Hauswirth

What Hauswirth does

Hauswirth INC, operating as HausCo (formerly Hauswirth/Co, also styled HCo), is a Chicago-headquartered, LGBTQ-owned (NGLCC certified) marketing communications firm founded in 2017 by Kevin Hauswirth, the former City of Chicago's first head of digital. The firm delivers integrated campaign development, paid media, influencer marketing, creative services (branding, video, design), digital and social media management, market research and messaging, marketing consulting, and executive positioning for purpose-led clients, with a documented emphasis on advocacy, nonprofit, CPG, government, public health, and arts/culture verticals. Beyond project work, HausCo operates the Chicago Creator Network, a curated roster of local influencers and content creators, as a branded distribution and partnership asset.

The underlying technology stack is conventional agency tooling: Squarespace-hosted website, paid media on Meta, TikTok, YouTube/Google Ads, and organic social, with no disclosed proprietary platform, API, SDK, or AI/ML capability. The business model combines project-based flat-fee engagements (50% upfront, balance at milestones) with phased/annual retainers and a pay-as-you-go 'Rapid Response & Cultural Moment Kits' line; there are no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no investor base indicated. GTM is primarily direct sales-led, complemented by a community-led motion through the Chicago Creator Network and event-driven activations (e.g., co-hosted events with Pandora and Google/YouTube). The team is remote-first (89% WFH) with a stated 10–15 person headcount spanning account, creative, design, and production functions, and the firm serves clients across the US and Canada.

Name

Hauswirth

Legal name

Hauswirth INC

Website

https://hauswirth.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hauswirth (HausCo) is a Chicago-based, LGBTQ-owned, 10–15 person marketing communications firm founded in 2017 that delivers integrated campaigns, paid media, influencer marketing, and creative services to nonprofits, advocacy groups, and consumer brands across the US and Canada, and operates the Chicago Creator Network as a curated local influencer roster.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marketing & Advertising Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (54181), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Reputation Management & Online PR (BPAFADAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performance Creative & Ad Production (Dynamic/Iterative) (BPAFACAI), Sales Promotion Campaign Design & Management (BPAFAMAC)

Keywords

• Marketing communications
• Influencer marketing
• Paid media buying
• Creative campaign services
• Advocacy and nonprofit marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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

Revenue model

1. Project-Based Services: HausCo typically scopes projects based on deliverables and timeline, providing a flat fee for the work. Standard terms include 50% upfront with balance due at key milestones.
2. Monthly Retainers: For larger or ongoing engagements, pricing is structured by phases or monthly retainers with flexibility built in for additional work as needed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hauswirth is a Chicago-based marketing communications firm (operating as HausCo) that develops integrated marketing campaigns, manages paid media strategy and buying, executes influencer marketing programs, and provides creative services for nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and major brands. The firm also operates the Chicago Creator Network, a curated community of more than 100 local content creators used to source and activate influencer campaigns on behalf of clients.

Product overview

Hauswirth (operating as HausCo) is a Chicago-based, LGBTQ-owned full-service marketing communications firm founded in 2017. The company operates as a unified service-based agency rather than a software platform. Its core offerings include Integrated Campaign Development, Paid Media & Influencer Marketing, Creative Services (branding, design, video production), Digital & Social Media Management, Market Research & Messaging, Marketing Consulting, and Executive Positioning. The firm also manages the Chicago Creator Network, a curated roster of local influencers. These services are delivered as consultancy engagements rather than modular software products, tailored to client needs across industries including nonprofits, advocacy organizations, consumer packaged goods, and public health initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6 million people reached nationwide for Choose Chicago campaign
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PandoraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted event 'Music: The Culture Connector' bringing together event curators, marketers and content creators to discuss connecting with multicultural audiences through music.
• Google/YouTubeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted event 'Music: The Culture Connector' alongside Pandora, focusing on multicultural marketing and cultural connection strategies.
• Brave Space AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWAY partnered with Brave Space Alliance (first Black, trans-led LGBTQ+ Center on Chicago's South Side) for Pride month campaign. A portion of SWAY's proceeds donated to support Brave Space Alliance's mission of providing safe, inclusive spaces for queer folks and POC.
• PeacockcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPeacock streaming platform acquired Art & Pep documentary for nationwide launch in June 2023. HausCo supported the launch with integrated marketing campaign including paid social media.
• Sueños FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago Latin music festival started in 2022, supported by HausCo team members. Festival donated $220,000 to Chicago charitable organizations in first year.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GMMB: Advertising, advocacy, and public affairs agency with deep work in health, advocacy, and political campaigns. Comparable in integrated paid media and advocacy campaign execution for nonprofit and government clients.
• M Booth: Independent creative communications agency with strong influencer and brand purpose capabilities. Comparable in offering integrated storytelling, influencer marketing, and purpose-led campaigns for consumer and advocacy clients.
• Fenton Communications: Social impact PR and communications agency serving nonprofits, foundations, and advocacy organizations. Directly comparable in mission-led communications and campaign storytelling approach.
• Inkhouse: Boutique PR and integrated communications agency serving consumer, tech, and mission-driven brands. Comparable in size, integrated service offering, and client mix of mid-market and purpose-led organizations.
• JPA Health: Independent health-focused communications and marketing agency. Comparable in working with healthcare and public health clients (e.g., Howard Brown Health) on integrated awareness campaigns.
• BerlinRosen: Progressive, mission-driven communications and public affairs agency serving advocacy, nonprofit, and corporate clients. Closely comparable to Hauswirth in values-driven positioning and integrated campaign work.
• Allen & Gerritsen: Integrated marketing and creative agency. Comparable in full-service campaign, paid media, and creative capabilities serving mid-market and consumer clients.
• Resolute Digital: Independent digital marketing and communications agency. Comparable in offering paid media, influencer, and digital campaign execution for mission-driven and consumer clients.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Global communications marketing firm operating across PR, advertising, and digital. Broader incumbent serving similar purpose-led and CPG clients with vastly larger scale and geographic reach.
• Hill & Knowlton Strategies: Global public relations and communications agency. Broader incumbent offering overlapping integrated communications and public affairs services to enterprise and government clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Hauswirth