PlusNarrative
PlusNarrative is a Johannesburg-based, founder-owned digital studio founded in 2013 that delivers end-to-end design, development, and AI-related services — including AEO consulting and rapid prototyping workshops — to enterprise clients across Africa, the Middle East, and select global markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PlusNarrative does
PlusNarrative is a privately held, full-service digital studio headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, founded in 2013 on a people-first design philosophy. The firm operates as an integrated digital partner for enterprise clients, delivering end-to-end services across four pillars: Business Growth & Innovation, Brand Experience & Design, Digital Product Development, and Emerging Technology (including AI, 3D/VR/AR and automation). Its delivery model embeds PlusNarrative teams inside client marketing and technology functions rather than operating as a transactional vendor, supporting multi-year engagements such as the MTN Developer Portal (since 2019), the MTN Skills Academy Progressive Web App, and the MTN Vivid WordPress design system deployed across MTN's African and Middle East operating countries.
The underlying technology stack spans full-stack web and mobile — React, Next.js, Node.js, React Native, Expo, WordPress, Laravel, Strapi, Contentful, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, Qdrant, deployed on Azure and AWS — augmented by proprietary methodologies such as the AI-assisted Lightning Product Workshop (a 2-hour rapid-prototyping framework) and custom design systems. PlusNarrative does not expose a public API of its own; its platform work is delivered on behalf of clients (notably the MTN MAD API marketplace).
The business model is professional services: project-based, custom-priced enterprise engagements, supplemented by two newer productized offerings — the AI Advertising Playbook and tiered Ask Engine Optimisation (AEO) services (AI Ready, AI Competitive, AI Dominant, Enterprise), plus a fixed-scope Lightning Workshop MVP package. Customer segments span enterprise (MTN, SPAR, Side, Alu-Cab, Naritive Global), SMEs and challenger brands (AI Ready tier), mid-market brands (AI Competitive tier), and non-profit/healthcare (KidzAlive/Zoë-Life). Distribution is direct sales through website enquiry forms and workshop/AI audit booking systems, with content marketing via the AI Playbook and thought-leadership articles driving top-of-funnel demand.
PlusNarrative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PlusNarrative
- Legal name
- PlusNarrative
- Website
- https://plusnarrative.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PlusNarrative is a Johannesburg-based, founder-owned digital studio founded in 2013 that delivers end-to-end design, development, and AI-related services — including AEO consulting and rapid prototyping workshops — to enterprise clients across Africa, the Middle East, and select global markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PlusNarrative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Agency Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Other Computer Related Services (541519)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Integration, API & Middleware Consulting (BPAHAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- AI Application Enablement Platforms (Copilot/Agent Frameworks, SDKs) (HDAEANAJ)
Keywords
Where PlusNarrative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johannesburg
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
PlusNarrative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Enterprise Digital Services: End-to-end digital services for enterprises including strategy, design, development, and emerging technology implementation. Project-based engagements with custom pricing based on scope and complexity.
- Workshop Services: AI-powered Lightning Product Workshop offering MVP package deliverable in 2 hours. Fixed-duration engagement with clear deliverables including alignment workshop, prototype, and Figma file.
- AI Advertising Services: Tiered AI advertising services (AI Ready, AI Competitive, AI Dominant, Enterprise) with different engagement durations from 4-6 weeks to 6-12 months, targeting brands seeking AI visibility optimization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | AI Ready - 4-6 weeks engagement for SMEs and challenger brands |
| Other | Multi-year contract | AI Competitive - 3-4+ months for mid-market brands |
| Other | Multi-year contract | AI Dominant - 6-12 months for enterprise clients |
| Other | Quote-based | Enterprise - Custom tailor-made solution |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | MVP Package - 2-hour Lightning Workshop |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
PlusNarrative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PlusNarrative is a full-service digital studio that delivers end-to-end digital services for enterprises across four pillars: Business Growth & Innovation, Brand Experience & Design, Digital Product Development, and Emerging Technology. The company builds custom web apps, mobile apps, design systems, and AI-driven products for clients such as MTN, SPAR, KidzAlive/Zoë-Life, Side, Alu-Cab, and Naritive Global. It also offers an AI-powered Lightning Product Workshop that converts ideas into testable prototypes in 2 hours, plus tiered Ask Engine Optimisation (AEO) services for AI-search visibility.
Product overview
PlusNarrative is a digital agency offering end-to-end digital services for enterprises, structured around four core service pillars: Business Growth & Innovation, Brand Experience & Design, Digital Product Development, and Emerging Technology. Their portfolio includes an AI Advertising Playbook 2026 (covering Ask Engine Optimisation services across three tiers: AI Ready, AI Competitive, and AI Dominant), and a Lightning Product Workshop (an AI-powered 2-hour rapid prototyping workshop). The company operates across remote workshops since 2018 and serves clients including MTN, SPAR, KidzAlive/Zoë-Life, Side (formerly Pole to Win), Alu-Cab, and Naritive.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Business Growth & Innovation Strategic services including audience insights, digital transformation advisory, growth strategy, workshop facilitation, and CX strategy designed to architect business models for scaling. Targeted at enterprise clients seeking strategic direction.
- Brand Experience & Design Brand narrative, communications strategy, brand identity and design systems, UX strategy, UI design, go-to-market strategy, prototype validation, and campaign creation for enterprise customers building differentiated brands.
- Digital Product Development Custom web and mobile app development, enterprise systems, tailored eCommerce solutions, QA and technical performance, and usability testing for enterprise clients.
- Emerging Technology AI-enabled tools, 3D/VR/AR experiences, experimental platforms, R&D and proof-of-concept creation, and business process/omnichannel optimisation. Targeted at enterprises adopting next-generation technology.
- Lightning Product Workshop An AI-powered 2-hour workshop that transforms ideas into testable concept prototypes, including a 30-minute alignment workshop, digital whiteboard document, and interactive Figma prototype. Targeted at product, innovation, and strategy teams.
- AI Advertising / Ask Engine Optimisation (AEO) Services Tiered AI advertising and AEO services (AI Ready, AI Competitive, AI Dominant, Enterprise) that optimise brand visibility across AI chatbots, voice assistants, and generative search engines, with engagement durations from 4-6 weeks to 6-12 months. Targeted at SMEs through enterprise market leaders.
Quantifiable outcome
- 83% user growth on MTN Developer Portal in 2024
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use PlusNarrative
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PlusNarrative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability3 records
Feature3 records
PlusNarrative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Hunt-Lascaris TBWAcoreSPAR's marketing agency that provided imagery, copy, and branding elements for SPAR2U mobile app project. PlusNarrative partnered with the agency for digital product design.
- MTN Platforms (Chenosis, Bayobab, MoMo)coreMTN's platform divisions involved in API development portal project. PlusNarrative has been developing MAD API with MTN since 2019.
- DotdotdashminorDesign agency that created the corporate identity for Side (formerly Pole to Win) which PlusNarrative used as basis for website design.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PlusNarrative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Liquid (South Africa): South Africa-headquartered digital consultancy and product studio with capabilities spanning custom software, design and AI. Closest same-region peer facing the same MTN/Spar-class enterprise buyer base in Africa.
Direct peers
- Globant: Global digital and cognitive transformation studio delivering custom software, AI and emerging-tech product development for enterprises. Directly comparable to PlusNarrative's four-pillar model of strategy, design, engineering and emerging tech for enterprise clients.
- Huge: Digital experience agency offering strategy, design and product engineering for enterprise brands. Comparable on the same end-to-end custom digital product work PlusNarrative performs for clients like MTN, SPAR and Alu-Cab.
- Ustwo: Digital product studio building apps, platforms and experiences for established brands, with strong emphasis on rapid prototyping and design systems. Overlaps with PlusNarrative's Lightning Product Workshop and modular UI design system work (Alu-Cab).
- Dept Agency: Global digital agency combining creativity, engineering and emerging technology to deliver end-to-end digital products for brands. Direct peer across PlusNarrative's service pillars.
- Code and Theory: Digital product and design agency building platforms and brand experiences for enterprises across publishing, commerce and tech. Comparable to PlusNarrative on integrated strategy, design and engineering.
- Bounteous: Digital experience company delivering strategy, design, engineering and AI-enabled solutions to enterprise clients. Mirrors PlusNarrative's four service pillars including AI/emerging tech consulting.
- Thoughtworks: Technology consultancy that designs, builds and runs custom digital products and platforms for enterprises. Overlaps with PlusNarrative on custom web/mobile development, design systems, and emerging tech (AI/AR) consulting engagements.
- R/GA: Digital product and experience agency that blends brand, design and engineering to build connected products and platforms. Mirrors PlusNarrative's integrated approach across Brand Experience & Design and Digital Product Development.
- Work & Co: Digital product studio focused on designing and engineering custom digital products for global brands. Direct peer in custom product build, brand experience and design system work similar to MTN Vivid.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PlusNarrative social profiles
Digital presencePlusNarrative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PlusNarrative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
PlusNarrative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PlusNarrative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PlusNarrative
What does PlusNarrative do?
PlusNarrative is a full-service digital studio that delivers end-to-end digital services for enterprises across four pillars: Business Growth & Innovation, Brand Experience & Design, Digital Product Development, and Emerging Technology. The company builds custom web apps, mobile apps, design systems, and AI-driven products for clients such as MTN, SPAR, KidzAlive/Zoë-Life, Side, Alu-Cab, and Naritive Global. It also offers an AI-powered Lightning Product Workshop that converts ideas into testable prototypes in 2 hours, plus tiered Ask Engine Optimisation (AEO) services for AI-search visibility.
Is PlusNarrative a public or private company?
PlusNarrative is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was PlusNarrative founded?
PlusNarrative was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PlusNarrative based?
PlusNarrative is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does PlusNarrative make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Enterprise Digital Services are the primary driver. The others are workshop Services and AI Advertising Services.
Who are PlusNarrative's main competitors?
Liquid (South Africa) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Globant, Huge, Ustwo, Dept Agency, Code and Theory, Bounteous, Thoughtworks, R/GA and Work & Co.
Does PlusNarrative have an API?
No public API is recorded for PlusNarrative.
What industry is PlusNarrative in?
PlusNarrative's product category is Digital Agency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAEAJ, Integration, API & Middleware Consulting, with a secondary code of HDAEANAJ, AI Application Enablement Platforms (Copilot/Agent Frameworks, SDKs). Its NAICS code is 541512 and its SIC code is 7371.