NAICS
- Media Buying Agencies (54183), Media Representatives (541840)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Syndication, Licensing & Content Partnerships (Columns, Features, Photos) (MPAJADAI)
Keywords
Where the7stars is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
the7stars business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Media Planning and Buying Services: Core revenue stream from providing media planning and buying services to clients across various channels including online, TV, OOH, radio, digital, and more.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
the7stars product offering
Product offeringCore offering
the7stars is the UK's largest independent media agency, delivering media planning and buying across TV, digital, OOH, radio and content channels, supported by an in-house Supernova creative and production team, human-behaviour insight and analytics, and technology and commerce services. It serves UK brands, government-backed campaigns and start-ups with integrated, transparency-focused agency services.
Product overview
the7stars is The UK's Largest Independent Media Agency offering a comprehensive suite of media services. The agency operates four core service pillars: Media Planning & Buying (delivering distinct approaches for client products), Insight & Analytics (analysing human behaviour and driving effectiveness), Creative & Production under the Supernova brand (integrated creative, content, partnerships, and production with three in-house studios), and Technology & Commerce (auditing and supercharging technology infrastructure). Rather than a product platform, the7stars provides agency services focused on independent thought, transparency, and driving growth for clients across multiple industry sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Media Planning & Buying Planning and buying of media across multiple channels (TV, digital, OOH, radio, content), seeking independent thought to deliver distinct approaches for clients and their products and to drive growth.
- Insight & Analytics Analysis of human behaviour and what shapes it, with analytics driving greater campaign effectiveness and mapping routes to further growth for clients.
- Supernova (Creative & Production) Fully integrated creative, content, partnerships and production team creating media partnerships, talent and licensing deals, sponsorships and optimised digital content, with three in-house studios to produce content quickly and effectively.
- Technology & Commerce Audits the technology in place and supercharges how it is used, ensuring commerce, technology infrastructure, data engineering and search experience work together and are focused on business growth.
Companies that use the7stars
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
the7stars technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
the7stars partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- People's Postcode LotterycoreOngoing partnership for campaign planning and buying. the7stars planned and bought the annual Big Spring Win campaign nationwide, featuring multi-channel campaigns spanning TikTok, cinema, OOH, radio, direct mail, digital, and brand partnerships with Goalhanger Podcasts.
- Patak'sflagshipLancashire-based food brand partnered with the7stars for media agency services. Partnership involved recipe and meal plan content showcasing Patak's spice paste products across Mob's website, social platforms, TV, VOD, and YouTube.
- M+C SaatchicoreSelected alongside the7stars to lead creative and media delivery for the UK Retail Investment Campaign. The multi-year initiative aims to raise awareness about the benefits of investing and make it more inclusive for people across the UK. The Investment Association serves as campaign secretariat.
- Goalhanger PodcastsflagshipPartnership for People's Postcode Lottery festive season campaign, including sponsorship of Goalhanger's series 'The Rest is...' as part of expanded campaign.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
the7stars competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MG OMD: UK arm of OMD and one of the UK's largest media agencies. Comparable on UK brand-client focus, scale of media planning and buying operations, and analytics-driven approach.
- Goodstuff Communications: UK-based independent media agency and frequent direct rival to the7stars in the 'largest UK indie' category. Most comparable on independent positioning, transparency stance and UK brand-client focus.
- Hearts & Science: Omnicom-owned media agency built around data-driven, audience-based planning. Comparable to the7stars on analytics-led media planning and integrated audience targeting for major advertisers.
- Medialab: UK-based independent media agency with a similar customer-centric, independent positioning. Comparable service offering focused on media planning, buying and effectiveness measurement for UK brands.
- Bountiful Cow: UK-based independent media agency with a transparency and effectiveness positioning similar to the7stars. Directly comparable as another UK indie competitor pursuing mid-to-large brand clients.
- PHD Media: Global media planning and buying agency operating across UK and international markets. Directly comparable to the7stars on core service offering (media planning & buying) and target client base of brand advertisers, though backed by the Omnicom network.
- Wavemaker: WPP-owned global media agency with significant UK presence, focused on growth and data-led planning. Comparable in offering integrated media, content and data services to brand advertisers.
- Zenith: Publicis-owned global media agency with a strong UK presence offering media planning, buying and analytics. Closely comparable service mix and client profile to the7stars, including data-driven planning capabilities.
- Havas Media: Havas-owned global media network with UK operations providing integrated media planning, buying and analytics. Comparable in scope of services and customer base, with a similar multi-channel planning model.
- OMD (Omnicom Media Group): Largest UK media agency network under Omnicom, offering media planning and buying at scale. Closely matches the7stars' multi-channel planning and analytics offering for major brand clients, with greater scale and network backing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
the7stars social profiles
Digital presencethe7stars financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
the7stars leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
the7stars funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
the7stars 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 the7stars
What does the7stars do?
the7stars is the UK's largest independent media agency, delivering media planning and buying across TV, digital, OOH, radio and content channels, supported by an in-house Supernova creative and production team, human-behaviour insight and analytics, and technology and commerce services. It serves UK brands, government-backed campaigns and start-ups with integrated, transparency-focused agency services.
Is the7stars a public or private company?
the7stars is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was the7stars founded?
the7stars was founded in 2005. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is the7stars based?
the7stars is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does the7stars make money?
One revenue line is on record: media Planning and Buying Services.
Who are the7stars's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MG OMD, Goodstuff Communications, Hearts & Science, Medialab, Bountiful Cow, PHD Media, Wavemaker, Zenith, Havas Media and OMD (Omnicom Media Group).
Does the7stars have an API?
No public API is recorded for the7stars.
What industry is the7stars in?
the7stars's product category is Media Agency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAI, Syndication, Licensing & Content Partnerships (Columns, Features, Photos). Its NAICS code is 54183 and its SIC code is 7311.