What Elevation does

Elevation, Ltd. is a Washington, DC-headquartered, full-service multicultural communications agency founded in 2002 by Jimmy Learned, with a secondary office in New York. The firm originated as a boutique Hispanic advertising shop and has scaled over 23 years into an international multicultural communications firm with team members from 12+ nations spanning Boomers through Gen Z. Its core offering is end-to-end campaign development — including creative, media planning and buying, digital and social media, public awareness, and outreach — calibrated to reach Hispanic, multicultural, and diverse U.S. populations rather than translating English-language campaigns into other languages.

The firm's revenue model is structured around professional services delivered through both project-based and retainer engagements, with the majority of revenue flowing through federal government contract vehicles. Elevation holds a GSA Schedule contract (GS-07F-0406T) and multiple Blanket Purchase Agreements with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (now on a second consecutive 5-year term), the Department of Homeland Security, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (retained 9+ consecutive years), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others. Go-to-market is sales-led: enterprise field sales for federal procurement, and direct business development plus referral-driven engagement for commercial clients including LiUNA, Maryland Jockey Club, Canon, Comcast, Schmidt Futures, and Pangiam. The firm is NMSDC-certified as a Minority Business Enterprise and holds Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) status, formalizing diverse-supplier positioning that supports set-aside contract eligibility.

Elevation is privately held with no outside funding rounds, no parent company, and no M&A activity. It subcontracts substantial portions of media and production through strategic partners — notably Typhoon Video (since 2004), Edelman, Merge Studios, Plowshare, and WestExec Advisors. The firm is technology-light in terms of proprietary platforms — its "Cultural IO" is a domain expertise, not a software product — and it has no public API, SDK, or mobile product. Notable operational markers include #1 Small Business ranking on GrowthLab's Top 100 MarComms Firms Serving Federal Agencies in both 2023 and 2024, a 102.15% year-over-year increase in prime federal contract revenue between 2022 and 2023, and the passing of co-founder Matt Herath in April 2024.

Name

Elevation

Legal name

Elevation, Ltd.

Website

https://elevation-us.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Elevation is a Washington, DC-based, 23-year-old multicultural advertising and communications agency serving primarily U.S. federal agencies (CBP, DHS, CMS, CDC) and select commercial clients, specializing in culturally relevant campaigns for Hispanic and diverse U.S. audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multicultural Advertising Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820), Public Relations Agencies (54182), Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Direct Mail Advertising Services (7331)

akta.pro primary industry

Activation/Experiential Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAO)

Keywords

• Multicultural advertising
• Government communications
• Public awareness campaigns
• Digital marketing services
• Brand strategy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: Elevation generates revenue through federal government contracts including Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) with agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and others. They hold a GSA Schedule contract (GS-07F-0406T) enabling access to government procurement.
2. Professional Services: Full-service communications company providing integrated marketing, advertising, public awareness, and outreach services on a project and retainer basis to both government and commercial clients.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Elevation is an award-winning, full-service multicultural communications agency providing integrated advertising, marketing, public awareness campaigns, digital strategy, and brand revitalization for federal government agencies, non-profits, and commercial clients. The firm specializes in crafting culturally relevant campaigns from inception—rather than translating English-only materials—across English, Spanish, and other languages for audiences in the U.S. and internationally.

Product overview

Elevation is an award-winning, full-service multicultural communications agency founded in 2002. The company offers a unified suite of creative and marketing services centered on culturally-relevant campaign development, digital marketing, brand strategy, and government outreach. Key offerings include multicultural advertising campaigns, government agency marketing (CBP, DHS, CDC, CMS), issue advocacy campaigns, healthcare enrollment marketing, Trusted Traveler Program promotion, and brand resurrection services. The agency serves diverse clients including federal government agencies, non-profits, and corporations, with a specialty in reaching Hispanic and multicultural audiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Multicultural Creative and Communications Services Full-service multicultural communications offering providing campaign development, advertising creative, digital marketing, and public awareness outreach for federal government agencies, non-profits, and commercial clients.
• Government Marketing and Outreach Campaigns Integrated marketing campaigns for federal government agencies including CBP, DHS, CDC, CMS, and U.S. Border Patrol, supporting public awareness, enrollment initiatives, and program compliance.
• Brand Resurrecting and Rebranding Strategic brand revitalization services including internal mindset transformation, sponsorship development, and brand positioning for clients such as Maryland Jockey Club and Preakness Stakes.
• Issue Advocacy Campaigns Campaigns addressing social issues including immigration awareness (No Mas Cruces en la Frontera), anti-smoking (Tips from Former Smokers), and human trafficking prevention (BLUE CAMPAIGN).
• Healthcare Enrollment Marketing Multi-market digital campaigns for the Health Insurance Marketplace and Affordable Care Act enrollment, targeting Spanish-reliant audiences ages 18-34.
• Trusted Traveler Program Promotion Marketing campaigns for CBP's Visa Waiver Program (ESTA), Global Entry, WHTI, and other Trusted Traveler Programs, including the official ESTA Mobile App launch and international trade show presence.
• Digital and Social Media Services Social media strategy, content creation, and digital campaign management including Hispanic social media outreach for CDC campaigns and international digital marketing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5.14 billion views generated from ESTA Mobile App campaign launch
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Typhoon VideocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2004Long-standing strategic partners since 2004 (originally as PlacoMed). Typhoon serves as Elevation's go-to digital and traditional media strategy, planning, buying, reporting, and international data mining and analysis agency. The partnership supports work for clients including LiUNA, Pangiam, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Entry/Exit, Global Entry, ESTA, Pre-Clearance), U.S. Border Patrol, and the Department of Homeland Security.
• EdelmancoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEdelman partnered with Elevation to execute the CMS Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment digital campaign targeting Spanish-reliant Hispanic audiences ages 18-34.
• Merge StudiosstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMerge Studios partnered with Elevation for video production work for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including productions in Miami and Dallas to showcase innovative traveler technologies.
• WestExec AdvisorsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance with WestExec Advisors resulted in Schmidt Futures Center for Digital Talent (CDT) recruiting campaign contract. WestExec connection brought this project opportunity to Elevation.
• PlowsharecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElevation served as subcontracting partner of Plowshare for CDC's Tips from Former Smokers campaign, leading Hispanic social media efforts and supporting Spanish-language TV integrations.
• U.S. Travel AssociationstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerElevation works with U.S. Travel Association at IPW Conference and other events to promote the Visa Waiver Program and U.S. travel. Joint efforts include Brand USA podcast participation.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government client for ESTA, Global Entry, and Trusted Traveler Programs. CBP awarded Elevation a second consecutive 5-year BPA contract. Elevation has served CBP with marketing and communications services for nearly two decades.
• Brand USAstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerElevation collaborates with Brand USA on 'Talks Travel' podcast and travel promotion initiatives for the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA Branch Chief appeared on Brand USA podcast produced by Elevation.
• FerrovialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew client relationship in 2024 after former client Patrick Flanagan joined Ferrovial's team and brought Elevation along for marketing and communications services.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lopez Negrete Communications: Houston-based Hispanic-focused full-service advertising agency with deep federal and consumer client rosters. Directly comparable to Elevation in heritage (Hispanic ad agency roots), multicultural creative focus, and government/commercial client mix.
• La Agencia de Orcí & Asociados: Long-standing Hispanic-owned multicultural advertising agency serving consumer, government, and advocacy clients. Closely comparable in size, multicultural specialization, and integrated campaign offerings to Elevation.
• Burrell Communications Group: Chicago-based multicultural advertising agency with deep African American and Hispanic audience expertise. Comparable to Elevation in its cultural-first creative model, agency size, and corporate/consumer client base.
• Vox Global: Public affairs and strategic communications firm with significant federal and corporate practice. Comparable to Elevation in government marketing communications focus, integrated campaign development, and public affairs campaigns.
• The Bivings Group: Digital communications firm specializing in associations, government agencies, and advocacy organizations. Directly comparable to Elevation in federal/association client focus, integrated digital campaigns, and similar agency scale.
• SKDK (Stanton & Killeen, formerly SKDKnickerbocker): Public affairs and political consulting firm with significant government and corporate communications work. Comparable in serving federal agency clients, integrated campaign execution, and public affairs positioning.
• Tompkins (formerly AKA): Strategic communications and public affairs agency serving corporate, association, and government clients. Comparable to Elevation in integrated marketing communications for federal and advocacy clients at similar agency scale.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Global public relations and communications firm with a large federal, healthcare, and multicultural practice. Comparable to Elevation as a partner/competitor on federal marcom work (e.g., partnered with Elevation on CMS campaigns) but operates at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Weber Shandwick: Global public relations and public affairs agency with significant government, healthcare, and multicultural practice. Comparable to Elevation in public affairs and federal agency campaigns, but at much greater scale and broader service portfolio.
• Ogilvy PR: Global creative network with strong multicultural and government affairs capabilities. Comparable in offering integrated multicultural campaigns for government and corporate clients, though as part of a far larger global network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ElevationLtd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Elevation