What Black Propeller does

Black Propeller is a US-based digital marketing agency founded in 2011 and headquartered in Abingdon, Maryland, employing between 11 and 50 people. The agency delivers a full-funnel paid media and SEO offering built around four core service lines — Paid Search (Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising), Paid Social (Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit), Amazon Ads, and Performance Creative — supplemented by a broad SEO practice with specialized sub-services for Local, National, Enterprise, International, Franchise, E-commerce, YouTube, and AI-search optimization (AEO and GEO). Its technology stack combines platform partner certifications (Google, Microsoft, Meta, HubSpot, Teikametrics) with AI-driven budget optimization via Pixis (delivered through its 2026 parent, Stellar) and Teikametrics Flywheel for Amazon, plus an in-house creative team producing assets and Unbounce-hosted landing pages. Customized dashboards refresh every 15 minutes and pair with bi-weekly client meetings.

The agency's go-to-market is consultative direct sales with no channel intermediaries, targeting growth-stage brands spending at least $10,000 per month in paid media. Pricing follows a tiered fixed monthly retainer that scales with client ad spend (no percentage-of-spend fees, no setup fees), with month-to-month and longer-term contract options. Clients retain ownership of all accounts, assets, and landing pages, lowering structural switching costs but embedding operational integration through HubSpot CRM, custom attribution models, and multi-location franchise dashboards. Black Propeller serves more than 250 brands across at least eight verticals — Home Services, Retail & eCommerce, Legal & Finance, B2B & SaaS, Education, Beauty & Personal Care, Franchise & Multi-Location, and Travel & Hospitality — and reports managing more than $10 million in client advertising spend. Since 2026 it has operated as a subsidiary of Stellar, an AI-native performance network, accessing Pixis AI tooling and global delivery capacity while retaining its brand and team.

Name

Black Propeller

Legal name

Black Propeller

Website

https://blackpropeller.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Black Propeller is a US digital marketing agency founded in 2011 that runs paid search, paid social, Amazon, SEO (including AEO/GEO), and performance creative for 250+ growth-stage brands spending at least $10K/month, operating under the Stellar AI-native performance network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bel Air

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Marketing Retainer Services: Black Propeller charges fixed monthly retainers based on client ad spend, with a tiered pricing model where fees remain consistent month to month and only change when ad spend changes significantly. No percentage-of-spend fees. The agency offers flexible arrangements including month-to-month options and longer-term contracts with incentives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Black Propeller is a digital marketing agency that plans, manages, and optimizes paid media campaigns across Paid Search (Google Ads, Microsoft Ads), Paid Social (Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit), Amazon Ads, and SEO/AEO/GEO channels for growth-stage brands. The firm bundles these services with in-house performance creative production and HubSpot CRM implementation, charging fixed monthly retainers tied to client ad spend (minimum $10k/month). The agency combines senior account teams, daily optimization, client ownership of accounts and assets, and AI-driven budget reallocation via the Stellar network and Pixis platform.

Product overview

Black Propeller is a digital marketing agency offering a unified service portfolio centered on paid media (Paid Search, Paid Social, Amazon Ads), performance creative, and SEO (including specialized sub-services for Local, National, Enterprise, International, Franchise, Ecommerce, YouTube, AEO, and GEO). Services are designed to work as an integrated media system aligned by audience and funnel stage, supported by in-house creative production and HubSpot CRM implementation. The agency operates as part of Stellar's global performance network, leveraging Pixis AI for budget optimization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Paid Search Certified Google and Microsoft Advertising Partner service providing strategic paid search campaign management across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, YouTube, GDN, and Performance Max platforms. Includes planning, platform management, technology integration (Callrail, Semrush, GA4), and daily account monitoring with dedicated account managers.
• Paid Social Certified social expertise across Meta (Facebook and Instagram), TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Reddit platforms. Includes audience planning, behavioral targeting, A/B testing, retargeting, and in-house performance creative team for ad creative production.
• Performance Creative Award-winning in-house creative team providing advertising assets (Performance Max images, display ads, social creatives, video editing), landing page design via Unbounce, strategy consultation, and performance analytics with A/B testing insights.
• Amazon Ads Amazon advertising management leveraging Teikametrics AI-powered Flywheel Technology for automated keyword actions, algorithmic hourly bidding, and goal-based campaign creation. Includes product research, incrementality testing, and bi-weekly reporting.
• SEO Comprehensive SEO service encompassing technical SEO (site performance, mobile friendliness, structured data), keyword research, on-page optimization, content marketing optimized for AI and search, off-page SEO with backlink building, and AI search visibility tracking.
• HubSpot HubSpot Certified Partner offering implementation services including onboarding, execution, management, consultation, training, design, and auditing. Covers Pro Suite implementation, automation strategy, sales and marketing alignment, and CRM ecosystem optimization.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150% increase in conversions, 62% decrease in CPC, 206% higher conversion rate for WW Displays
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• StellarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack Propeller is part of Stellar, described as the only AI-Native Performance Partner. This connection provides access to Stellar's global performance network, industry-leading AI from Pixis, and a system designed to scale smarter. The Black Propeller team remains the same but is strengthened by Stellar's AI infrastructure, enabling faster, clearer decisions with more precision.
• TeikametricscoreTechnology or IntegrationBlack Propeller leverages Teikametrics' AI-powered Flywheel Technology platform for Amazon advertising optimization, offering automated keyword actions, algorithmic hourly bidding, goal-based campaign creation, Amazon benchmarks, and hourly performance reporting. As a Teikametrics Partner, the agency provides world-class Amazon optimization.
• PixiscoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry-leading AI from Pixis informs Black Propeller's strategy, creative, and media operations with unmatched speed and clarity. Pixis's AI-driven budget optimization platform continuously reallocates spend across campaigns and channels based on real-time performance signals, particularly valuable for clients with sharp seasonal demand swings.
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Partner status requires meeting Google's performance and certification standards. Black Propeller operates certified expertise across Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, and Meta Business platforms, fine-tuning paid search and multi-platform campaigns for peak performance.
• Microsoft AdvertisingcoreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft Advertising Partner status demonstrating proficiency in Bing and Microsoft search advertising across search and multi-platform campaigns.
• MetacoreTechnology or IntegrationMeta Business Partner designation for expertise in Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Reddit paid social campaigns across all major social platforms.
• HubSpotcoreTechnology or IntegrationHubSpot Certified Partner providing onboarding, execution, management, consultation, training, design, and auditing services for HubSpot CRM users. Services include sales and marketing alignment, automation strategy, paid advertising deal revenue tracking, and HubSpot reporting dashboards.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Disruptive Advertising: Performance marketing agency specializing in paid media (Google Ads, Meta, paid social) for mid-market and enterprise brands. Directly comparable service portfolio and client targeting to Black Propeller.
• KlientBoost: Paid media and performance creative agency with a similar multi-channel approach (paid search, paid social, landing page optimization). Comparable positioning around conversion-focused campaigns and creative production.
• Power Digital Marketing: Performance marketing agency with comparable paid media, SEO, and creative services targeting growth-stage and enterprise brands. Similar positioning around integrated full-funnel media systems.
• AdAction Interactive: Performance marketing agency focused on paid search, paid social, and Amazon advertising. Comparable service mix and mid-market brand targeting.
• Titan Growth: Digital marketing agency specializing in paid media and SEO with proprietary technology stack. Comparable channel focus and mid-market to enterprise client base.
• Ironpaper: B2B-focused digital marketing agency offering paid media, SEO, and HubSpot services. Strong overlap with Black Propeller's B2B/SaaS vertical and HubSpot CRM implementation capabilities.
• SmartSites: Full-service digital marketing agency with Google Premier Partner status offering paid search, paid social, SEO, and web design. Comparable paid media services and SMB-to-mid-market client focus.
• Cardinal Digital Marketing: Performance marketing agency with vertical specialization including healthcare and multi-location brands. Comparable service portfolio and emphasis on multi-location campaign management.

Broad incumbents

• WebFX: Larger, established full-service digital marketing agency offering SEO, paid media, web design, and CRO. Comparable service breadth but at significantly larger scale, serving similar mid-market segments.

Others

• HubSpot (Agency Partner Program): HubSpot's own agency partner ecosystem and platform constitute a broader ecosystem context for Black Propeller's HubSpot implementation services. Relevant as both an enabling partner and indirect competitive framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-propeller

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Black Propeller