Solve
Solve is a Minneapolis-based independent advertising agency providing full-service creative, brand strategy, media planning/buying, social, and influencer marketing to enterprise and heritage brand clients across automotive, financial services, CPG, home improvement, and nonprofit sectors under agency-of-record engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Solve does
Solve (legally Solve Advertising & Branding) is a full-service independent advertising agency headquartered at Nine South 12th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in 2011 by principals who previously spent nearly a decade leading Porsche's North American resurgence. The firm operates without proprietary technology or software products, delivering human-driven strategic, creative, and media services rather than platform-based offerings. Its service scope covers creative development, brand strategy, social and influencer marketing, media planning and buying, research and analytics, and design and identity. Two-time Ad Age Small Agency of the Year recognition anchors its positioning around strategic depth and "brand truth" rather than scale.
Solve's business model is fee-for-service professional services. Revenue is generated through negotiated agency-of-record (AOR) retainer relationships and discrete project-based creative engagements, with multi-year contract cadences typical for flagship accounts and custom per-engagement pricing for project work. The firm acquires enterprise clients through direct relationship-based selling, not self-serve or product-led channels, and extends its geographic reach through membership in the Worldwide Partners independent agency network, which provides access to more than 80 ally agencies across 40-plus countries. There is no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, funding rounds, or M&A activity in the available data.
The client base is horizontally diversified across enterprise and global brand categories, including automotive (Porsche, Indian Motorcycle, Bentley Motors), energy/retail (Sunoco), financial services (The Hartford, Raymond James), CPG and food (Président Cheese, Mountain House, Cascadian Farm Organic, Driscoll's, siggi's, Bell's Two Hearted, Fat Tire), home improvement (True Value, Rust-Oleum, American Standard), bath and kitchen (Grohe), wellness (Medifast), and nonprofit (Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota, V Foundation). Solve positions its value proposition around uncovering "deeper truths" about brand positioning, integrated campaign execution, and a combination of big-agency credentialed talent with boutique-agency agility.
Solve firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solve
- Legal name
- Solve Advertising & Branding
- Website
- https://solve-ideas.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Solve is a Minneapolis-based independent advertising agency providing full-service creative, brand strategy, media planning/buying, social, and influencer marketing to enterprise and heritage brand clients across automotive, financial services, CPG, home improvement, and nonprofit sectors under agency-of-record engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solve industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Advertising Services
- NAICS
- Advertising Agencies (54181)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD)
Keywords
Where Solve is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Solve business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Agency Services Retainers and Project Fees: Solve generates revenue through agency of record retainer relationships and project-based creative engagements with enterprise clients. Services include creative development, brand strategy, social and influencer marketing, media planning and buying, research and analytics, and design and identity work.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise engagements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Solve product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solve is a full-service independent advertising agency that delivers creative development, brand strategy, social and influencer marketing, media planning and buying, research and analytics, and design and identity services. The agency operates as agency of record for heritage brands and challenger clients across categories such as insurance, energy/retail, financial services, automotive, beverage, food, home improvement, and nonprofit sectors. Services are delivered through retainer relationships and project-based creative engagements negotiated individually with enterprise clients.
Product overview
Solve is a full-service independent advertising agency offering creative, brand strategy, social & influencer, media planning & buying, research & analytics, and design & identity services. The agency works with clients across various industries including craft beer (Bell's Two Hearted, Bell's Oberon), automotive (Porsche, Indian Motorcycle), financial services (The Hartford, Raymond James), CPG brands (Mountain House, Président Cheese, Cascadian Farm), and non-profit organizations. Solve operates as a service-based agency rather than a software or SaaS product company, providing strategic and creative marketing services to its clients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Creative Development Creative campaign development including award-winning advertising work for enterprise clients across categories such as insurance, automotive, beverage, and nonprofit. Delivered as part of agency of record retainer relationships and project-based engagements.
- Brand Strategy Strategic brand positioning and identity development for heritage brands and challenger clients. Includes development of positioning platforms, multi-tier communication programs, and brand proposition clarification for enterprise marketing teams.
- Social and Influencer Marketing Social agency of record services providing strategy and creative execution across all social platforms for upscale and global brands. Includes platform-specific content, campaign-specific social creative, and influencer engagement.
- Media Planning and Buying Strategic media planning and buying services for enterprise clients managing large-scale campaigns across thousands of locations or nationwide distribution networks. Includes dialed-in media execution as part of agency of record engagements.
- Research and Analytics
- Design and Identity Design and brand identity work including brand campaign and identity overhauls, visual identity systems, and design execution for enterprise clients across multiple categories.
Quantifiable outcome
- Achieved record sales for True Value
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Solve
Customer profileNamed customers23 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Solve technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Solve partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Worldwide Partners (WPI)coreSolve is part of the Worldwide Partners independent agency network, a powerhouse collective of more than 80 ally agencies in over 40 countries. This partnership enables Solve to access global capabilities and serve international clients while maintaining its independent, boutique agency structure.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Solve competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wieden+Kennedy: Iconic independent, full-service creative agency known for AOR relationships with major global brands (Nike, Coca-Cola). Comparable to Solve as a founder-led indie competing for enterprise AOR work against holding-company networks.
- 72andSunny: Independent creative agency serving brand clients across categories with integrated creative, strategy, and media capabilities. Directly comparable to Solve in business model, target client profile (iconic brands), and indie positioning.
- Anomaly: Independent creative and brand consultancy serving major consumer brands with integrated advertising solutions. Matches Solve's model of providing full-service creative and strategic services to enterprise clients as an independent alternative to holding companies.
- Mother Design: Independent creative network offering advertising, design, and brand strategy for enterprise clients. Comparable as a boutique, founder-influenced independent agency competing for premium brand AOR engagements.
- R/GA: Independent digital and creative agency (within IPG) offering brand, experience, and marketing services to enterprise clients. Comparable to Solve in full-service capabilities and enterprise focus, though larger and tech-adjacent.
- Droga5: Creative agency (now part of Accenture Song) serving major global brands with integrated campaigns. Comparable to Solve as a high-profile independent creative shop competing for enterprise AOR mandates before its acquisition.
- Pereira O'Dell: Independent creative and brand agency serving enterprise clients including Fortune 500 brands. Closely comparable to Solve in independent positioning, integrated service offerings, and enterprise AOR pursuit.
- Venables Bell & Partners: Independent San Francisco ad agency serving iconic brands (Reebok, Google, Levi's). Comparable to Solve as a mid-sized, award-winning independent creative agency competing for premium enterprise AOR relationships.
- Argonaut: Independent creative agency offering brand strategy and full-service advertising to enterprise clients. Matches Solve's model of an independent, integrated creative shop focused on AOR relationships with established brands.
Regional players
- Energy BBDO: Full-service creative agency within the BBDO/Omnicom network, operating from Chicago with comparable full-service capabilities. Adjacent comparison as a similarly-sized, full-service agency competing for enterprise creative work, though affiliated with a holding company.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solve social profiles
Digital presenceSolve financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solve leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Solve funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solve 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 Solve
What does Solve do?
Solve is a full-service independent advertising agency that delivers creative development, brand strategy, social and influencer marketing, media planning and buying, research and analytics, and design and identity services. The agency operates as agency of record for heritage brands and challenger clients across categories such as insurance, energy/retail, financial services, automotive, beverage, food, home improvement, and nonprofit sectors. Services are delivered through retainer relationships and project-based creative engagements negotiated individually with enterprise clients.
Is Solve a public or private company?
Solve is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Solve founded?
Solve was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Solve based?
Solve is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Solve make money?
One revenue line is on record: agency Services Retainers and Project Fees.
Who are Solve's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wieden+Kennedy, 72andSunny, Anomaly, Mother Design, R/GA, Droga5, Pereira O'Dell, Venables Bell & Partners and Argonaut. Energy BBDO is listed as a regional player.
Does Solve have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solve.
What industry is Solve in?
Solve's product category is Advertising Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAAAD, Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX). Its NAICS code is 54181 and its SIC code is 7311.