The Engine Is Red
Independent US creative agency operating from studios in California, Minnesota, and Texas, delivering brand strategy, web development, e-commerce, paid media, and production for Fortune 500, mid-market, and select startup clients across wine, healthcare, education, and consumer verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSanta Rosa, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Engine Is Red does
The Engine Is Red is an independent, founder-led creative agency that delivers integrated brand, digital, and media services to enterprise, mid-market, government, and select startup and nonprofit clients. The firm was founded by Chris Denny (Founder & Lead Strategist) and is currently led alongside Mitch Kelly (VP of Creative) and Caitlin Sidey (VP of Client Services), operating from three US studios in Santa Rosa, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Austin, Texas under a stated 50/50 hybrid model. Engagements span strategy, brand identity and design systems, campaign planning, web and app development, e-commerce implementation, paid social and programmatic media management, and production work including video/photo, animation, and print/OOH collateral.
The agency's technical foundation centers on Craft CMS as its primary content platform, deployed with documented security hardening (custom cpTrigger paths, source folder above webroot, CSRF protection via Freeform, HSTS headers, removal of X-Powered-By headers) and operated on UpCloud VPS instances fronted by Cloudflare, with Ploi-managed provisioning and AWS/SnapShooter backups, Let's Encrypt SSL auto-renewal, and 1Password-based credential management. For direct-to-consumer e-commerce, the firm deploys Shopify. The media practice covers paid social (Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn), search (Google, Bing), programmatic DSP, and marketplace ad platforms (Amazon, Instacart).
Revenue is generated through project-based fees, retainer engagements, and managed paid-advertising services for clients across verticals including wine and spirits (Rombauer Vineyards, Kendall-Jackson, Cuvée Coffee, Still Austin Whiskey, St. George Spirits), healthcare and life sciences (Fujifilm Sonosite, Cordis), higher education (Stanford Online, Sonoma State University), banking (Bank of Guam), renewable energy (SOLV Energy), government (LCRA Parks), and consumer products (Kala, Biocharged). Pricing is quote-based and the firm publishes a universal rate card; new business is sourced primarily through direct outreach, RFP response, and case-study-driven inbound. Industry recognition includes Clutch Top Global Agency, Agency Spotter Top 20, Awwwards Best in Category, Web Marketing Association Web Awards, Inc. 5000, and Ad Age Best Places to Work in 2022.
The Engine Is Red firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Engine Is Red
- Legal name
- The Engine is Red
- Website
- https://theengineisred.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Independent US creative agency operating from studios in California, Minnesota, and Texas, delivering brand strategy, web development, e-commerce, paid media, and production for Fortune 500, mid-market, and select startup clients across wine, healthcare, education, and consumer verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Engine Is Red industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative & Marketing Agency Services
- NAICS
- Graphic Design Services (541430), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD)
Keywords
Where The Engine Is Red is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Rosa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Engine Is Red business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Creative Agency Services: Project-based creative and marketing services including brand strategy, campaign planning, web development, digital marketing, media planning/buying, and production. Revenue generated through project fees, retainer engagements, and campaign work for enterprise and mid-market clients.
- Digital Advertising Management: Manages paid social campaigns (Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn), search advertising (Google/Bing), programmatic DSP, and e-commerce ad platforms (Amazon, Instacart) for clients, likely on a management fee or percentage of ad spend basis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Freelance eCommerce Digital Specialist - $500/day |
| Subscription | Annual | Director of Integrated Media - Full-time position at $140,000+ |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Engine Is Red product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Engine Is Red is a full-service creative agency that builds brands, runs ad and digital marketing campaigns, and designs and develops websites. They pair senior strategy, design, and copywriting talent with in-house front-end and back-end engineers to deliver integrated work for enterprise brands, startups, and nonprofits. Engagements typically span brand discovery, identity systems, creative campaigns, and custom or platform-based (WordPress, Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, Wix) web builds.
Product overview
The Engine Is Red is a creative agency offering integrated marketing and creative services. The company provides a comprehensive suite of service offerings organized into five main categories: Creative Services (brand identity, design systems, campaign planning, audience research, and go-to-market strategy), Interactive Services (web/app development, digital marketing, e-commerce, UX/UI design, and digital transformation), Strategy Services (brand strategy and positioning), Media Services (paid social, programmatic, search/display advertising, media planning and buying, and performance optimization), and Production Services (video/photo production, animation, print/OOH collateral, and campaign asset development). Rather than a software product company, The Engine Is Red operates as a service-based agency that delivers creative work across brand, content, and media disciplines for clients including Rombauer Vineyards, Fujifilm Sonosite, Stanford, SOLV Energy, and Still Austin Whiskey.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Branding & Identity Strategic brand development service covering brand discovery, identity systems, and naming for enterprise brands, startups, and nonprofits. Includes The Brand Sprint discovery workshop to align stakeholders before identity work begins.
- Advertising & Creative Campaigns End-to-end ad campaign and marketing creative services, from concept through production, for enterprise brands, startups, and nonprofits.
- Digital Marketing Digital marketing services including SEO, email marketing automation and integration, and Google Analytics configuration and reporting to drive qualified traffic and measurable outcomes.
- Web Design & Development Custom website design and development. Platform-agnostic engineering across front-end (CSS, JavaScript, HTML), back-end (PHP, MySQL, CakePHP), and CMS/e-commerce platforms including WordPress, Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, and Wix.
- Discovery Workshops (The Brand Sprint) Structured brand discovery workshop that engages client stakeholders to define positioning, narrative, and direction before brand, campaign, or web engagements begin.
Quantifiable outcome
- Rombauer Vineyards: 80% increase in CTRs YOY, 62% reduction in CPC, 70% YOY sales increase online
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use The Engine Is Red
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Engine Is Red technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Engine Is Red partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CloudflarecoreRecommended DNS management and DDOS protection for client websites. Enforces HTTPS and HSTS via Cloudflare with 6-month max-age.
- UpCloudcoreRecommended VPS hosting provider to ensure client websites are not on shared servers with other companies.
- PloicoreServer provisioning and management platform used for all servers. Automatically installs and renews Let's Encrypt SSL certificates.
- 1PasswordcorePassword management with 2FA, password strength measurement, compromised password detection, and containerized vault access control.
- Craft CMS (Pixel & Tonic)corePrimary CMS platform recommended for all client projects. Security-hardened with custom configuration including source folder above webroot and custom admin paths.
- Freeform (Solspace)coreForm plugin for Craft CMS that automatically enables CSRF protection on all forms.
- Let's EncryptcoreFree SSL certificate authority providing automatic installation and renewal via Ploi.
- Trusted Craft Plugin Developers (nystudio107, Verbb, Solspace, PutYourLightsOn, Double Secret Agency)coreSafe-listed Craft CMS plugin developers with proven track records in high-quality software and active community involvement.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Engine Is Red competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- GSD&M: Long-standing Austin, TX-based integrated marketing and advertising agency — a deeper-pocketed hometown incumbent competing for Texas-based enterprise and mid-market accounts that the subject agency also targets.
- R/GA: Global digital creative and innovation agency offering strategy, brand, digital product, and media at scale — comparable service categories but dramatically larger footprint and broader portfolio than the subject agency.
- Ogilvy (WPP): Global full-service advertising and creative agency within WPP, covering brand, digital, media, and production — a much larger incumbent competing for the same enterprise clients via breadth and global reach.
Direct peers
- Red Antler: Independent creative and branding agency specializing in brand identity, digital, and launch campaigns for challenger and growth-stage brands — comparable full-service creative offering and selective client portfolio.
- McGarrah Jessee: Independent creative agency headquartered in Austin, TX, providing brand strategy, advertising, and digital work for mid-market and enterprise clients — comparable boutique full-service model anchored in a shared Texas market.
- Struck: Salt Lake City-based independent creative agency with integrated brand, interactive, and media capabilities — comparable boutique full-service model and multi-industry client mix.
- Carmichael Lynch: Minneapolis-based creative agency offering brand, digital, and content services — comparable as a Midwest-rooted independent agency competing for similar regional enterprise clients.
- Column Five: Independent creative agency focused on content, design, and digital experiences for mid-market and enterprise brands — comparable integrated creative + interactive offering at similar scale.
- Door Number 3: Austin, TX-based independent creative agency of comparable size offering integrated brand, digital, and media services — directly comparable in geography (Texas studio), service mix, and mid-market enterprise client focus.
- Walz Tetrick Advertising: Independent full-service advertising agency offering strategy, creative, digital, and media buying — comparable independent full-service mid-market agency competing in similar RFP processes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Engine Is Red social profiles
Digital presenceThe Engine Is Red financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Engine Is Red leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
The Engine Is Red funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Engine Is Red 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 The Engine Is Red
What does The Engine Is Red do?
The Engine Is Red is a full-service creative agency that builds brands, runs ad and digital marketing campaigns, and designs and develops websites. They pair senior strategy, design, and copywriting talent with in-house front-end and back-end engineers to deliver integrated work for enterprise brands, startups, and nonprofits. Engagements typically span brand discovery, identity systems, creative campaigns, and custom or platform-based (WordPress, Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, Wix) web builds.
Is The Engine Is Red a public or private company?
The Engine Is Red is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Engine Is Red founded?
The Engine Is Red was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Engine Is Red based?
The Engine Is Red is headquartered in Santa Rosa, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Engine Is Red make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Creative Agency Services are the primary driver. The others are digital Advertising Management.
Who are The Engine Is Red's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are GSD&M, R/GA and Ogilvy (WPP). Direct peers are Red Antler, McGarrah Jessee, Struck, Carmichael Lynch, Column Five, Door Number 3 and Walz Tetrick Advertising.
Does The Engine Is Red have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Engine Is Red.
What industry is The Engine Is Red in?
The Engine Is Red's product category is Creative & Marketing Agency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAAAD, Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX). Its NAICS code is 541430 and its SIC code is 7311.