What Derris does

Derris is a privately held brand strategy and communications consultancy founded in 2013 by Jesse Derris and Lisa Frank. Headquartered in New York (195 Broadway) with a regional office in London (Bloomsbury Building, Holborn), the firm employs a team of 75+ strategists, storytellers, and creative operators and serves clients ranging from early-stage startups to established enterprises across seven verticals: Beauty, Consumer Tech, Fashion & Retail, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Travel & Lifestyle, and Venture & Finance. Service lines are integrated under one offering spanning Brand Development, Positioning and Messaging, Launch Strategy, Scaling Narratives, Brand Partnerships and Influencer Relations, Social Media and Content Strategy, Event Production, and "First-Chair Counsel" covering crisis communications, change management, IPO readiness, and media training.

The underlying capability is creative and strategic consulting rather than proprietary technology — there is no AI/ML, software platform, or tech-stack differentiation in the source record. Capability is extended through partner ecosystems: Orchestra (a multi-disciplinary expert network), "In Person" (a retail/hospitality joint venture with thank you), and "Project Mercury" (a pro-bono joint venture with Mythology supporting underrepresented founders). In February 2019 Derris acquired Sample to add adjacent capability.

Derris operates a professional services, sales-led model with quote-based engagements sold via direct outreach and a website contact form ([email protected]), with a 1–2 business-day response commitment. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. There is no evidence of outside institutional capital beyond a 2014 RSE Ventures participation, and revenue is not disclosed. Marketing channels are limited to LinkedIn, Instagram, and the company website, consistent with a referral-driven boutique consultancy.

Name

Derris

Legal name

Derris

Website

https://derris.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Derris is a New York- and London-based brand strategy and communications consultancy founded in 2013. Its 75+ person team provides brand development, positioning, launch strategy, and crisis communications to consumer and venture clients across beauty, tech, fashion, food and beverage, health and wellness, travel, and finance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brand Strategy & Communications Consulting

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising Agencies (54181), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Brand Strategy & Identity Systems (MPAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

B2B / Account-Based Marketing (ABM) Strategy Consulting (MPAAAFAM)

Keywords

• Brand strategy consulting
• Public relations services
• Communications consulting
• Brand development
• Crisis communications

Headquarters

HQ city

New City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Brand Strategy and Communications Consulting: Professional services revenue model providing brand strategy, messaging, creative development, and communications consulting to companies seeking to build, launch, or scale their brands.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Derris is a brand strategy and communications consultancy that helps companies define, launch, and scale brands through an integrated set of professional services. Its offerings span brand development (positioning, identity, voice, asset and website creation), launch strategy, scaling narratives (storytelling, thought leadership, influencer relations, social media, content, and event production), and first-chair counsel (crisis communications, change management, corporate communications, IPO readiness, and media training). Engagements are delivered by a 75+ person team across New York and London, organized around industry verticals including Beauty, Consumer Tech, Fashion & Retail, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Travel & Lifestyle, and Venture & Finance.

Product overview

Derris is a brand building and marketing consultancy that operates as a single integrated service offering rather than a platform with discrete products. The company provides comprehensive brand development, positioning, launch strategy, and scaling narrative services across multiple industry verticals (Beauty, Consumer Tech, Fashion & Retail, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Travel & Lifestyle, and Venture & Finance). Core service offerings include Brand Development, Brand Positioning & Messaging, Launch Strategy, Scaling Narratives, Brand Partnerships & Influencer Relations, Social Media & Content Strategy, Event Production, and First-Chair Counsel (crisis communications, change management, IPO readiness). The company also maintains partner networks including Orchestra (expert network), In Person (retail/hospitality collaboration), and Project Mercury (pro-bono support for underrepresented founders).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• In Person: A collaboration between Derris and hospitality experts at thank you, focusing on temporary and permanent retail, retail strategy, customer experience and design, construction, retail placement, and one-of-a-kind multi-day experiences.
• Project Mercury

Products and services

• Brand Development
• Scaling Narratives
• First-Chair Counsel
• Brand Positioning & Messaging
• Launch Strategy
• Social Media & Content Strategy
• Brand Partnerships & Influencer Relations
• Event Production

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Orchestra network providing access to expertise across spectrum of disciplines including tech policy, editorial content development, paid media, and political campaigning. Allows Derris to build comprehensive service offerings for clients.
• In PersoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between Derris and hospitality experts at thank you, focusing on temporary and permanent retail, retail strategy, customer experience and design, construction, retail placement, and one-of-a-kind multi-day experiences.
• Project MercuryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture with Mythology supporting underrepresented founders with industry-changing ideas through pro-bono work including strategy, positioning, and branding.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Global communications and PR firm offering brand strategy, corporate communications, and crisis management. Comparable to Derris across brand development, positioning, and crisis comms, but operates at much larger scale with broader geographic footprint.
• Weber Shandwick: One of the world's largest PR and communications agencies providing brand marketing, corporate comms, and social impact work. Overlaps with Derris on brand development and scaling narratives for consumer clients, but at significantly larger scale and broader service breadth.
• Golin: Global PR and communications agency with deep consumer brand practice. Overlaps with Derris on brand storytelling, influencer relations, and launch strategy but operates globally with much larger headcount.
• Ketchum: Large global communications firm offering brand strategy, PR, and corporate communications. Overlaps with Derris in brand development and consumer comms but at significantly larger scale with broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• M Booth: Independent brand communications agency serving consumer, lifestyle, and corporate clients. Comparable to Derris in brand storytelling, influencer relations, and brand strategy depth, with similar mid-size scale.
• BerlinRosen: Mid-sized US communications and marketing firm with strong consumer brand practice. Direct competitor to Derris in brand strategy, launch support, and consumer comms, with similar dual-coast presence and comparable client verticals.
• Day One Agency: Boutique communications and brand strategy firm focused on consumer, tech, and lifestyle clients. Direct competitor to Derris in brand development, launch strategy, and influencer-driven storytelling for emerging consumer brands.
• 5W Public Relations: Mid-market US PR and communications agency with strong consumer and lifestyle practice. Direct competitor to Derris for brand launches, consumer PR, and corporate communications engagements.
• The Brand Consultancy: Boutique brand strategy and identity consultancy serving consumer, tech, and lifestyle clients. Comparable to Derris in scope of brand strategy, positioning, and identity system work for growth-stage and enterprise brands.
• Allison+Partners: Mid-sized integrated communications agency with consumer, tech, and lifestyle focus. Comparable to Derris on brand storytelling, PR, and influencer work, with similar mid-market positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/derris-&-company
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearederris

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Derris