What Avoq does

Avoq is a Washington, D.C.-headquartered strategic communications, public affairs, and creative advocacy firm serving government, corporate, and nonprofit clients across the United States. Founded in 2005 as Home Front Communications by Dan Sallick and Paul Frick, the firm evolved through the merger of Subject Matter and Kivvit and rebranded to Avoq in 2025, operating today from five offices (Washington D.C., Chicago, New York, Asbury Park, New Jersey, and Miami) with more than 200 employees. The firm is led by co-founders and managing partners Dan Sallick, Eric Sedler, and Jimmy Ryan, with Kelli Parsons appointed as CEO effective February 2, 2026 succeeding Nicole Cornish. Avoq's service portfolio spans four core lines: Reputation & Senior Advisory (crisis communications, executive visibility, media training), Policy & Public Affairs (direct lobbying, coalition building, grassroots mobilization), Creative, Content & Media (advertising, video, web design, paid media, multicultural targeting), and Data Intelligence (audience insights and research).

The firm's underlying technology layer centers on proprietary data and research assets rather than software products. Its flagship intellectual asset is the Policy Insiders' Media Habits Report, an annual survey now in its 13th year tracking how 300+ Washington D.C. policy insiders consume news and increasingly AI-mediated information. Avoq has also introduced GEOmetriq, an add-on service designed to help clients optimize their presence on AI platforms. The firm has received industry recognition including a PR Week "Best in Public Affairs" award for its CHIPS Act campaign, a Bulldog PR "PR Stars Under 40" recognition, and PR Daily Top Agencies Awards in 2025. Headcount of 200+ professionals includes former congressional chiefs of staff, White House communications alumni, and senior practitioners from Edelman, AKPD Message and Media, Microsoft government affairs, and other established communications firms.

Avoq generates revenue through professional services engagements priced on a custom, scope-based model with no publicly disclosed rates. Its go-to-market is direct B2B sales to enterprise buyers in three primary segments: Corporate Organizations (reputation management, executive positioning), Government Relations & Policy clients (lobbying, advocacy, legislative strategy), and Creative & Content buyers (advertising, content production, paid amplification), supplemented by Nonprofit and Data Intelligence engagements. Notable named clients include the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and the Semiconductor Industry Association. The firm is privately held and founder-controlled, with no disclosed external private equity or venture capital backing, and has pursued inorganic growth via acquisitions including the November 2024 acquisition of SRA Communications.

Name

Avoq

Legal name

Avoq

Website

https://teamavoq.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Avoq is a Washington, D.C.-headquartered strategic communications and public affairs firm with 200+ employees across five U.S. offices. Founded in 2005 (rebranded to Avoq in 2025), it serves government, corporate, and nonprofit clients with reputation advisory, government relations, creative content, and proprietary policy-insider research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Consulting: Professional services revenue from providing strategic communications, public affairs, reputation management, and creative services to government, corporate, and nonprofit clients

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Avoq is an insights-driven communications and public affairs firm that provides strategic communications, government relations, creative advertising, content production, paid media, web design, and data intelligence services. Its offerings are organized around four practice areas—Reputation & Senior Advisory, Policy & Public Affairs, Creative/Content/Media, and Data Intelligence—and are delivered to corporate, government, and nonprofit clients to shape narratives, manage reputations, influence policy debates, and engage audiences.

Product overview

Avoq is an insights-driven communications and advocacy firm (formerly Subject Matter+Kivvit) offering an integrated suite of four core service lines: Reputation & Senior Advisory (crisis communications, executive positioning, media training), Policy & Public Affairs (lobbying, coalition building, grassroots mobilization), Creative, Content & Media (advertising, video production, web design, paid media), and Data Intelligence (audience insights, research). The firm also produces proprietary research products including the annual Policy Insiders' Media Habits Report surveying 300+ D.C. policy insiders on media consumption patterns. GEOmetriq is a specialized add-on service helping clients optimize their presence on AI platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Media Habits: Avoq's annual research report surveying Washington D.C. policy insiders on media consumption habits, now in its 2026 edition.
• GEOmetriq

Products and services

• Reputation & Senior Advisory Strategic communications and crisis management services helping corporate, government, and nonprofit clients protect credibility, control narratives, and maintain trust during disruption. Includes crisis communications, executive visibility, message development, media training, and strategic planning.
• Policy & Public Affairs Government relations and public affairs services leveraging insider knowledge and bipartisan relationships. Includes direct lobbying, coalition building, campaign management, grassroots mobilization, policy analysis, and legislative strategy for clients navigating federal and state policy.
• Creative, Content & Media Integrated creative and media services including concepting, brand development, advertising, video production, web design, paid media, and multicultural targeting to drive campaign impact for advocacy, corporate, nonprofit, and public-sector clients.
• Data Intelligence Data-driven insights and audience intelligence services that inform communications strategy and measure campaign effectiveness, anchored by Avoq's proprietary Media Habits research and ongoing analytics capabilities.
• Policy Insiders' Media Habits Report Annual proprietary research report surveying 300+ Washington D.C. policy insiders on media consumption habits, AI adoption, opinion leaders, and platform preferences. Published by Avoq and used by clients to inform communications targeting of policy audiences.
• GEOmetriq AI platform optimization service ensuring clients appear correctly on AI platforms and effectively address their AI audiences. Leverages Avoq's Media Habits research on AI adoption among Washington policy insiders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grindr mpox vaccine ads achieved 10% click-through rate, twice the app's benchmark
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: The world's largest independent PR firm, offering corporate reputation, public affairs, creative, and data services across global markets. Directly comparable service lines (reputation advisory, policy, creative) and significantly larger scale make it Avoq's primary global incumbent competitor.
• Weber Shandwick: Global communications agency within the Interpublic Group, with strong public affairs, corporate reputation, and creative practices. Competes for the same corporate and association clients Avoq serves, with deeper geographic reach and bigger media capabilities.
• Brunswick Group: Specialist communications firm focused on critical issues, public affairs, and corporate positioning, often advising CEOs and boards. Overlaps directly with Avoq's reputation advisory and policy work, particularly for high-stakes corporate engagements.
• Ketchum: Global communications agency within Omnicom, with strong public affairs, corporate, and creative practices. Competes for many of the same corporate reputation and advocacy clients Avoq targets.

Direct peers

• Finsbury Glover Hering: Global public affairs and strategic communications firm with strong Washington presence, competing head-to-head for corporate reputation, government relations, and crisis work. Closely comparable in service mix and policy insider expertise.
• SKDK: Public affairs and political consulting firm with integrated advertising, polling, and crisis capabilities. Directly comparable to Avoq's government relations and creative advocacy offerings, frequently competing for association and corporate advocacy work.
• Bully Pulpit Interactive: Digital-first public affairs and communications firm combining creative, paid media, and data analytics. Closely aligned with Avoq's Creative/Content/Media and Data Intelligence pillars, especially for digital advocacy campaigns.
• ROKK Solutions: Public affairs firm focused on advocacy, government relations, and strategic communications for corporations and associations. Direct competitor in policy advocacy and lobbying engagements, particularly in D.C.
• Marathon Strategies: Communications and public affairs firm offering corporate reputation, crisis, and government relations. Overlaps with Avoq's reputation advisory and public affairs practices, particularly for corporate clients.
• FP1 Strategies: Public affairs and advocacy firm with integrated advertising, digital, and government relations capabilities. Directly comparable to Avoq's integrated advocacy model for association and corporate clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/teamavoq
• Facebookfacebook.com/teamavoq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/teamavoq
• Instagraminstagram.com/teamavoq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

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 Avoq