BrandHoot

What BrandHoot does

BrandHoot is an award-winning digital agency founded in January 2012 by Nate Nordstrom in Rochester, Minnesota, operating as BrandHoot LLC. The company provides custom web design, mobile app development, strategy consulting, design sprints, branding, accessibility testing, user testing, and AWS-based cloud hosting to a client base spanning small local businesses, healthcare organizations (Mayo Clinic, Destination Medical Center, Seasons Hospice, My Travel Health App), manufacturers (Hayfield Window & Door), security firms (Custom Alarm), hospitality operators, government entities, and nonprofits. Its technology stack spans Laravel, WordPress, Vue.js, React Native, native iOS (Swift/Objective-C), PHP, JavaScript, and Python, delivered through a 1-10 person team using a blended strategy-design-engineering approach anchored by a 5-day design sprint methodology adapted from Google and IDEO processes.

The business operates a hybrid model combining project-based professional services (one-time website/app projects ranging from under $5,000 to over $500,000) with recurring SaaS and productized offerings. Recurring revenue streams include the Easy Board SaaS board management platform (launched March 2020, serving thousands of users across nearly all 50 states with reported triple-digit growth), ChamberForce workforce development platform (deployed through chambers of commerce with deep partnership with Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce), PixelPress sub-brand for affordable small business websites, FanCoach automated Facebook marketing for restaurants, HiveSync team communication tool, and AWS-based cloud hosting/maintenance subscriptions. BrandHoot monetizes through a consultative sales motion with complimentary consultation, detailed project intake forms, and direct phone outreach by the founder, supplemented by community engagement at chamber events and STEM summits.

The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed funding rounds and reports zero institutional investors, with Nate Nordstrom maintaining founder/CEO control. It has accumulated notable credentials including U.S. Chamber of Commerce Top 100 Small Business (Blue Ribbon Award), 2017 Dream Big Small Business of the Year finalist, Rochester Area Chamber Business of the Year, RAVE Award from RAEDI, and multiple Clutch leader rankings as a top Minnesota web and mobile app developer through 2018. Customer outcomes cited include 200%+ inbound commercial lead growth for Custom Alarm, 397% increase in online dollars raised for Seasons Hospice, and zero crash reports for the My Travel Health iOS app, supporting measurable ROI claims for client engagements.

Name

BrandHoot

Legal name

BrandHoot LLC

Website

https://brandhoot.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BrandHoot is a bootstrapped Rochester, MN-based digital agency providing custom web design, mobile app development, and strategy services to clients ranging from local SMBs to healthcare enterprises like Mayo Clinic, complemented by recurring SaaS products including Easy Board (board management) and ChamberForce (workforce development).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Web & App Development Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Advertising Agencies (54181), Graphic Design Services (54143)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Brand Guidelines, Governance & Brand Management (BPAFAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creative & Brand Campaign Development (BPAFAAAB), Process & Case Management Low-Code Platforms (HDAEAKAE)

Keywords

• Custom web development
• Mobile app development
• Digital strategy services
• Brand strategy consulting
• UX design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Web Development & Design: Project-based custom website design and development services including strategy, UX prototyping, responsive design, and ongoing support.
2. Mobile App Development: Native iOS, hybrid React Native, and Progressive Web App development. App costs typically range from $50,000 for simple apps to over $100,000 for complex ones.
3. Strategy & Consulting Services: Growth strategy, UX strategy, design sprints, user testing, and branding consulting services offered as standalone or bundled with implementation.
4. Cloud Hosting & Maintenance: Secure cloud hosting via AWS with intrusion detection, caching, backups, and ongoing maintenance services.
5. PixelPress Small Business Websites: Simplified website packages for small businesses and nonprofits providing clean, low-maintenance, and effective websites at more affordable price points.
6. Easy Board SaaS: Board management software as a service for nonprofit and for-profit board leadership. Tripled growth last year serving thousands of users.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BrandHoot is an award-winning digital agency that provides custom web design, mobile app development, and digital strategy services to businesses and healthcare organizations. The company also develops and operates proprietary software platforms including ChamberForce (workforce development for chambers), Easy Board (board management software), and several other sub-brand products. Services span strategy, design sprints, UX prototyping, custom platform development, real-time personalization, accessibility testing, user testing, secure cloud hosting, and branding.

Product overview

BrandHoot is an award-winning digital agency offering a portfolio of proprietary products and custom development services. Their core offering is custom web design and mobile app development, supplemented by their own SaaS platforms including ChamberForce (workforce development platform for chambers), Easy Board (board management software), FanCoach (automated Facebook marketing for restaurants), and HiveSync (team communication tool). They also operate PixelPress as a sub-brand for affordable small business websites. Services include Strategy & UX Prototyping, Design Sprints, Mobile App Development, Platform Development, Website Design, Realtime Personalization, Accessibility Testing, User Testing, Secure Cloud Hosting, and Branding & Logo Design. The company serves clients ranging from small local businesses to large enterprises like Mayo Clinic and Destination Medical Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ChamberForce: A workforce development platform built in partnership with Minnesota's largest regional chamber to help chambers tackle regional workforce development needs.
• PixelPress
• Rochester Now
• HiveSync
• Easy Board
• FanCoach

Products and services

• BrandHoot Custom Web & App Development Services Award-winning custom web design and mobile app development services including strategy, design sprints, mobile apps, platform development, website design, realtime personalization, accessibility testing, user testing, secure cloud hosting, and branding. Targeted at business and healthcare leaders seeking digital transformation.
• ChamberForce (Hubsource) Community workforce development platform custom-built for chambers and economic development regions. Provides free job/internship postings for chamber members, applicant tracking system, company branded career pages, bulk messaging, and resources portal. Designed to help chambers launch a powerful central workforce platform.
• Easy Board Board management software platform for nonprofit and for-profit board leadership. Provides document management, meeting scheduling, notices, and board member profiles in a modern, structured digital solution serving thousands of change-makers across nearly all 50 states.
• FanCoach Automated Facebook marketing consultant for restaurants. Analyzes Facebook pages and provides recommendations to improve marketing performance.
• HiveSync Team communication tool aimed at solving key challenges that service businesses face daily. Developed from client feedback in the services industry.
• PixelPress Small business solutions arm providing clean, low-maintenance, and effective websites for small businesses and nonprofits. Simplified package combining years of custom work into an affordable offering at more accessible price points.
• Rochester Now Mobile app bringing scattered local resources and event calendars into one convenient mobile app for Rochester, Minnesota. Includes Facebook and Twitter engagement for promoting events to thousands of locals and visitors weekly.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200%+ increase in inbound commercial leads for Custom Alarm
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Rochester Area Chamber of CommerceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2017Deep partnership on workforce development platform. Collaborated with Minnesota's largest regional chamber to build ChamberForce/Hubsource platform. Hundreds of hours of community research, surveying over 200 businesses, and close collaboration with higher education and regional leaders.
• Higher Education InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with higher education for Hubsource/ChamberForce platform to better connect students with internships, apprenticeships, and local job opportunities to retain talent long-term.
• RightMessagecoreTechnology or IntegrationFounding member of RightMessage's partner program. Enables real-time website personalization based on traffic source, referral links, ad data, CRM integration, and user behavior. BrandHoot helps push the limits of what's possible in personalization.
• Collider Coworking SpaceminorOthersListed as a connection/partner in Rochester's innovation ecosystem.
• Rochester Downtown AllianceminorOthersListed as a connection in Rochester's downtown business community.
• Amazon Web ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationTrusted cloud hosting provider for client and internal systems deployment. AWS used for developing, deploying, and hosting web applications.
• BigCommercecoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform leveraged for Custom Alarm project to add online product listings and secure payment processing via Authorize.net integration.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• BoardEffect: Board management software for nonprofit and for-profit boards, directly competing with BrandHoot's Easy Board product. Comparable in the specific SaaS vertical BrandHoot has entered.
• GrowthZone (ChamberMaster): Chamber management software platform providing member management, job boards, and event tools. Directly comparable to BrandHoot's ChamberForce workforce development platform for chambers.

Direct peers

• SmartSites: Digital agency offering web design, development, and digital marketing services to SMB and mid-market clients. Comparable as a smaller full-service agency competing in similar project scopes.
• SPINX Digital: Web design and digital agency focused on strategy, design, and technology services. Comparable in scope of services (web, mobile, branding) and mid-market client targeting.
• Big Drop Inc: Custom web design and development agency offering branding, strategy, and digital services for SMB to mid-market clients. Highly comparable as a full-service digital agency competing for similar project-based engagements.
• Blue Fountain Media: Full-service digital agency offering web design, development, branding, and digital marketing. Comparable in combining custom development with brand strategy and serving a mix of SMB and enterprise clients.
• Lounge Lizard: Digital agency providing web design, branding, and digital strategy services across industries. Comparable in offering a blend of strategy, design, and engineering to mid-market and enterprise clients.
• The Creative Momentum: Custom web design and digital agency offering strategy, design, and development for healthcare and B2B clients. Comparable in healthcare vertical expertise and project-based engagement model.

Broad incumbents

• WebFX: Larger digital marketing and web development agency with a broader service portfolio and significantly larger headcount. Comparable in service breadth but operates at a much greater scale than BrandHoot.
• Diligent Boards: Enterprise board management and governance software platform serving large organizations. Comparable to Easy Board as a board management SaaS, though Diligent operates at much greater scale and price point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BrandHoot
• Facebookfacebook.com/BrandHoot
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3589711

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries6 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 BrandHoot