What Horn Tech does

HornTech, operated by Always Digital Limited, is a New Zealand-based digital marketing agency founded in 2018 and headquartered in Auckland. The firm delivers SEO, Google Ads management, web design and development, Shopify store builds, and a fixed-price AI Website Builder, with a newer GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) service aimed at AI-driven search surfaces. It holds Google Partner and Shopify Partner certifications and reports US$50M+ in cumulative managed ad spend, 200+ delivered websites, and 4,700+ keywords ranked since inception. The agency serves a mixed base of SMBs and larger enterprises, with named logos spanning Haakaa, Midea, iCar, GJ Gardner, MagicLoft, and Grin Natural, and operates bilingually in English and Chinese.

The business model combines recurring monthly retainers with project-based work. SEO retainers are priced at NZ$999–NZ$3,999 per month, Google Ads management at NZ$600–NZ$2,000 per month or 10–20% of ad spend, web design and development as one-time engagements ranging from NZ$1,500 to NZ$80,000+, the AI Website Builder at a fixed NZ$1,499, and custom AI Solutions on a project basis. Customer concentration appears distributed across SMB retainers with an enterprise tail. The firm has expanded service delivery into Australia and targets Chinese-speaking businesses via bilingual capability.

There is no evidence of external funding, proprietary technology beyond process and partner certifications, or large senior AI hires; the headcount band of 11–50 employees and a bootstrapped posture place the firm in the small-to-mid agency segment, with competitive positioning centered on partner credentials, bilingual reach, and AI-service productization rather than defensible IP.

Name

Horn Tech

Legal name

Always Digital Limited

Website

https://horntech.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HornTech is an Auckland-based digital marketing agency founded in 2018 that delivers SEO, Google Ads, web design, Shopify builds, and AI-driven services (GEO, AI Website Builder, custom AI Solutions) to SMB and enterprise clients in New Zealand and Australia, operating bilingually in English and Chinese.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SEO Services Retainer: Monthly recurring retainer for ongoing SEO services. Standard Internet Marketing Services (SEO, PPC, Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, Reputation Management) are charged on a monthly recurring basis per the Terms & Conditions. Pricing tiers range from NZ$999/mo (Basic) to NZ$3,999/mo (Full-Service).
2. Google Ads Management: Management fee on top of client ad spend. Management fees typically NZ$600–NZ$2,000/month, or 10–20% of ad spend for larger accounts.
3. Web Design & Development: One-time project-based fees for website builds. Project types and typical costs: Landing page $1,500–$3,000; Small business website $3,000–$8,000; Corporate/multi-section site $8,000–$20,000; Shopify eCommerce $5,000–$15,000; Custom WooCommerce/headless eCommerce $15,000–$50,000+; Web application/SaaS MVP $30,000–$80,000+. Standard delivery approximately 8 weeks.
4. AI Website Builder: Fixed-quote AI-built website at NZ$1,499. First preview in 3 days, multi-language ready, SEO configured at launch.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HornTech is a New Zealand digital marketing agency that sells monthly SEO and Google Ads (SEM) retainers, conversion-focused web design and Shopify development, an AI Website Builder product at a fixed NZ$1,499 quote, and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) services aimed at getting brands cited in AI-powered search engines. Customers are predominantly Auckland-based NZ and Australian SMB and mid-market businesses needing organic growth, paid acquisition, and ecommerce storefronts.

Product overview

HornTech is a full-service digital marketing and web development agency based in Auckland, New Zealand. The company offers a portfolio of integrated services: SEO Services (technical audits, keyword strategy, content creation, link building) combined with Google Ads (SEM) management and GEO Optimization for AI search visibility. Their product suite includes an AI Website Builder for small businesses, Shopify Development for ecommerce, Web Design using WordPress and custom solutions, and AI Solutions for custom business automation. The offerings work together as an integrated digital marketing ecosystem where SEO, paid advertising, website development, and AI-powered tools support business growth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SEO Services Data-driven SEO services for Auckland businesses including technical audits, keyword strategy, content creation, link building, local SEO, Google Business Profile optimisation, and ongoing monthly reporting. Sold as monthly retainers (Basic NZ$999/mo, Growth NZ$1,999/mo, Full-Service NZ$3,999/mo).
• Google Ads (SEM) Management PPC management and Google Ads campaign optimisation delivered by a certified Google Partner agency (Agency ID 4992429762) with $50M+ ad spend managed since 2018. Offered via flat monthly retainer (NZ$600–2,000/mo), percentage of ad spend (10–20%), or performance/hybrid models.
• GEO / AI Search Optimization Dedicated Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and AIO service that optimises brands to be cited and recommended inside AI-powered search engines including ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. Includes GEO-specific content architecture, FAQ schema implementation, and AI citation tracking.
• AI Website Builder NZ Fixed-quote AI-built business website service for NZ small businesses at NZ$1,499 per project. Delivers AI-built sites with multi-language support, SEO configured from day one (schema, sitemap, hreflang, semantic meta hierarchy), and first preview in 3 days.
• Shopify Development Certified Shopify Partner service delivering custom Shopify store builds, theme development, app integration, and Shopify-specific SEO (technical optimisation, structured data, performance tuning) for ecommerce brands. Project pricing ranges from NZ$5,000 to NZ$50,000+ depending on store complexity.
• Web Design & Development Conversion-optimised WordPress and custom website design and development covering landing pages, small business sites, corporate/multi-section sites, and web applications/SaaS MVPs. Project-based pricing NZ$1,500 to NZ$80,000+, with 200+ websites delivered.
• AI Development Services Custom AI solutions for business automation including AI agent development, AI integration into workflows, and custom AI development for business process automation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,700+ keywords ranked across client sites
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationHornTech is a certified Google Partner, having passed Google's official partner certification programme (Agency ID: 4992429762). This certification authorises the agency to run Google Ads campaigns on behalf of clients and display the official Google Partner badge. The partnership enables access to Google's ad platform, reporting tools, and partner support resources. HornTech manages $50M+ in Google Ads spend across client accounts.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationHornTech is a certified Shopify Partner. As a Shopify Partner, the agency builds custom Shopify stores, develops themes, integrates apps, and provides Shopify-specific SEO services for ecommerce clients. The partnership is positioned as a key differentiator, with case studies demonstrating Shopify SEO results (e.g., Haakaa: 1,500+ monthly organic visits).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pure SEO: NZ-headquartered specialist SEO agency with offices in Auckland. Direct competitor in the NZ SEO retainer segment, similar SMB-to-mid-market positioning and pricing tiers.
• Touchpoint Digital: NZ digital agency offering SEO, Google Ads, and web design to NZ businesses. Comparable boutique positioning, pricing tier structure, and Auckland/NZ SMB customer base.
• Avenue Digital: NZ digital marketing agency focusing on SEO, paid media, and conversion for NZ SMBs. Directly comparable service mix and New Zealand client base to HornTech.
• SEO Shark: Australian SEO specialist agency serving SMBs across AU/NZ with retainers and project-based SEO. Comparable in service specialization and trans-Tasman SMB focus.
• First Digital: Auckland-based full-service digital marketing agency offering SEO, Google Ads, web design, and social media to NZ SMBs. Closely comparable scale, geography, and service mix to HornTech — direct head-to-head competitor for Auckland SEO retainers.
• Brave Chicken: Auckland-based digital marketing and web design agency offering SEO, Google Ads, and website builds to NZ businesses. Comparable boutique scale, single-country focus, and integrated services portfolio.
• Zib Digital: Trans-Tasman digital marketing agency serving NZ and Australian SMBs across SEO, PPC, and web design. Most directly comparable cross-Tasman competitor with overlapping customer profiles and pricing posture.

Broad incumbents

• WebFX: Large US-based digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, web design, and AI-driven marketing services globally. Comparable service portfolio but materially larger scale (1,000+ employees) — relevant incumbent benchmark for HornTech's scaling trajectory.
• Thrive Internet Marketing Agency: US-headquartered full-service digital marketing agency with SEO, web design, and PPC offerings. Comparable services mix but operates at significantly larger scale across SMB and mid-market.
• Online Marketing Gurus: Larger Australian-headquartered digital marketing agency serving SMB and mid-market across SEO, PPC, and web design. Broader footprint and headcount but overlapping services and trans-Tasman customer profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/horntechnz
• Facebookfacebook.com/Horntechnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/horntechnz

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Horn Tech