Media by Mother

What Media by Mother does

Media by Mother is a New York–based, privately held independent media agency founded in 2021 as a subsidiary of the Mother Family network of independent creative agencies. The firm operates at boutique scale (11–50 employees) and delivers strategic media planning, media buying across TV, digital, keywords, and emerging formats, content development and modular versioning, measurement and attribution via third-party Marketing Mix Modeling, and client enablement through its "Listen with Mother" education program.

Core service architecture is organized around three pillars: Maximum Gains (Planning in Reverse, Source of Growth Development, Media and Content Ecosystem), Algorithmic Advantage (Media and Content Planning, Content Integration and Modular Versioning, Media Activation and Investment), and Cause and Effect (The Motherboard reporting environment, Data and Analytics, Measurement and Attribution). The Motherboard is the firm's primary technology differentiator: a custom reporting environment that automates data ingestion and processing, layered with an enterprise-level business intelligence environment for shared client intelligence. Service delivery combines open-source analytics tooling with senior analytical talent, with no disclosed SDK, API, or packaged software product.

The business model is professional services / management fees on top of media spend pass-through, with custom-scope pricing per client and no publicly disclosed pricing. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales targeting major US advertisers, supplemented by earned media coverage, LinkedIn thought leadership from leadership, and website inbound ([email protected]). The firm positions itself uniquely around teaching media independence rather than dependence, explicitly preparing clients to potentially leave. Customers span 30 of the top 60 US advertisers across food (Tyson Foods, Cheerios), automotive (GM, Buick), insurance (Amica), e-commerce (cart.com), entertainment (Dave & Buster's), apparel (Everlane), beverage (Bombay Sapphire, Califia Farms, Ceria), fitness (Soulcycle), tires (Kumho), financial services (Premier Bankcard), and crowdfunding (GoFundMe). David Gaines serves as CEO and founder, with Paul Furia as Head of Content.

Name

Media by Mother

Legal name

Media by Mother

Website

https://mediabymother.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Media by Mother is a New York–based independent media agency, founded in 2021 within the Mother Family network, that provides strategic media planning, buying, and analytics to top US enterprise advertisers across diverse industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Agency Services

NAICS

Media Buying Agencies (54183), Media Representatives (541840)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Planning, Buying & Optimization (BPAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affiliate & Partner Media Buying (BPAFABAJ), Broadcast Media Buying (TV & Radio) (BPAFABAA)

Keywords

• Media planning services
• Media buying agency
• Media mix modeling
• Marketing analytics
• Brand strategy consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Media Agency Services: Full-service media agency providing strategic planning, media buying across TV to keywords, content development, data and analytics, and measurement and attribution services to enterprise advertisers and brands.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Media by Mother is an independent media agency that delivers business planning, media execution, content development, and measurement for enterprise advertisers. The firm combines strategic planning, omnichannel media buying (from TV to keywords), custom analytics (The Motherboard reporting environment), and third-party Marketing Mix Modeling to help major brands drive accountable growth inside algorithmic media ecosystems. Its positioning emphasizes teaching clients media independence rather than creating agency dependence.

Product overview

Media by Mother is a media agency with a service-based model rather than discrete software products. Their offering consists of integrated consulting and execution services organized into three main areas: Maximum Gains (planning in reverse, source of growth development, media and content ecosystem), Algorithmic Advantage (media and content planning, content integration and modular versioning, media activation and investment), and Cause and Effect (The Motherboard reporting environment, data and analytics, measurement and attribution via MMM). Additionally, their Listen with Mother program provides educational training covering creativity, media economics, technology stacks, and AI tools. The company positions itself as building client capability rather than dependency, teaching media independence rather than selling ongoing dependence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planning in Reverse
• Source of Growth Development
• Media and Content Ecosystem
• Media and Content Planning
• Content Integration and Modular Versioning
• Media Activation and Investment
• The Motherboard
• Data and Analytics
• Measurement and Attribution
• Listen with Mother

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 60 US advertisers grew collectively by 0.7% annually over 15 years (with client engagement)

Named customers16 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Mother FamilycoreOthersMedia by Mother is part of the Mother Family, a global network of independent creative agencies. This corporate relationship provides shared resources, brand positioning, and network benefits while maintaining operational independence.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hearts & Science: Omnicom-owned media agency founded on outcome-driven, data-led media planning. Directly comparable to Media by Mother in selling consultative, analytics-first media strategy to top US advertisers across TV, digital, and commerce.
• PHD Media: Global media planning and buying agency within Omnicom. Competes for the same enterprise advertiser RFPs as Media by Mother, with similar emphasis on strategic planning, content integration, and data-led media activation.
• Mediahub: WPP/Mindshare-affiliated media agency built around modern, integrated planning and buying for challenger and enterprise brands. Comparable to Media by Mother's positioning around reshaping the medium rather than just placing media.
• Carat: Dentsu's flagship global media agency, focused on data-driven media strategy and MMM-led planning. Directly comparable to Media by Mother's combination of strategic planning, buying across TV/digital, and third-party marketing mix modeling.
• Zenith: Publicis-owned media agency competing for the same enterprise advertisers with a similar blend of strategic planning, content, and analytics-led buying — the type of scaled incumbent Media by Mother competes against for top US brand budgets.
• Tinuiti: Independent, performance-focused digital media agency serving major US consumer brands. Comparable in operating as an independent (non-holdco) media specialist, bidding for the same enterprise client profiles as Media by Mother.
• Spark Foundry: Publicis media agency built around data, technology, and 'planning in reverse' style outcome-led buying. Closely overlapping with Media by Mother in target customer, methodology, and channel mix.
• Mindshare: WPP's flagship global media agency and one of the largest media shops serving top US advertisers. Direct peer for enterprise clients, full-funnel media planning, and global activation infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• GroupM: WPP's media investment group housing Mindshare, Mediahub, and other agencies. Comparable as the scaled incumbent ecosystem against which Media by Mother, as an independent, must differentiate on agility, data, and outcome orientation.

Emerging players

• Instrument: Independent digital and creative agency serving enterprise brands with a focus on brand experience and integrated digital media. Comparable in being an independent, design-forward specialist competing for the same modern enterprise advertiser budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Media by Mother