What Tunheim does

Tunheim is a Minneapolis-based strategic communications consulting firm founded in 1990 by Kathy Tunheim and four colleagues from Honeywell, Inc. The firm delivers six integrated service lines — Public Relations, Public Affairs, Management Consulting, Digital Marketing, Government Services, and AI Discoverability Services — primarily to healthcare, government, nonprofit, education, and major-events clients. Named engagements include Medtronic, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the State of Minnesota, the University of Minnesota, Children's Minnesota, Accra Homecare, Energy Foundation, and event work for Super Bowl LII and the Ryder Cup. Tunheim is a certified woman-owned small business (WBE/WOSB), holds GSA Professional Services Schedule contract GS-00F-239GA (valid through June 2027), and is a member of IPREX, the second-largest independent global agency network.

The firm's underlying technology consists of an in-house podcast studio (HD tri-camera, broadcast microphones, 12-channel mixer) and a digital marketing stack spanning content creation, SEO, social, paid, email, and analytics, augmented by AI tools used for content ideation, research synthesis, monitoring, and workflow automation. There is no proprietary platform or software product; the technical differentiator is its AI Discoverability Services methodology, which helps clients manage how their brand is represented in AI-driven discovery environments.

Tunheim generates revenue through professional services fees from project-based engagements and retainers. Pricing is custom and quote-based, with multi-year contract cadences. Government work flows through the GSA schedule vehicle, and global capability is delivered via IPREX partner referrals. The firm's headcount is in the 11-50 band, and it is privately held with no external funding rounds, acquisitions, or divestitures disclosed.

Name

Tunheim

Legal name

Tunheim Partners, Inc.

Website

https://tunheim.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tunheim is a Minneapolis-based strategic communications consulting firm offering public relations, public affairs, management consulting, digital marketing, AI discoverability, and government services to healthcare, nonprofit, government, education, and major-events clients. Founded in 1990, it is a GSA contract holder and IPREX network member.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Communications Consulting

NAICS

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Data, Analytics & AI Consulting (BPAHAEAF), Performance Management & Productivity Consulting (BPAHAGAL)

Keywords

• Strategic communications consulting
• Public relations services
• Public affairs campaigns
• Digital marketing agency
• Government contract communications

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Consulting: Professional services fees for strategic communications consulting, public relations, public affairs, management consulting, and digital marketing services. Revenue is generated through project-based engagements and potentially retainer arrangements with clients seeking ongoing communications support.
2. Government Services (GSA Contract): Services provided under GSA Professional Services Schedule (PSS) contract GS-00F-239GA to federal, state, and local government agencies. Includes integrated consulting services, public relations, advertising, and web-based marketing through pre-established government contract vehicles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tunheim is a strategic communications consulting firm that delivers an integrated portfolio of professional services — Public Relations, Public Affairs, Management Consulting, Digital Marketing, AI Discoverability Services, and Government Services — under custom consulting engagements and a GSA Professional Services Schedule contract. The firm sells these services to mid-to-large corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, with delivery grounded in stakeholder insights, strategic messaging, and integrated campaign execution. An in-house podcast production studio complements the consultancy's communications and content offerings.

Product overview

Tunheim is a strategic communications consulting firm offering an integrated portfolio of professional services rather than a software product. The core offering consists of six interconnected service lines: Public Relations, Public Affairs, Management Consulting, Digital Marketing, AI Discoverability Services, and Government Services. These services are delivered as consulting engagements and share methodologies around stakeholder insights, strategic messaging, and integrated campaign execution. Government Services includes a specialized GSA Schedule offering. The firm also operates an in-house podcast production studio supporting client and proprietary content. The architecture is service-based (not platform-plus-modules), with individual offerings combining flexibly depending on client needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations Strategic public relations services including media relations, crisis communications, external and internal communications, media training, stakeholder intelligence, and strategic storytelling to help clients build credibility and visibility.
• Public Affairs Integrated public affairs campaigns including coalition building and management, public opinion research and analysis, stakeholder relations, and stakeholder engagement for government and advocacy clients.
• Management Consulting Strategic management consulting services including change management, reputation management, strategic positioning, key message development, crisis management, stakeholder research, strategic planning, and executive coaching.
• Digital Marketing Comprehensive digital marketing and content services spanning integrated digital strategy, content creation (articles, video, podcasting, social media, visual design, website copy), web development, social media management, email marketing, digital advertising, influencer marketing, and analytics.
• AI Discoverability Services Specialized AI-focused communications services including AI Persona Development, AI Discoverability Strategy, AI-Enhanced Content Creation, AI-Supported Research & Insights, AI Workflow & Productivity Tools, AI Monitoring & Issue Scanning, AI Training & Team Enablement, AI Message Optimization, and AI Ecosystem Validation.
• Government Services Communications and marketing services for government entities at federal, state, and local levels, including consulting, integrated digital marketing, public affairs, and public relations delivered under GSA contract.
• Government Contracts (GSA Schedule) GSA Professional Services Schedule (PSS) contract (GS-00F-239GA) providing integrated consulting services, public relations, advertising, web-based marketing, and marketing consulting to federal agencies and state/municipal clients under pre-established government contract vehicles.
• Podcast Production Services In-house podcast studio with HD tri-camera video setup, broadcast microphones, 12-channel mixer, and full video/audio production capabilities for client podcast production and Tunheim's proprietary podcast series such as 'Being Understood,' 'Champions of Homecare,' and 'Divided Dynasties.'

Quantifiable outcome

• EPA Administrator's Award for Outstanding Accomplishments by a Woman-Owned Small Business Contractor (2023) for community outreach plan resulting in increased public meeting attendance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• IPREXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTunheim is a member of IPREX, described as the second-largest independent global agency network. This membership enables Tunheim to serve clients with global communications needs and provides access to network resources, expertise, and referral opportunities across the global network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Padilla: Minneapolis-based integrated marketing and communications agency with comparable strategic communications, public relations, and public affairs capabilities. Padilla serves similar mid-to-large corporate, nonprofit, and government clients and competes directly for talent and accounts in the same regional market.
• Carmichael Lynch: Minneapolis-headquartered creative and integrated communications agency offering advertising, PR, and brand strategy services. Comparable in client mix (corporate, healthcare, regional brands) and Minneapolis market positioning, though somewhat larger and more advertising-focused.
• Haberman: Minneapolis-based integrated public relations and storytelling agency serving consumer, nonprofit, and B2B clients. Similar boutique positioning, comparable services in PR and content marketing, and overlapping nonprofit and consumer brand client base.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Global communications firm offering strategic communications, public affairs, and digital marketing across all major markets. Represents the scaled incumbent Tunheim is most often compared against when clients evaluate boutique vs. global agency options.
• Ketchum: Major global communications consultancy providing PR, public affairs, and brand marketing services. Comparable in strategic communications depth but operates at significantly larger scale with extensive international footprint.
• FleishmanHillard: Global PR and integrated marketing agency with strong public affairs and corporate communications practices. Competes with Tunheim for government and enterprise clients while offering broader global reach and deeper specialty practices.
• Weber Shandwick: One of the world's largest global PR and communications agencies with deep public affairs and corporate communications capabilities. Competes with Tunheim for Fortune 500 and government clients but operates at vastly greater scale with full-service global delivery.
• Zeno Group: Global integrated communications agency with strength in corporate, consumer, and technology PR. Comparable mid-to-upper market positioning and overlapping service portfolio including media relations, content, and digital communications.
• MSL Group: Global public relations and integrated communications network serving corporate, public affairs, and consumer clients. Provides similar strategic communications services with global infrastructure that boutique firms like Tunheim cannot match alone.
• ICF Next (formerly Olson Engage): Integrated marketing and communications agency within ICF, combining PR, public affairs, and digital capabilities. Most direct comparable in terms of government/public sector focus and integrated digital marketing, though backed by a much larger parent company.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/teamtunheim
• Facebookfacebook.com/tunheimpartners
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tunheim-partners

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Tunheim