HERO Marketing
HERO Marketing is a 14-year-old, full-service independent marketing agency headquartered in San Francisco that delivers integrated branding, digital, video, social, event, website, and direct mail services to enterprise and mid-market clients across healthcare, fintech, B2B SaaS, retail, and higher education.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What HERO Marketing does
HERO Marketing is a full-service independent marketing agency founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, operating across two San Francisco offices (220 Montgomery #1064 as headquarters and 236 West Portal Ave #304). The agency sells integrated marketing services across seven core disciplines: branding, website development (WordPress and headless Drupal, with ADA compliance, SEO, AEO, and GEO), digital campaigns, video production, social media, event marketing, and direct mail. Its revenue model is professional services fees for project-based and ongoing engagements, with media buying fees layered on for broadcast, OOH/transit, radio, print, and digital placements on behalf of clients. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, though a client testimonial references a transparent, hours-predictable billing model.
The firm serves enterprise and mid-market clients in five primary verticals — healthcare, fintech and financial services, B2B and SaaS, retail and DTC, and higher education — with named customers including Optum, Autodesk, Okta, Veem, Bank of Marin, AssetMark, West Coast University, American Career College, CKGSB, Lever, Deputy, Men's Wearhouse, AEDIT, Mercari, Entertainment Partners, and Marigold. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales, founder-led, and heavily reliant on repeat business and referrals through a formalized 'Super Friends Repeat Client Club' — 18 clients have introduced HERO into 2-4 different companies across their careers.
In 2026 HERO absorbed the senior team of BlackWing Creative (a former Ad Age top-ranked B2B agency), onboarding a new Chief Creative Officer, Client Strategy Director, and additional senior practitioners. The firm holds no proprietary technology platform, no patents, and no AI/ML capabilities beyond conventional marketing tooling; its moat rests on senior talent, 14 years of relationship capital, Inc. 5000 and Adweek recognition, and documentable campaign outcomes such as 3,400% ROI and $140M+ in client revenue from a single ABM program.
HERO Marketing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HERO Marketing
- Legal name
- HERO Marketing
- Website
- https://heromarketing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HERO Marketing is a 14-year-old, full-service independent marketing agency headquartered in San Francisco that delivers integrated branding, digital, video, social, event, website, and direct mail services to enterprise and mid-market clients across healthcare, fintech, B2B SaaS, retail, and higher education.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HERO Marketing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marketing Services
- NAICS
- Advertising Agencies (54181), Media Buying Agencies (54183)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Direct Mail Advertising Services (7331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Experiential, Event & Sponsorship Marketing (BPAFAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sponsorship Activation & Sports/Festival Experiential (BPAFAGAG), Sponsorship & Sports Experiential Marketing (MPAAAGAE)
Keywords
Where HERO Marketing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
HERO Marketing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Integrated Marketing Campaign Services: Full-service agency billing for integrated campaign work including strategy, creative development, digital media, traditional media, production management, and media buying. Revenue is generated through professional service fees for ongoing and project-based engagements with enterprise and mid-market clients.
- Media Buying: Agency also earns fees from media buying across broadcast, OOH & transit, radio, print, and digital channels on behalf of clients.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels10 records
HERO Marketing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HERO Marketing is a full-service independent marketing agency that delivers integrated, cross-channel campaigns for enterprise and mid-market clients. Core offerings span branding, website development, digital advertising, video production, social media, event marketing, and direct mail (including ABM). Services are sold as professional engagements combining strategy, creative, production, media buying, and analytics.
Product overview
HERO Marketing is a full-service, independent marketing agency headquartered in San Francisco offering a unified portfolio of professional marketing services. The agency provides seven core service offerings: Branding Services (brand strategy, messaging, and visual identity development), Website Services (WordPress and Drupal development with ADA compliance), Digital Services (display ads, email marketing, landing pages, content), Video Production Services (broadcast commercials, explainers, animations), Social Media Services (content creation and community management), Event Marketing Services (trade shows, conferences, virtual events), and Direct Mail Services (ABM campaigns and physical mail programs). These services are organized around five industry verticals: Fintech, Healthcare, B2B & SaaS, Retail & DTC, and Higher Education. The agency positions itself as delivering cross-channel campaigns grounded in data analytics and audience insights.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Branding Services Brand strategy, messaging, visual identity, and voice development for startups through Fortune 500 clients, including national brand launches and brand refresh programs across healthcare, fintech, B2B, retail, and higher education.
- Website Services Mobile-first, ADA-compliant website development and redesign on WordPress and headless Drupal, including site architecture, CMS, SEO, AEO, and GEO, delivered for enterprise and mid-market clients.
- Digital Services Digital campaign management including display ads, social media advertising, email marketing, landing pages, e-books, and content development with performance analytics for B2B, healthcare, fintech, and retail clients.
- Video Production Services Video production including broadcast commercials, pre-roll, explainers, testimonials, sizzle reels, motion graphics, kinetic type, traditional animation, and multilingual content (Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean).
- Social Media Services Social media marketing including brand strategy, content calendaring, content creation, UGC programs, and promotions designed to build brand awareness, advocacy, and follower growth.
- Event Marketing Services Full-service event marketing including pre- and post-event marketing, booth creative and signage, premiums, collateral, and attendee experience management for trade shows, conferences, virtual events, and retail pop-ups.
- Direct Mail Services Direct mail marketing campaigns including ABM mailers, postcards, greeting cards, and large-scale direct mail programs (3M+ pieces) with measurable ROI tracking for B2B and enterprise clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,400% ROI and $140M+ in new revenue from a single ABM campaign (B2B SaaS)
- +12 more outcomes
Companies that use HERO Marketing
Customer profileNamed customers29 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
HERO Marketing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
HERO Marketing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BlackWing Creative (acquired/absorbed)minorFormer Ad Age top-ranked B2B agency BlackWing Creative has been absorbed into HERO Marketing. Multiple senior team members joined HERO, bringing 20+ years of brand and Fortune 500 marketing experience. This talent acquisition brings Jonathan Butts (CCO), Stephanie Cooper, Dara Vann, Tim Taricco, Charlie Worcester, and Kathleen Hart. BlackWing Creative has ceased operations ('flown off into the sunset').
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HERO Marketing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mekanism: San Francisco-based independent creative and media agency offering full-service capabilities including branding, digital, social, content production, and media planning. Directly comparable to HERO as a similarly sized independent agency with a comparable service portfolio and West Coast operating geography.
- Walker Sands: Independent B2B marketing agency providing branding, digital, ABM, PR, and demand generation services to enterprise and mid-market clients. Highly comparable to HERO's B2B & SaaS vertical and ABM/direct-mail expertise, particularly given HERO's absorption of the BlackWing Creative B2B team.
- SmartBug Media: Full-service B2B marketing agency offering branding, web, content, demand generation, and ABM services. Comparable to HERO as a mid-size independent with a strong B2B and SaaS focus and a similar integrated agency model rather than a holding-company network.
- Anomaly: Independent creative agency known for brand strategy, advertising, digital, and content production across consumer and B2B categories. Comparable to HERO as a privately held independent alternative to holding-company networks with a similar full-service offering.
- Tilt Metrics: B2B marketing agency specializing in demand generation, ABM, content, and digital campaigns for SaaS and technology clients. Comparable to HERO on B2B/SaaS vertical focus, ABM capabilities, and similar mid-size independent positioning.
- Bluetext: B2B branding and digital marketing agency offering brand strategy, website development, and integrated campaigns for technology and enterprise clients. Comparable to HERO on integrated B2B services and enterprise client base.
- MuteSix: Independent full-service digital marketing agency with capabilities across creative, media, lifecycle, and DTC/retail campaigns. Comparable to HERO as a mid-size independent with multi-channel capabilities and retail/DTC vertical exposure.
Broad incumbents
- R/GA: Global experience design and advertising agency within the IPG network offering brand, digital, product, and commerce services. Comparable to HERO as a broader incumbent offering overlapping capabilities, but at much larger scale and as part of a holding-company portfolio.
- Droga5: Creative advertising agency now part of Accenture Song, known for brand strategy, integrated campaigns, and creative-led work for major brands. Comparable to HERO as an incumbent with a similar integrated campaign model, but operating at much larger scale under a network.
- 72andSunny: Independent creative agency with brand, cultural marketing, and integrated campaign capabilities for major consumer and tech brands. Comparable to HERO as a broader independent with overlapping brand and campaign offerings, though typically larger and entertainment-marketing focused.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HERO Marketing social profiles
Digital presenceHERO Marketing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HERO Marketing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
HERO Marketing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HERO Marketing 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 HERO Marketing
What does HERO Marketing do?
HERO Marketing is a full-service independent marketing agency that delivers integrated, cross-channel campaigns for enterprise and mid-market clients. Core offerings span branding, website development, digital advertising, video production, social media, event marketing, and direct mail (including ABM). Services are sold as professional engagements combining strategy, creative, production, media buying, and analytics.
Is HERO Marketing a public or private company?
HERO Marketing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HERO Marketing founded?
HERO Marketing was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HERO Marketing based?
HERO Marketing is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does HERO Marketing make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Integrated Marketing Campaign Services are the primary driver. The others are media Buying.
Who are HERO Marketing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mekanism, Walker Sands, SmartBug Media, Anomaly, Tilt Metrics, Bluetext and MuteSix. Broad incumbents are R/GA, Droga5 and 72andSunny.
Does HERO Marketing have an API?
No public API is recorded for HERO Marketing.
What industry is HERO Marketing in?
HERO Marketing's product category is Marketing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAAAH, Experiential, Event & Sponsorship Marketing, with a secondary code of BPAFAGAG, Sponsorship Activation & Sports/Festival Experiential. Its NAICS code is 54181 and its SIC code is 7311.