CRASH+SUES
CRASH+SUES is an independent, women-owned creative content studio in Arden Hills, Minnesota, specializing in video production, animation, motion graphics, VFX, branding, and media services for enterprise clients in healthcare, cybersecurity, retail, manufacturing, and consumer goods.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CRASH+SUES does
CRASH+SUES, operated by Deep Well, Inc., is an independent creative content studio founded in 1989 (originally as a high-end broadcast TV commercial shop by two founders known as 'Crash' and 'Sue') and now headquartered in Arden Hills, Minnesota. The studio specializes in translating complex technical and industrial subject matter into clear, human stories delivered through video production, 2D/3D animation, motion graphics, VFX, color grading, and live action. Its core client base spans enterprise customers in healthcare, cybersecurity, retail, manufacturing, consumer goods, and nonprofits — including FedEx, Best Buy, Cargill, 3M, General Mills, Hormel, HealthPartners, Children's Minnesota, Mall of America, and the Minnesota Timberwolves — supported by a roster of agency partnerships with firms such as Betty (formerly Periscope), Lindsay Stone & Briggs, Friends & Neighbors, and Broadhead.
The studio's product surface spans four named offerings: Video Production Services (the core offering), CS Films (live production from script to screen), Metatauta (content creation studio for brand toolboxes), and Media Mongoose (a media services platform providing asset management, encoding, closed captioning, and broadcast trafficking — the most productized, recurring-revenue-ready line). Revenue is generated primarily on a project-based professional services model with multi-year contract optionality and ongoing monthly/quarterly content packages; pricing varies by scope and is not publicly disclosed. Distribution is sales-led through direct enterprise engagement, agency referral partnerships, and word-of-mouth. The company is WBENC-certified as a women's business enterprise, holds registered trademarks for 'CRASH+SUES' and 'CS Foundation,' and has accumulated industry recognition including Emmy, Clio, Golden Trailer, ADDY, and Healthcare Marketing Impact Gold awards. Operationally the firm is bootstrapped, privately held, with no disclosed external funding or institutional ownership.
CRASH+SUES firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CRASH+SUES
- Legal name
- Deep Well, Inc.
- Website
- https://crash-sues.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CRASH+SUES is an independent, women-owned creative content studio in Arden Hills, Minnesota, specializing in video production, animation, motion graphics, VFX, branding, and media services for enterprise clients in healthcare, cybersecurity, retail, manufacturing, and consumer goods.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CRASH+SUES industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative Production Services
- NAICS
- Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (512199)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animation Production (2D/3D/Stop-Motion) (MPAAAMAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- VFX Review, QC & Delivery (Client Review, Conform, Final Outputs) (MPAHABAL), Compositing Services (2D/3D Compositing, Keying, Roto, Cleanup) (MPAHABAC), CG Asset Creation (Modeling, Texturing, Lookdev, Rigging) (MPAHABAE)
Keywords
Where CRASH+SUES is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CRASH+SUES business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Video and Animation Production: Full-service video production including live action, 2D/3D animation, motion graphics, VFX, and color grading. Projects range from 4-10 weeks depending on complexity. Offers ongoing content packages for monthly or quarterly deliverables.
- Creative and Branding Services: Brand strategy, creative development, and marketing content creation services.
- Media Services: Asset management, media encoding, closed captioning, and broadcast trafficking through Media Mongoose platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based pricing varies by complexity and scope |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
CRASH+SUES product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CRASH+SUES is a creative production studio that delivers video production, animation, motion graphics, and branding services for enterprise brands and agencies. The studio applies a motion-first creative approach backed by more than 35 years of combined experience, producing commercials, branded content, and digital media assets. CRASH+SUES also operates the proprietary Media Mongoose production management platform to support its creative workflows.
Product overview
CRASH+SUES is an award-winning independent creative content studio offering a comprehensive suite of services centered around video production and animation. The core portfolio includes Video Production Services (live action, 2D/3D animation, motion graphics, VFX, color grading, and editing), Media Mongoose (asset management, encoding, closed captioning, and broadcast trafficking), CS Films (live production), Creative/Branding/Strategy services, and Metatauta (content creation studio). The company specializes in transforming complex ideas into clear, human stories that drive sales, serving industries including healthcare, cybersecurity, retail, manufacturing, and non-profits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CS Foundation: A charitable foundation created as a means to multiply CRASH+SUES's charitable efforts to empower their community and accelerate change. Operated in partnership with NCF (National Christian Foundation), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
- Media Mongoose
Products and services
- Video Production
Quantifiable outcome
- Delivered 6-location, 6-player national campaign with helicopter shoot across 5 stadiums in 45 days
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CRASH+SUES
Customer profileNamed customers26 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CRASH+SUES technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
CRASH+SUES partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NCF (National Christian Foundation)coreC+S Foundation partnered with NCF, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to multiply charitable efforts and empower the community. All contributions to C+S Foundation via NCF are tax-deductible (EIN: 58-1493949).
- Betty (formerly Periscope)coreAgency partnership for creative projects. Betty approached CRASH+SUES for Vivamor product launch video and collaborated on Trolli Weirdly Woven campaign.
- Regis and Excel Sports ManagementcorePartnership to produce national Supercuts campaign featuring MLB players. Coordinated with MLB, MLBPA, players, stadiums, talent agencies, and more across 6 locations.
- Lindsay, Stone & BriggsminorMadison-based agency partnership for Quest Hydro animated brand video and Delta Dental animation series.
- BroadheadminorAgency partnership for Cargill Market Guide video project using their storyboards and footage.
- Adventure CreativeminorCreative partnership for Minnesota Zoo Farm Babies social spot, with Adventure providing creative direction.
- Curious PlotminorStrategic consulting, marketing and communications agency partnership for FMC Retailer Summit videos.
- Hunt AdkinsminorAgency partnership for Calabrio Gone Fishing commercial, with Hunt Adkins providing creative direction.
- Friends & NeighborsminorAgency partnership for Ecolab food safety video series and Boston Scientific Lab Agent video.
- Strategic AmericaminorAgency partnership for Iowa Lottery MONOPOLY scratch tickets campaign, bringing 3D modeling, motion graphics, animation and editing.
- Five Stone MediaminorNon-profit production partnership; Heidi Habben serves as board member. Worked on print campaign for Campaign for Hope fundraiser and Turnipseed Project animation.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CRASH+SUES competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- 1stAveMachine: Creative production company specializing in commercials, branded content, and experiential storytelling. Comparable in offering mix and agency/brand client base.
- Buck: Los Angeles-based creative studio specializing in animation, motion design, and brand-driven content for advertising and entertainment clients. Highly comparable as a motion-first production shop serving similar enterprise and brand customers.
- Psyop: Creative studio producing commercials, branded content, and film with deep VFX and animation capabilities. Direct competitor in the high-end commercial/animation production space for major brand clients.
- Gentleman Scholar: Creative studio specializing in animation, motion design, and live-action content for advertising and entertainment. Closely comparable boutique motion-first competitor.
- Gunner: Boutique creative studio producing animation, motion design, and brand content for advertising agencies and enterprise brands. Closely matches CRASH+SUES in scale and motion-first approach.
- Digital Kitchen: Mid-sized creative production studio specializing in motion design, animation, and brand storytelling for enterprise and entertainment clients. Comparable in size, capabilities, and target customer profile.
- Block & Tackle: Creative studio focused on animation and motion design for advertising and brand storytelling. Direct comparable in boutique commercial animation production.
- Tool of North America: Boutique commercial production company with strong directorial and motion design capabilities serving advertising agencies and brands. Comparable in agency-channel go-to-market.
Broad incumbents
- The Mill: Global VFX and creative content studio serving advertising and entertainment. A larger, established incumbent in the same commercial production/VFX category with broader global reach.
- MediaMonks: Global creative production company (S4 Capital) offering content, media, and technology services. Larger-scale incumbent with overlapping capabilities in branded video production and motion content.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CRASH+SUES social profiles
Digital presenceCRASH+SUES compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
CRASH+SUES financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CRASH+SUES leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
CRASH+SUES funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CRASH+SUES 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 CRASH+SUES
What does CRASH+SUES do?
CRASH+SUES is a creative production studio that delivers video production, animation, motion graphics, and branding services for enterprise brands and agencies. The studio applies a motion-first creative approach backed by more than 35 years of combined experience, producing commercials, branded content, and digital media assets. CRASH+SUES also operates the proprietary Media Mongoose production management platform to support its creative workflows.
Is CRASH+SUES a public or private company?
CRASH+SUES is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CRASH+SUES founded?
CRASH+SUES was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CRASH+SUES based?
CRASH+SUES is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does CRASH+SUES make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Video and Animation Production is the primary driver. The others are creative and Branding Services and media Services.
Who are CRASH+SUES's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are 1stAveMachine, Buck, Psyop, Gentleman Scholar, Gunner, Digital Kitchen, Block & Tackle and Tool of North America. Broad incumbents are The Mill and MediaMonks.
Does CRASH+SUES have an API?
No public API is recorded for CRASH+SUES.
What industry is CRASH+SUES in?
CRASH+SUES's product category is Creative Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAMAD, Animation Production (2D/3D/Stop-Motion), with a secondary code of MPAHABAL, VFX Review, QC & Delivery (Client Review, Conform, Final Outputs). Its NAICS code is 51219 and its SIC code is 7812.