SunStar Media

What SunStar Media does

SunStar Media is a California-based custom web development agency operating as a division of Solestella Technologies, LLC, founded in 1996 and headquartered in Monterey. The company provides fully custom-engineered websites and web applications built without templates or plugins, using hand-written HTML5, modern CSS, and proprietary SEO-optimized frameworks, alongside specialized ColdFusion/CFML consulting services. Core offerings include custom web development, responsive design platforms, B2B e-commerce solutions with multi-gateway payment integration (Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net), real estate websites with IDX/MLS integration, hospitality web solutions including multi-property applications, event registration and ticketing systems, ADA/WCAG compliance tools, and dedicated website hosting.

The company serves clients across 16+ industries including real estate, hospitality/hotels, events, financial services, non-profits, government, construction, healthcare, and entertainment, with notable clients such as the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Mission Ranch Hotel, Monterey Credit Union, SJ Amoroso Construction, and The Film Music of Alan Silvestri. SunStar Media operates a sales-led, consultative go-to-market model with quote-based project pricing and recurring hosting revenue. Distribution is primarily through direct engagement via website quote requests, phone outreach, and client referrals, with geographic reach spanning the Monterey Peninsula, statewide California, and national clients. The agency leverages nearly three decades of development experience as a talent moat, with proprietary technology frameworks and long-standing client relationships supporting its position as a boutique custom web solutions provider.

Name

SunStar Media

Legal name

Solestella Technologies, LLC

Website

https://sunstarmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SunStar Media is a Monterey, California-based custom web development agency founded in 1996 that builds hand-coded websites and web applications for clients across 16+ industries including hospitality, real estate, government, and financial services, operating on project-based pricing with recurring hosting revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Monterey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Web Development: Project-based custom website development services ranging from small business websites to large corporate sites with custom functionality, responsive design, e-commerce, and database integration. Pricing is quote-based based on project scope and complexity.
2. Website Hosting Services: Dedicated website hosting services with secure payment processing for e-commerce sites, providing ongoing recurring revenue from existing client base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SunStar Media is a Monterey-based web design and development agency that builds custom, responsive websites and web applications for small and mid-sized businesses. The firm delivers integrated e-commerce platforms, dedicated managed hosting, and SEO-optimized CMS frameworks, serving clients primarily in the hospitality, real estate, events, and nonprofit sectors across California's Central Coast.

Product overview

SunStar Media is a web development agency providing a comprehensive suite of custom web solutions built from the ground up without templates or plugins. The core offerings include Custom Web Development, Responsive Design Platform, E-Commerce Solutions, and Search Engine Friendly Framework, which form the foundational service stack. These are complemented by specialized solutions including Real Estate Website Design with IDX Integration, Special Events/Registration/Ticketing Systems, and Web Solutions for Hotels. Add-on modules include Integrated Payment Solutions (supporting Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net and other gateways), Integrated Blog Platform, ADA/WCAG Compliance tools, ColdFusion/CFML Consulting, Microsoft SPLA services, and Dedicated Website Hosting. The company also develops custom database-driven applications including multi-headed web applications for hotel chains and property management companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Web Development Bespoke website and web application design and development for small and mid-sized businesses, delivered as a fully custom build rather than a template implementation. The core service offering of the agency.
• Responsive Design Platform Responsive HTML5/CSS-based website design service that adapts layouts and content for desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. Used as the standard front-end deliverable across all client websites.
• E-Commerce Solutions Custom e-commerce website builds for retailers and consumer brands, integrating product catalog, shopping cart, and online payment processing. Delivered for clients including Bracesox and Pacific Etched Glass & Crystal.
• Search Engine Friendly Framework Proprietary SEO framework with structured data markup built into client sites, intended to improve organic search engine visibility. Implemented as a foundation across the firm's custom website builds.
• Real Estate Website Design & IDX Integration Vertical-specific website offering for real estate brokerages and agents, bundling custom design with Internet Data Exchange (IDX) listing search and display integration. Delivered for Carmel Realty Company and Chuck Allen KW AG & Commercial among others.
• Web Solutions for Hotels Vertical-specific website offering for hotels, inns, and hospitality properties, bundling custom design with booking, reservation, and property showcase functionality. Delivered for Mission Ranch, Inns by the Sea, The Homestead, and Tehama Golf Club.
• Special Events, Registration & Online Ticketing Systems Vertical-specific website offering for events, foundations, and community organizations, bundling custom design with online event registration and ticketing functionality. Delivered for the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, First 5 Monterey County, and Key For A Cure Foundation.
• Dedicated Website Hosting Services Managed dedicated server hosting for client websites, provisioned through Microsoft Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) infrastructure. Sold as a recurring subscription bundled with SunStar-developed sites.
• ColdFusion & CFML Consulting Services Specialized consulting and development services in ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML), offered as a standalone capability leveraging the firm's technical heritage in this development stack.
• Intranet/Extranet Development Custom intranet and extranet application development for organizations needing internal or partner-facing web portals. Sold as a standalone engagement rather than bundled with public-facing websites.

Quantifiable outcome

• Websites optimized for Core Web Vitals metrics including fast page load speeds and mobile-first responsive architecture
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Current Wave MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance partner for bilingual video presentations on the Monterey-Salinas Transit Mobility project. Current Wave Media collaborated with SunStar Media to provide specialized video production services integrated into the client's web application.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• WebFX: WebFX is a large digital marketing agency offering web development, design, and full-funnel marketing services. Comparable to SunStar Media in custom web offerings but operates at much greater scale with broader marketing capabilities.
• Blue Fountain Media: Blue Fountain Media is a larger, established digital agency offering web design, branding, and marketing services across industries. Comparable to SunStar Media in offering custom B2B web solutions but at significantly greater scale and broader service scope.

Emerging players

• Victorious: Victorious is an SEO-focused digital agency that also offers custom web design and development. Comparable to SunStar Media in the technical SEO and search-engine-friendly framework capabilities, though specialized primarily in SEO rather than full custom development.

Direct peers

• Lounge Lizard: Lounge Lizard is a boutique web design and development agency offering custom websites, branding, and digital marketing. It is highly comparable to SunStar Media as a similarly-sized, custom-engineering-focused agency serving B2B clients across multiple verticals.
• Bop Design: Bop Design is a B2B-focused web design and development agency specializing in custom websites for professional services firms. It directly mirrors SunStar Media's B2B custom-engineering approach and vertical specialization.
• SmartSites: SmartSites is a full-service digital agency offering custom web design, SEO, and development for SMB and mid-market clients. It is comparable to SunStar Media in targeting similar customer profiles with project-based web solutions.
• TheeDigital: TheeDigital is a custom web design and development agency focused on results-driven websites for SMBs. Comparable to SunStar Media in offering custom (non-template) builds with SEO and responsive design focus.
• Clay: Clay is a UI/UX design and web development agency building custom digital products for global brands. Comparable to SunStar Media as a custom-engineering digital agency, though serving a more enterprise-tier client base.
• Dockyard: Dockyard is a digital product agency specializing in custom web and application development. Comparable to SunStar Media in custom engineering and integration-heavy project work for mid-market and enterprise clients.
• Big Spaceship: Big Spaceship is a digital agency building custom web platforms and digital experiences for brands. Comparable to SunStar Media in custom engineering orientation, though operating at larger scale and serving enterprise clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sunstarmedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunstar-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 SunStar Media