The Cypress Group
The Cypress Group is a bootstrapped, full-service marketing agency founded in 2004 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Co-founded by Jené Leiner and Melissa Urbanski, it serves a diversified mid-market client base across healthcare, financial services, and B2B services via referral-driven, multi-year engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersSaint Paul, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Cypress Group does
The Cypress Group is a full-service marketing agency founded in 2004 and headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The firm offers a broad marketing services suite spanning branding, web design, content marketing, digital advertising, SEO, social media management, email marketing, and direct mail campaigns. Co-founded by Jené Leiner and Melissa Urbanski, who serve as the two principals, the agency operates with a lean team of 11-50 employees.
The agency serves a diversified client portfolio across healthcare, financial services, retail, and B2B services, with named relationships including Vomela and Patterson Companies. Its go-to-market is almost entirely referral-driven, with nearly 100% of new clients sourced through word of mouth, and engagements are structured as multi-year contracts that embed the agency into clients' brand and campaign workflows. This combination of referral-based acquisition and long-tenured engagements produces a recurring, relationship-driven revenue base.
The Cypress Group is privately held and bootstrapped, having never raised outside capital or pursued acquisitions, partnerships, or geographic expansion. The firm celebrated its 20-year operating anniversary in 2024, reflecting two decades of organic continuity rather than scaled growth. There are no disclosed signals of M&A, product launches beyond its core service suite, leadership transitions, or external funding events.
The Cypress Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Cypress Group
- Legal name
- The Cypress Group
- Website
- https://growwithcypress.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Cypress Group is a bootstrapped, full-service marketing agency founded in 2004 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Co-founded by Jené Leiner and Melissa Urbanski, it serves a diversified mid-market client base across healthcare, financial services, and B2B services via referral-driven, multi-year engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Cypress Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marketing Services
- NAICS
- Marketing Consulting Services (541613), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Direct Mail Advertising (54186)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Direct Mail Advertising Services (7331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Strategy Advisory (BPAHADAA)
Keywords
Where The Cypress Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Paul
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Cypress Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Marketing Services: Professional marketing agency services including branding, web development, content creation, digital advertising, SEO, social media, email marketing, and direct mail. Revenue generated through service fees for marketing consulting and execution.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom marketing services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
The Cypress Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Cypress Group is a full-service marketing agency that delivers practical, efficient marketing services to small and midsize businesses. Its service portfolio spans branding and positioning, website design and development, content creation, social media management, email marketing, direct mail, digital advertising, and SEO, delivered as outsourced marketing execution by agency principals who act as an extension of client teams.
Product overview
The Cypress Group is a marketing agency founded in 2004 that provides practical and efficient marketing services for small to midsize businesses. The company offers a comprehensive suite of marketing services including Logo Development and Branding, Positioning and Messaging, Social Media Management, Web Site Design and Development, Content Creation, Direct Mail, Email Marketing, Digital Advertising, and SEO Services. Rather than offering a unified software product, the agency acts as an extension of client organizations, providing strategic marketing execution across multiple channels. The agency is led by principals Jené Leiner and Melissa Urbanski and has a nearly 100 percent referral-based client list.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Logo Development and Branding Corporate identity creation including logo design, brand guidelines, and visual identity systems for businesses.
- Positioning and Messaging Strategic development of company positioning, value propositions, key messaging frameworks, and market differentiation.
- Social Media Management Social media strategy, content creation, and platform management across various social media channels.
- Web Site Design and Development Website design, development, and management including e-commerce sites built on platforms such as Shopify.
- Content Creation Creation of marketing content including blog posts, newsletters, sales materials, flyers, and marketing collateral.
- Direct Mail Design and execution of direct mail marketing campaigns including postcards, sales slicks, and promotional materials.
- Email Marketing Email campaign development, newsletter creation, and targeted email marketing initiatives.
- Digital Advertising Digital advertising campaigns including pay-per-click, display ads, and other online promotional efforts.
- SEO Services Search engine optimization services to improve website visibility and organic search rankings.
Quantifiable outcome
- Client list is nearly 100 percent referral based
Companies that use The Cypress Group
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Cypress Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Cypress Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights1 record
The Cypress Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Olive & Company: Minneapolis-based full-service marketing agency serving small to midsize B2B and consumer brands across branding, web, content, and digital. Comparable in size, geography, and SMB-focused service mix to The Cypress Group.
- Russell Herder: Minneapolis marketing and creative agency providing branding, content, and integrated marketing services to SMB and mid-market clients. Directly comparable in geography and full-service agency positioning.
- KNOCK, Inc. Minneapolis-based creative agency delivering branding, advertising, digital, and PR services. Similar full-service agency model targeting regional and national clients with comparable SMB/mid-market mix.
- Gabriel de Bentenon Creative: Minneapolis creative agency providing branding, design, and integrated marketing services. Comparable Twin Cities-based agency of similar scale serving SMB clients.
- Broadhead: Minneapolis-based full-service agency focused on food, beverage, and lifestyle brands. Comparable in geography and full-service integrated agency model, though typically serving larger mid-market accounts.
Broad incumbents
- Periscope (Havas): Minneapolis-based creative agency now part of Havas, offering brand strategy, advertising, and digital services to enterprise clients. Larger incumbent in the same Twin Cities marketing services market.
- Carmichael Lynch: Minneapolis-based creative agency (part of Havas) with full-service brand, advertising, and digital capabilities. Broader incumbent with national footprint serving larger clients, operating in the same Twin Cities talent market.
Regional players
- Laughlin Constable: Milwaukee/Chicago-based integrated marketing agency offering branding, advertising, and digital services. Comparable full-service model, with comparable footprint to a Twin Cities-based regional agency.
- BVK: Milwaukee-based independent marketing and advertising agency with full-service brand, digital, and media offerings. Comparable mid-size regional agency serving similar SMB and mid-market brands.
Emerging players
- Constant Contact: SMB-focused digital marketing platform offering email, social, and basic marketing automation tools. Represents the technology-enabled alternative that competes for the same SMB marketing budget that The Cypress Group services.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Cypress Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Cypress Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Cypress Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Cypress Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Cypress Group 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 The Cypress Group
What does The Cypress Group do?
The Cypress Group is a full-service marketing agency that delivers practical, efficient marketing services to small and midsize businesses. Its service portfolio spans branding and positioning, website design and development, content creation, social media management, email marketing, direct mail, digital advertising, and SEO, delivered as outsourced marketing execution by agency principals who act as an extension of client teams.
Is The Cypress Group a public or private company?
The Cypress Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Cypress Group founded?
The Cypress Group was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Cypress Group based?
The Cypress Group is headquartered in Saint Paul, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Cypress Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: marketing Services.
Who are The Cypress Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Olive & Company, Russell Herder, KNOCK, Inc., Gabriel de Bentenon Creative and Broadhead. Broad incumbents are Periscope (Havas) and Carmichael Lynch. Regional players are Laughlin Constable and BVK. Constant Contact is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Cypress Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Cypress Group.
What industry is The Cypress Group in?
The Cypress Group's product category is Marketing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHADAA, Corporate Strategy Advisory. Its NAICS code is 541613 and its SIC code is 8742.