NewCity
NewCity is a US digital agency founded in 1995 that delivers website design, development, content strategy, UX research, and enrollment strategy services primarily to higher education institutions, with adjacent work in healthcare, government, and non-profit sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersBlacksburg, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What NewCity does
NewCity is a US-based digital agency founded in 1995 by David Poteet and headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, with a distributed team of approximately 15-20 employees across 10+ US locations. The firm delivers human-centered website design, development, content strategy, UX research, and enrollment strategy services for complex organizations, with higher education as its primary vertical — having partnered with over 60 colleges and universities over more than 28 years. Adjacent work extends into academic health, research, government, and non-profit clients.
The firm's technical stack spans the dominant higher education CMS platforms — WordPress, Drupal, Modern Campus (Omni CMS), Cascade CMS, and TerminalFour — with Pantheon as the preferred WebOps hosting layer and Slate as the lead CRM for enrollment engagements. NewCity has productized certain methodologies as reusable assets: the Web Design System (WDS) component library for the University of Tennessee, a Content Work Plan spreadsheet-based migration framework, and the Seven Pillars of Higher Ed Digital Strategy consulting framework. It integrates with analytics tooling (Google Analytics, Google Data Studio), event platforms (Trumba), and AI partner platforms (Halda, EnrollML) for enrollment work.
NewCity operates a project-based professional services model with custom quote-based pricing, no public rate cards, and revenue derived from discovery/strategy engagements, full website implementations, design system builds, and ongoing post-launch support. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales, led by VP of Client Strategy & Business Development Matt Simmons, supplemented by approved-vendor and GSA-certified procurement channels, content marketing (case studies, articles, newsletter), HighEdWeb conference presence, and client referrals. Partnerships with Slate (Silver Preferred Partner), Pantheon, Modern Campus, Hannon Hill, Halda, EnrollML, and Handbuilt Studio round out the distribution and capability stack. Founder David Poteet remains President; the firm is privately held with no external funding disclosed.
NewCity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NewCity
- Legal name
- NewCity
- Website
- https://insidenewcity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- NewCity is a US digital agency founded in 1995 that delivers website design, development, content strategy, UX research, and enrollment strategy services primarily to higher education institutions, with adjacent work in healthcare, government, and non-profit sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where NewCity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Blacksburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
NewCity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Services - Digital Strategy and Consulting: Discovery, strategic planning, UX research, content strategy, and consulting engagements for complex organizations undergoing digital transformations.
- Website Design and Development: Full-service website design, development, and implementation including enterprise-level transformations, design systems, component libraries, and CMS implementations.
- Ongoing Services and Support: Post-launch maintenance, analytics, content development, performance optimization, and continuous improvement services for existing client websites.
- Enrollment Strategy Services: Enrollment-focused consulting including funnel audits, CRM/Slate services, communications planning, and conversion optimization for higher education institutions.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
NewCity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NewCity is a professional digital agency that delivers enterprise website design, development, content strategy, UX research, and enrollment marketing services for higher education institutions and other complex organizations. The firm partners with colleges and universities (and select healthcare, government, and non-profit clients) to replatform websites, build design systems, reduce content volume, integrate Slate CRM, and drive measurable enrollment and conversion outcomes. Engagements are delivered as project-based consulting with ongoing support after launch.
Product overview
NewCity is a digital agency that provides professional services (not packaged software products), specializing in website design, development, digital strategy, and enrollment marketing for higher education institutions and other complex organizations. Their service delivery encompasses research-informed UX, visual design, content strategy, development across multiple CMS platforms (WordPress, Drupal, Modern Campus/Omni CMS, Cascade CMS), enrollment strategy consulting, analytics, and ongoing support. They do not offer distinct branded software products; all work is delivered as client engagements and project-based services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Digital Strategy and Consulting Discovery, strategic planning, UX research, content strategy, and consulting engagements for complex organizations (primarily higher education institutions) undergoing digital transformations. Designed for marketing, communications, and digital leadership at colleges and universities seeking a research-informed partner for enterprise-level digital planning.
- Website Design and Development Full-service website design, development, and implementation including enterprise-level transformations, design systems, component libraries, and CMS implementations across WordPress, Drupal, Modern Campus (Omni CMS), Cascade CMS, and TerminalFour. Targeted at higher education, healthcare, government, and non-profit organizations undertaking major website replatforms.
- Ongoing Services and Support Post-launch maintenance, analytics, content development, performance optimization, and continuous improvement services for existing client websites. Aimed at clients who have completed an initial NewCity transformation and want ongoing partnership to sustain and improve their digital presence.
- Enrollment Strategy Services Enrollment-focused consulting including funnel audits, Slate CRM services, communications planning, and conversion optimization for higher education institutions. Built on NewCity's proprietary Seven Pillars of Higher Ed Digital Strategy framework and Slate Silver Preferred Partner status. Targeted at enrollment leaders and marketers at colleges and universities seeking measurable enrollment and conversion improvements.
Quantifiable outcome
- 91% increase in non-branded search queries for program pages
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use NewCity
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
NewCity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
Feature3 records
NewCity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- SlatecoreSilver Preferred Partner in Slate's partner program. NewCity combines Slate CRM with human-centered design to build meaningful connections between enrollment professionals and prospective students. Provides implementation, customization, and styling services for Slate-powered enrollment experiences.
- PantheoncoreWebOps platform partner providing hosting for WordPress and Drupal sites with enterprise-grade security and customer support. Used for client website hosting including Creighton University (Pantheon) and CalArts projects.
- Modern CampuscorePurpose-built CMS for higher education with modern design and editing capabilities. NewCity implements Modern Campus/Omni CMS solutions for clients including Texas Tech Physicians and OSU Admissions.
- Hannon HillsecondaryCreator of Cascade CMS and Clive personalization engine for higher ed. NewCity has expertise in implementing Hannon Hill solutions and co-hosted webinar 'Rethinking Student Connections' on UX research and website personalization.
- HaldasecondaryAI-powered enrollment marketing platform that personalizes prospective student experience across channels. Extends NewCity's enrollment strategy work to drive conversion.
- EnrollMLsecondaryPredictive enrollment platform identifying student needs throughout digital journey while coaching counselors on responses. Complements NewCity's enrollment consulting services.
- Handbuilt StudiocoreDesign studio with three generations of CalArts alumni. Collaborated with NewCity on CalArts redesign to ensure authentic visual identity. Handbuilt provided visual language, colors, fonts, and design concepts that NewCity's team implemented in the CMS.
- University of TennesseecoreLong-term strategic partnership including UT Knoxville main website, Web Design System (WDS) development, College of Social Work site, UT Southern, and UT System. NewCity is approved vendor. Multi-year collaboration spanning flagship site to design system to system-level transformation.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
NewCity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- OHO Interactive: A digital agency purpose-built for higher education, similar in size and focus to NewCity. Provides web design, development, and content strategy for colleges and universities, competing for the same RFPs as NewCity.
- mStoner: Higher education digital agency specializing in web design, content strategy, and enrollment marketing. Long-tenured player in the higher ed web space that competes head-to-head with NewCity for college and university engagements.
- Enrollment Builders: Enrollment marketing agency focused exclusively on higher education, working with institutions on lead generation and conversion optimization. Competes for enrollment strategy and digital marketing budgets.
- Carnegie Communications: Higher education marketing and enrollment agency with deep specialization in student recruitment. Overlaps with NewCity's enrollment strategy work for colleges and universities.
- Powerhouse: Higher education marketing and creative agency providing branding, advertising, and digital services to colleges and universities. Overlaps directly with NewCity's higher ed communications and web work.
- Blue Orange Brand + Marketing: Higher education marketing agency providing brand strategy, web design, and enrollment marketing. Comparable in size and mission to NewCity, competing for university marketing budgets.
- Up&Up: Higher education-focused marketing agency working with universities on brand, web, and digital strategy. A direct peer in the niche agency space serving colleges and universities.
Broad incumbents
- Ruffalo Noel Levitz: Established higher education enrollment and marketing services firm. A larger incumbent that overlaps with NewCity's enrollment strategy work and competes for institutional marketing engagements.
- Anthology (Campus Management / Blackboard): Large EdTech platform serving higher education with CMS, CRM, and marketing tools. Offers bundled implementation services that overlap with NewCity's CMS implementation work for universities.
- EAB (Enrollment Services): Large-scale higher ed research, technology, and services firm — a much broader incumbent that overlaps with NewCity through enrollment strategy, marketing research, and website personalization offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
NewCity social profiles
Digital presenceNewCity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NewCity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
NewCity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NewCity 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 NewCity
What does NewCity do?
NewCity is a professional digital agency that delivers enterprise website design, development, content strategy, UX research, and enrollment marketing services for higher education institutions and other complex organizations. The firm partners with colleges and universities (and select healthcare, government, and non-profit clients) to replatform websites, build design systems, reduce content volume, integrate Slate CRM, and drive measurable enrollment and conversion outcomes. Engagements are delivered as project-based consulting with ongoing support after launch.
Is NewCity a public or private company?
NewCity is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was NewCity founded?
NewCity was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is NewCity based?
NewCity is headquartered in Blacksburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does NewCity make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Professional Services - Digital Strategy and Consulting is the primary driver. The others are website Design and Development, ongoing Services and Support and enrollment Strategy Services.
Who are NewCity's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are OHO Interactive, mStoner, Enrollment Builders, Carnegie Communications, Powerhouse, Blue Orange Brand + Marketing and Up&Up. Broad incumbents are Ruffalo Noel Levitz, Anthology (Campus Management / Blackboard) and EAB (Enrollment Services).
Does NewCity have an API?
No public API is recorded for NewCity.