MakeReign
MakeReign is a Cape Town-headquartered strategic design agency delivering embedded UX/UI, branding, product-marketing, and motion-design teams to startups, scale-ups, and enterprises across Africa, Europe, and beyond, with offices in Cape Town, Amsterdam, and Dublin.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNewlands, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What MakeReign does
MakeReign (legal entity MakeReign® Inc., incorporated in the USA) is a strategic design partner founded in 2016 and headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, with additional offices in Amsterdam (established October 2025) and Dublin. The firm operates across brand, product, and marketing, providing UX/UI design, research, branding, native applications, eCommerce, website experiences, and motion/content services for startups, scale-ups, and enterprises.
The agency's service model is built on an embedded Team-as-a-Service structure: specialist pods covering UX research, product design, interaction/motion design, validation/testing, and product/project management are integrated into client teams via project-based work, team augmentation (1 to 8+ member teams), ongoing time-and-materials partnerships, design-thinking workshops, and Product Vision / MVP development (including equity-partnership and co-founder collaboration options). Its "Intentional Design Methodology" and two-week sprint delivery framework codify a research-driven, user-validated process that has yielded documented client outcomes (75%–139% conversion-rate lifts on Basecamp Accommodation, 120% conversion-rate lift on RHO Business Banking, 50M Nigerians reached on Trophy Stout, R500M+ raised by MakeReign-launched startups). Pricing is disclosed publicly in tiers from a R150,000 minimum entry project to R1,000,000+ multi-year enterprise engagements.
MakeReign monetizes through professional-services revenue across multiple streams (project services, team augmentation, brand/product marketing) with a sales-led enterprise GTM. Credibility is anchored by 100+ industry awards including three consecutive Loerie Top Ten Agency by Size recognitions (2020–2022), a Gold Loerie, multiple Bookmark and Awwwwards wins, and a client roster spanning Woolworths, Vodacom, Sanlam Indie, Pineapple Insurance, RHO, Bettr, Basecamp Accommodation, REW, Flash Mobile, Trophy Stout, and Shelflife. The firm has no disclosed institutional funding, no revenue disclosure, and remains privately held under founder/principal leadership (Matt Thompson, Justin Engel, Luke Engel), with recent expansions into brand and product marketing (Aug 2024), the SA Startup Club partnership (Mar 2025), and the Okalpha acquisition / Amsterdam expansion (Oct 2025).
MakeReign firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MakeReign
- Legal name
- MakeReign® Inc.
- Website
- https://makereign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MakeReign is a Cape Town-headquartered strategic design agency delivering embedded UX/UI, branding, product-marketing, and motion-design teams to startups, scale-ups, and enterprises across Africa, Europe, and beyond, with offices in Cape Town, Amsterdam, and Dublin.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MakeReign industry classification
Industry- Product category
- UX/UI Digital Design Services
- NAICS
- Graphic Design Services (54143), Graphic Design Services (541430), Industrial Design Services (541420)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Packaging & Product Brand Design (BPAFAEAG)
Keywords
Where MakeReign is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newlands
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
MakeReign business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Project-based Services: Flexible engagement models including project-based work, team augmentation, ongoing partnerships, and design thinking workshops. Time-and-materials collaboration with budget flexibility options including fixed monthly budgets and variable based on hours/materials.
- Team Augmentation: Integrate specialized talent into client teams with various team sizes from solo expert to larger teams of 8+ members, covering UX Strategy & Research, UX & UI Design, Interaction & Motion Design, Validation & Testing, Product and Project Management
- Brand and Product Marketing Services: Comprehensive brand and product marketing arm including branding services (Customer & Market Research, Brand Strategy, Narrative and Positioning, Visual Identity, Design & Motion Systems) and product marketing services (Integrated Marketing Strategy, Campaign & Communications Strategy, CRO, A/B testing, Creative Production)
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Entry-level projects starting at minimum value |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Mid-tier project scope |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Large-scale projects |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise and complex engagements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
MakeReign product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MakeReign is a strategic UX/UI digital design agency that delivers user-centered brand, product, and marketing design through embedded specialist teams. Its core offerings span Branding for Digital, Platforms and Services, Native Applications, Commerce Solutions, Website Experiences, and Content and Motion, supplemented by Team Augmentation, Ongoing Partnerships, Design Thinking Workshops, Product Vision & MVP Development, and Packaged Services.
Product overview
MakeReign is a strategic design partner for companies who want more than an agency. They work across brand, product, and marketing to help clients scale with speed and clarity. Their service portfolio includes Branding for Digital, Platforms and Services, Native Applications, Commerce Solutions, Website Experiences, and Content and Motion. They also offer Team Augmentation, Ongoing Partnerships, Design Thinking Workshops, Product Vision & MVP Development, and Packaged Services. The company operates on a Team-as-a-Service model providing dedicated teams that integrate quickly and adapt as clients grow, with expertise across user research, product design, visual design, and product management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Branding for Digital Crafting memorable brand identities for digital success, including customer & market research, brand strategy, narrative & positioning, messaging frameworks, naming & verbal branding, art direction & visual identity, and digital brand expression. Targeted at companies seeking to establish or refresh their brand for digital channels.
- Platforms and Services Delivering complex, hardworking platforms (web platforms) through user-friendly, intuitive solutions designed for scalability and performance. Targeted at organizations needing complex digital platforms.
- Native Applications Creating intuitive and engaging mobile applications for iOS and Android platforms. Targeted at organizations needing mobile-first native apps.
- Commerce Solutions eCommerce design solutions that boost conversions, fuel growth, and deliver impactful results for online retail businesses.
- Website Experiences Designing and building exceptional website experiences that inspire connection and engagement with brands.
- Content and Motion Elevating brands through captivating content, motion design, and storytelling across digital touchpoints. Targeted at brands seeking content-driven engagement.
- Team Augmentation Integrating specialized talent (UX Strategy & Research, UX & UI Design, Interaction & Motion Design, Validation & Testing, and Product and Project Management) into client teams of varying sizes (solo expert to 8+ members). Targeted at organizations needing to extend design capacity.
- Ongoing Partnerships Flexible, time-and-materials collaboration for continuous development, maintenance and support, iterative design and improvements, and consultation and strategy. Targeted at organizations seeking long-term design partnership.
- Design Thinking Workshops Transforming challenges into opportunities through design thinking workshops including intro to design thinking, deep dive into methods, problem-solving challenges, and team-building sessions. Available in-person, virtual/online, or hybrid.
- Product Vision & MVP Development Transforming early-stage ideas into actionable MVPs with co-founder collaboration, equity partnership, or hired expertise for MVP building. Targeted at founders and early-stage teams.
- Packaged Services Streamlined service packages including research packages and branding packages for cost-effective solutions. Targeted at smaller organizations seeking streamlined design solutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 75% increase in booking conversion rate for Basecamp Accommodation
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use MakeReign
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
MakeReign technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature3 records
MakeReign partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OkalphacoreMotion design studio founded by Grant Campbell (now Creative Technology Director at MakeReign). Okalpha will continue to operate under the MakeReign umbrella, strengthening the agency's offering across motion, film, and creative direction. Over his career, Grant has collaborated with global brands including Coca-Cola, Adidas, Toyota, GoDaddy, Pernod Ricard and Luno.
- SA Startup Club (SCZA)coreGroundbreaking partnership with South Africa's fastest-growing tech startup and investor community. Collaboration will develop a new platform specifically for the startup community, designed in collaboration with the community itself. MakeReign brings expertise in digital product design and user experience while SCZA provides its vibrant community of founders, investors, and enablers.
- Collinson (Priority Pass)minorMajor international engagement mentioned as part of MakeReign's momentum and expansion into European markets.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MakeReign competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- IDEO: IDEO is a pioneering global design and innovation consultancy covering brand, product, and service design. Overlaps with MakeReign's research-driven, multi-disciplinary design approach but operates as a much larger, established incumbent.
- Huge Inc: Huge is a large global digital agency offering strategy, design, marketing, and technology services. Comparable as a broader incumbent that competes for similar enterprise UX/UI and digital transformation engagements, but at significantly larger scale.
- Frog Design: Frog is a global design and innovation firm, now part of Capgemini Invent, offering product design, brand, and customer experience services. Direct overlap with MakeReign's research-driven product design practice for enterprise clients.
- Publicis Sapient: Publicis Sapient is a global digital transformation consultancy combining strategy, consulting, and technology. Competes for the same enterprise digital transformation and product design engagements as MakeReign's enterprise business unit.
- R/GA: R/GA is a global innovation and digital agency offering brand design, consulting, and technology services. Operates as a broad incumbent in the same digital creative and experience design category as MakeReign, with similar enterprise client base.
Direct peers
- ustwo: ustwo is a global digital product studio known for embedding multidisciplinary teams to design and build apps, platforms, and digital experiences. Directly comparable to MakeReign's Team-as-a-Service model and emphasis on research-driven product design.
- Work & Co: Work & Co is a digital product agency that designs and develops flagship digital products for leading brands. Comparable to MakeReign in delivering integrated brand-product-marketing outcomes for enterprise clients like Google, Nike, and Apple.
- Fantasy Interactive (Fi): Fantasy is a UX and digital product design firm serving Fortune 500 clients across web, mobile, and emerging platforms. Directly competes with MakeReign in the UX/UI specialist agency space with similar enterprise client focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MakeReign social profiles
Digital presenceMakeReign financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MakeReign leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
MakeReign subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
MakeReign funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MakeReign 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 MakeReign
What does MakeReign do?
MakeReign is a strategic UX/UI digital design agency that delivers user-centered brand, product, and marketing design through embedded specialist teams. Its core offerings span Branding for Digital, Platforms and Services, Native Applications, Commerce Solutions, Website Experiences, and Content and Motion, supplemented by Team Augmentation, Ongoing Partnerships, Design Thinking Workshops, Product Vision & MVP Development, and Packaged Services.
Is MakeReign a public or private company?
MakeReign is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was MakeReign founded?
MakeReign was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is MakeReign based?
MakeReign is headquartered in Newlands, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does MakeReign make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Project-based Services are the primary driver. The others are team Augmentation and brand and Product Marketing Services.
Who are MakeReign's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are IDEO, Huge Inc, Frog Design, Publicis Sapient and R/GA. Direct peers are ustwo, Work & Co and Fantasy Interactive (Fi).
Does MakeReign have an API?
No public API is recorded for MakeReign.
What industry is MakeReign in?
MakeReign's product category is UX/UI Digital Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAAAD, Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX), with a secondary code of BPAFAEAG, Packaging & Product Brand Design. Its NAICS code is 54143.