What Marathon Strategies does

Marathon Strategies is a strategic communications and research firm founded in 2008 by Phil Singer, headquartered in New York City with additional offices in Washington, D.C., and Albany, NY. The firm operates with a team of approximately 70 communications professionals drawn from journalism, government, law, research, digital strategy, and design backgrounds. It serves public and private companies ranging from Fortune 100 enterprises to mid-market firms, industry associations, nonprofits, NGOs, and thought leaders addressing high-stakes reputation, policy, and crisis challenges. Named clients span a broad vertical mix including tax policy advocacy (Alliance for Competitive Taxation), Alaska Native corporations (Arctic Slope Regional Corporation), end-of-life healthcare (Compassion and Choices), wealth management (Farther), retail (Walmart), technology (Micron, Bilt), entertainment (Churchill Downs), construction (Clayco), and higher education.

The firm's service portfolio spans six integrated practices: Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, Crisis & Issues Management, Competitive Intelligence, Digital Strategy, and Creative Execution. Underpinning delivery is a research-driven methodology built around investigative intelligence, original research products (including the "Corporate Verdicts Go Thermonuclear" annual report analyzing nuclear verdicts, "Meet The Freshmen" congressional analysis, "The Age of Disinformation," and "Inside Albany"), and advanced social listening and analytics tools used to monitor digital conversations, analyze sentiment, and identify emerging narratives. Marathon also operates DefendED, a specialized higher education crisis communications practice launched in 2024. The firm distributes research and thought leadership through its website, an email newsletter, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, and earned media to drive top-of-funnel demand.

Marathon operates as a professional services firm (Marathon Strategies, LLC, domiciled in New York) generating revenue through retainer-based consulting engagements on corporate communications, public affairs, crisis management, competitive intelligence, digital strategy, and creative execution. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to engagement scope; no standard pricing is publicly disclosed. The firm employs an enterprise field sales go-to-market with direct engagement of organizational leaders responsible for reputation, visibility, and influence. Marathon has earned hundreds of industry awards, including PRovoke Media's 2026 20 Best Agencies in North America, Reed Awards (Best Public Affairs Campaign 2026), PR Daily Top Agency (three consecutive years), PR News Elite 100 (four consecutive years), SABRE Awards, Telly Awards, Ragan Top Places to Work, and Inc. 5000 (2023).

Name

Marathon Strategies

Legal name

Marathon Strategies, LLC

Website

https://marathonstrategies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Marathon Strategies is a strategic communications and research firm serving Fortune 100 to mid-market companies, nonprofits, NGOs, and advocacy organizations through six integrated practices: corporate communications, public affairs, crisis management, competitive intelligence, digital strategy, and creative execution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Communications Services

NAICS

Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Strategy & Planning (BPAFAIAG)

Keywords

• Strategic communications consulting
• Crisis communications services
• Public affairs campaigns
• Competitive intelligence research
• Corporate communications advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Consulting: Professional services revenue generated through retainer-based consulting engagements for corporate communications, public affairs, crisis management, competitive intelligence, digital strategy, and creative execution services. The firm works with organizational leaders on high-stakes communications challenges.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Marathon Strategies is a strategic communications and research firm that delivers insight-driven communications services across six integrated practices: Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, Crisis & Issues Management, Competitive Intelligence (Research & Investigations), Digital Strategy, and Creative Execution. The firm also operates DefendED, a specialized higher education crisis communications practice. Services are delivered through retainer-based consulting engagements for organizational leaders facing high-stakes reputational, policy, and crisis challenges.

Product overview

Marathon Strategies is a strategic communications and research firm offering six integrated service practices: Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, Crisis & Issues Management, Competitive Intelligence (Research & Investigations), Digital Strategy, and Creative Execution. The firm also operates DefendED, a specialized higher education crisis communications practice. Marathon publishes original research reports including 'Corporate Verdicts Go Thermonuclear,' 'Meet The Freshmen,' 'The Age of Disinformation,' and 'Inside Albany: The Information Advantage Report.' These services work together to provide clients with intelligence-driven communications that strengthen reputations and influence outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DefendED: Dedicated higher education crisis communications practice helping campus leaders manage public profiles and navigate reputational risks

Products and services

• Corporate Communications Strategic communications practice helping organizations shape narrative, build market credibility, and advance business goals through insights-driven campaigns. Targeted at corporate leaders responsible for reputation and visibility.
• Public Affairs
• Crisis & Issues Management
• Competitive Intelligence (Research & Investigations)
• Digital Strategy
• Creative Execution
• DefendED Dedicated higher education crisis communications practice providing full risk assessment, crisis playbook development, strategic communications support, plagiarism review, and sentiment monitoring for colleges and universities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grew Cleaning Coalition name recognition by 371%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Largest global PR firm with full-service capabilities across corporate communications, public affairs, crisis, and research. Represents the scale ceiling against which mid-sized firms like Marathon must differentiate on insight and specialization.
• M Booth: Larger integrated communications agency offering corporate communications, public affairs, brand marketing, and creative. Broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities but a wider portfolio and more consumer-brand focus.

Direct peers

• Mercury Public Affairs: Public affairs and strategic communications firm with strong political ties serving corporate and advocacy clients. Competes head-to-head with Marathon on public affairs mandates, crisis work, and high-stakes reputation management.
• ROKK Solutions: Public affairs firm specializing in advocacy, coalition building, and strategic communications for corporate and nonprofit clients. Comparable boutique positioning with deep political relationships on the Republican and corporate side of public affairs.
• Hamilton Place Strategies: Policy and public affairs communications firm working at the intersection of corporate reputation and legislative advocacy. Direct competitor on policy-driven campaigns and stakeholder engagement work.
• BerlinRosen: Progressive-leaning strategic communications firm offering corporate communications, public affairs, and crisis services. Comparable client mix and political orientation, though typically larger and more diversified across consumer, tech, and advocacy verticals.
• SKDK: Boutique public affairs and strategic communications firm with similar political pedigree (Democratic-aligned) and comparable service offering across corporate communications, crisis, and public affairs. Most direct US-based competitor in size, positioning, and client mix.
• Bully Pulpit Interactive: Strategically focused communications and digital firm combining public affairs, creative, and paid media. Comparable in integrated service offering and political alignment, with similar emphasis on insight-driven campaigns.
• Pineapple Public Relations: Boutique strategic communications firm focused on corporate communications, public affairs, and crisis work. Similar mid-market positioning and service mix as Marathon, often competing on advocacy and policy campaigns.

Emerging players

• Storyline Strategies: Communications firm specializing in public affairs and policy-driven campaigns with research-led approach. Emerging competitor with overlapping methodology (research-driven strategy) but smaller scale and narrower client base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/marathonstrat
• Facebookfacebook.com/timeline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marathon-strategies-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/marathonstrategies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Marathon Strategies