HUMAN

What HUMAN does

HUMAN (legally The HUMAN Story Inc.) is a New York-headquartered, Emmy-nominated storytelling and strategy agency founded in 2012 that creates media for social impact. The firm operates through three interconnected sub-brands: HUMAN_agency™ (an impact-driven creative studio serving brands, movements, and institutions), HUMAN_stories™ (an original content division producing cinematic nonfiction documentaries, shorts, and episodic series), and all HUMANS™ (a political campaign arm focused on voter mobilization and civic engagement). HUMAN's named client roster spans Fortune 500 enterprises (Bristol Myers Squibb, Airbnb, Levi's, McKinsey), major philanthropic foundations (Gates Foundation, Obama Foundation), intergovernmental agencies (United Nations, World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, ICRC, INTERPOL, World Food Programme), leading nonprofits (Black Lives Matter, Malala Fund, ClientEarth, The Nature Conservancy), and multiple U.S. presidential and political campaigns (Bernie Sanders 2016/2020, Biden-Harris 2020, Harris-Walz 2024). The company maintains offices in New York, Amsterdam, and Santa Fe, with production reach across nearly 100 countries.

The company's core offering is its proprietary Narrative Design™ methodology, which combines strategic narrative architecture with cinematic production execution. Supporting service modules include HUMAN_intelligence (ethnographic research and cultural analysis consultancy), HUMAN_imagination (creative production), HUMAN_influence (audience engagement and distribution design), and HUMAN_impact (community-driven campaign and movement design). HUMAN has produced more than 1,000 films and campaigns, with cumulative audience engagement exceeding 1 billion; standout projects include the 50+ million-view TOGETHER campaign for Bernie Sanders 2016, the 48-hour-viral Rest in Power film for Black Lives Matter in 2020, and the LIVING documentary for Bristol Myers Squibb that premiered at SXSW in 2022.

HUMAN operates a project-based professional services revenue model with no publicly disclosed pricing; clients engage via dedicated email channels ([email protected], [email protected], [email protected]) or direct relationship. The firm is privately held, founder-led by Jonathan Olinger, and bootstrapped, with no disclosed institutional investment, funding rounds, or M&A activity in the source materials. Financials, including revenue and headcount, are not publicly disclosed, though the 11-50 employee band and enterprise client roster suggest an established but boutique creative firm. Distribution and demand generation rely on organic social channels, earned media coverage, the proprietary Journal, and an award-validated portfolio rather than paid acquisition.

Name

HUMAN

Legal name

The HUMAN Story Inc.

Website

https://human.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HUMAN is a New York-based, Emmy-nominated storytelling agency that crafts brand campaigns, documentaries, and political films for Fortune 500 companies, foundations, intergovernmental agencies, and nonprofits through its proprietary Narrative Design™ methodology and sub-brands HUMAN_agency™, HUMAN_stories™, and all HUMANS™.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Storytelling and Brand Strategy Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Social & Digital Insights (Social Listening, Online Community Research) (MPAAALAK)

Keywords

• Storytelling agency
• Creative strategy services
• Documentary production
• Impact campaign design
• Brand narrative consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Storytelling Agency Services: Full-service storytelling agency providing brand and campaign strategy, documentary and multimedia production, messaging architecture, visual identity, and experiential storytelling for enterprise clients, foundations, NGOs, and brands.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HUMAN is a full-service storytelling and strategy agency that designs and produces brand campaigns, documentaries, multimedia content, and movement communications for organizations seeking purpose-driven impact. Its work spans brand and narrative strategy, ethnographic research via HUMAN_intelligence, campaign design and rollout, documentary and film production under HUMAN_stories, and political and civic engagement campaigns under all HUMANS, all unified by its proprietary Narrative Design™ methodology.

Product overview

HUMAN is an Emmy-nominated storytelling company organized as a platform of interconnected service offerings rather than a single software product. The company operates through three primary sub-brands: HUMAN_agency™ (an impact-driven creative studio for brand and campaign storytelling), HUMAN_stories™ (an original content division producing documentaries, shorts, and episodic series), and all HUMANS™ (a political campaign arm). These are supported by proprietary methodologies including Narrative Design™ and specialized service capabilities in research/intelligence (HUMAN_intelligence), production (HUMAN_imagination), audience/distribution (HUMAN_influence), and impact design (HUMAN_impact). The company crafts stories across film, campaigns, strategy, and immersive experiences for clients including foundations, nonprofits, intergovernmental agencies, and Fortune 500 companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• all HUMANS™: A sub-brand of HUMAN focused on political campaign work and civic engagement initiatives.

Products and services

• HUMAN_agency™ Full-service creative studio arm of HUMAN that partners with brands, movements, and institutions to craft brand and campaign storytelling, design effective campaigns, and produce high-quality film, photography, and multimedia content. Offerings span brand and narrative strategy, campaign design and rollout, messaging architecture, visual identity, movement communications, and digital and experiential content for Fortune 500 companies, foundations, NGOs, and political campaigns.
• HUMAN_stories™ Original content division of HUMAN that develops and produces cinematic, socially resonant nonfiction including independent documentaries, shorts, and episodic series exploring the human condition and forces shaping the world. Currently developing projects including a six-part docuseries on psychedelic science, a frontline advocate docuseries, and a character-driven war feature, with films shot across nearly one-third of the world's countries and reaching over 10 million viewers on major platforms.
• all HUMANS™ Political campaign and civic engagement arm of HUMAN dedicated to narrative-driven voter mobilization. Has produced cultural campaigns including #WithLove, #allpeople, #VoteUnited, Ride to the Polls, The Native Vote, and The Exonerated Five for U.S. political campaigns and social movements, with work cited as significantly outperforming traditional campaign ads in engagement per view.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 million views for the TOGETHER Bernie Sanders campaign, named 'Ad of the Week' by The New York Times, making it potentially the most-viewed ad of the 2016 election cycle
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Harris Walz 2024 Presidential CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024HUMAN created 'The Exonerated Five' short film featuring the Central Park Five for the Harris-Walz 2024 campaign, released the night of the first presidential debate. Filmed in collaboration with Ava DuVernay, the film resonated widely and was later amplified with paid support by the campaign.
• Biden Harris 2020 CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020HUMAN's sub-brand 'all humans' created '#VoteUnited' — a campaign film targeting Millennials to mobilize votes for Biden and Harris. The campaign featured raw unscripted voter interviews and was distributed organically through social media.
• Protect the Sacred / HarnesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020HUMAN partnered with Protect the Sacred and Harness to document 'Ride to the Polls' — a campaign following Diné riders carrying horse medicine to polls during the 2020 election. The film amplified Native voices and was featured in The Guardian.
• United NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN was commissioned by the UN to create a seven-part film series for the 2015 Sustainable Development Summit — 'The Story You Are Shaping' — premiered in the General Assembly Hall and later at COP21 Paris. The company continues to work with various UN agencies including UNDP, UN Foundation, and UN Department of Global Communications on campaigns and documentaries.
• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN has produced multiple campaigns for the World Bank including 'Foundations for the Future' and 'Partnership for Economic Inclusion,' creating films and visual content supporting the bank's development initiatives and messaging.
• Obama FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN partners with the Obama Foundation on storytelling and campaign initiatives that advance the foundation's civic engagement and leadership development mission.
• Gates FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN collaborates with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on narrative-driven campaigns that support the foundation's work in global health, development, and policy advancement.
• INTERPOLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN created the 'Unity for Security' campaign for INTERPOL, producing cinematic visual content supporting INTERPOL's global law enforcement communications and public awareness initiatives.
• Black Lives MattercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN worked with civil rights leaders and Black creatives to produce the 'Rest in Power, Beautiful' film for the official Black Lives Matter organization following George Floyd's death. The film went viral within 48 hours.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN produced 'Together We Find a Way' for The Nature Conservancy — a cinematic campaign exploring conservation and human resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
• Malala FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN partners with Malala Fund on storytelling campaigns that amplify girls' education advocacy and advance the organization's mission through emotionally resonant media.
• Harvard UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN collaborates with Harvard University on educational storytelling initiatives and research-aligned narrative projects.
• ClientEarthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN partners with ClientEarth on environmental legal advocacy storytelling, creating narrative content that supports the organization's campaigns for environmental justice.
• Pencils of PromiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN created the 'I Promise You' campaign for Pencils of Promise, supporting the organization's education initiatives in underserved communities through storytelling.
• Bristol Myers SquibbcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN partnered with Bristol Myers Squibb to create LIVING — a groundbreaking documentary and photography campaign that redefined patient storytelling. The documentary premiered at SXSW and internally to 30,000 BMS employees. The partnership earned BMS and HUMAN a Top Agency Award for ESG in 2023.
• Bernie Sanders CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN created the 'TOGETHER' viral campaign film for Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, which received 50+ million views and was named 'Ad of the Week' by NYT. Also produced the 'TOGETHER | 2020' campaign for Sanders' 2020 run.
• World Food ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN partners with the UN World Food Programme on humanitarian storytelling campaigns that raise awareness for food security and the organization's global operations.
• ForAfrikaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN partners with ForAfrika (formerly Africa Foundation) on storytelling campaigns supporting community development and conservation initiatives across Africa.
• ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN collaborates with ICRC on humanitarian narrative content supporting the organization's global humanitarian operations and protection mandate.
• Barack Obama Presidential LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN partners with the Barack Obama Presidential Library on narrative and archival storytelling initiatives connected to the former president's legacy and foundation work.
• MeToo MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUMAN partnered with the MeToo movement on storytelling campaigns that amplify awareness of sexual harassment and assault survivors' experiences, supporting movement communications.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mekanism: Mekanism is a creative agency known for emotionally-driven brand storytelling and purpose-led campaigns for enterprise clients. Comparable to HUMAN in blending cinematic storytelling craft with social impact and brand strategy work.
• Anomaly: Anomaly is an independent creative agency that develops campaigns, brand platforms, and content for major global brands. Comparable to HUMAN in combining brand strategy, creative storytelling, and unconventional campaign work for Fortune 500 clients.
• Red Antler: Red Antler is a branding and creative agency that builds brand narratives, identities, and launch campaigns for mission-driven and high-growth companies. Comparable to HUMAN in combining strategic brand narrative design with cinematic creative execution.
• Mother: Mother is an independent creative agency producing culturally resonant campaigns for major brands across multiple geographies. Comparable to HUMAN in operating as an independent, creatively-led agency with a strong cultural and storytelling orientation.
• Purpose: Purpose is a public-purpose creative agency that builds campaigns, content, and brand strategies for social impact, including work with the UN, foundations, and movements. Directly comparable to HUMAN in combining strategic narrative design with movement-building and impact storytelling.

Broad incumbents

• 72andSunny: 72andSunny is a larger creative agency producing brand campaigns and cultural storytelling for major global brands. Comparable in storytelling and purpose-driven work but with significantly more scale and global footprint than HUMAN.
• Edelman: Edelman is a global communications and PR firm with a dedicated creative, brand, and purpose practice serving foundations, NGOs, and Fortune 500 clients. Comparable to HUMAN in serving mission-driven and corporate clients with purpose-led narrative and campaign work at much greater scale.
• Wieden+Kennedy: Wieden+Kennedy is a large independent creative agency known for iconic brand storytelling and purpose-led campaigns for global brands. Comparable in storytelling craft and cultural impact orientation but with materially larger scale and resource base.
• Droga5: Droga5 is an Accenture-owned creative agency producing award-winning brand campaigns and platform work for major enterprises. Comparable in cinematic, narrative-driven creative work but with substantially larger scale, holding-company backing, and global reach.

Emerging players

• Participant: Participant is a media company producing socially impactful films, series, and content for global distribution. Comparable to HUMAN_stories in producing documentary and nonfiction content tied to social impact themes, though at a much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/thehumanstory
• Facebookfacebook.com/thehumanstory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/9380577
• Instagraminstagram.com/thehumanstory
• Xx.com/the_human_story

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 HUMAN