The Cohorts

What The Cohorts does

The Cohorts is a New Zealand-based digital agency founded in 2000 by Reuben and Miriama Reid and operating from Auckland and Tauranga. The firm delivers end-to-end digital services across digital strategy, brand strategy, bespoke product development, security and infrastructure, digital marketing, and ongoing support. Its client base spans corporate enterprises, SMEs, startups, national associations, and education-technology companies across New Zealand, Australia, and select international markets. Notable engagements include the NZ Dental Association, Future Finance, Higgins, Rothbury Insurance, Stephen Hill Motors, Pitango, Harbor Global, Ovation New Zealand, and the Mātātuhi Foundation; the firm also built the Schrole SaaS recruitment platform, which was acquired by TES Global for NZD 18.5 million.

The technical stack relies on CRAFT CMS, AWS-dedicated infrastructure with shared uptime monitoring and security patching, and bespoke integrations with third-party systems including Salesforce, MotorCentral, TypeForm, and client CRMs and BI platforms. Service delivery blends project-based fees (for website design, corporate extranets, and app builds) with monthly retainers for ongoing support, security monitoring, and platform maintenance, structured as flexible ad-hoc engagements or recurring subscriptions.

The Cohorts operates as a founder-owned independent agency with no disclosed institutional investment, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. With a small core team of approximately 8-10 senior digital veterans (each carrying 20+ years of multinational agency experience from London, Hong Kong, and New Zealand), the firm augments capacity through a curated network of external collaborators for specialised projects. Recognition includes Red Dot Design Awards, Webby Awards, 10 Best Awards, and an IADAS associate membership held by design consultant Piri Tukere.

Name

The Cohorts

Legal name

The Cohorts

Website

https://thecohorts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cohorts is a New Zealand digital agency founded in 2000 by Reuben and Miriama Reid, offering web development, brand strategy, bespoke product builds, security infrastructure, and digital marketing to corporate, SME, startup, and nonprofit clients across New Zealand and select international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Agency Services: Revenue generated from digital strategy, brand strategy, product development, security & infrastructure, digital marketing, and ongoing support services. Services are offered as ad-hoc support to monthly retainers, providing flexibility for clients.
2. Website Design & Development: One-time project-based fees for website design, development, and corporate extranet solutions with robust CMS platforms
3. Ongoing Support & Maintenance: Monthly retainer arrangements for continuous digital support, security monitoring, and platform maintenance

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Cohorts is a digital agency that designs, develops, and supports bespoke digital products (websites, web apps, mobile apps, and corporate platforms) for clients in New Zealand and internationally. Their service portfolio spans Digital Strategy, Brand Strategy, Product Development, Security & Infrastructure, Digital Marketing, and On-going Support, delivered as project-based engagements and monthly retainer arrangements. The agency serves multi-national corporations, manufacturing exporters, national associations, and startups.

Product overview

The Cohorts is a digital agency offering a portfolio of service-based offerings rather than a unified software product. Their core services include Digital Strategy, Brand Strategy, Product Development, Security & Infrastructure, Digital Marketing, and On-going Support. These services work together to deliver end-to-end digital solutions for clients, from initial strategy and brand development through to digital product build, deployment, and ongoing maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Strategy Strategic planning services that help businesses define digital goals and create roadmaps aligned with business objectives for lasting ROI, including cross-platform digital territory navigation and content with intention.
• Brand Strategy Brand development, refresh, and strategy services creating cohesion across every customer engagement touchpoint, from design and digital assets through to broader communications.
• Product Development Design, development, and support of bespoke digital products from ideation through prototyping, testing, and ongoing support, including websites, web apps, mobile apps, and corporate platforms.
• Security & Infrastructure Digital security and infrastructure services using AWS with dedicated servers, uptime monitoring, and regular security and application patches.
• Digital Marketing Digital marketing services including search engine marketing, social promotion, conversion optimization, and analytics to generate traffic, leads, and sales.
• On-going Support Continued website support and maintenance offered as ad-hoc support or monthly retainer packages for ongoing digital support, security monitoring, and platform maintenance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sales more than doubling for HouseMe since website launch
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Unsworth ShepherdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing creative partners and collaborators on brand strategy, marketing, and design projects. Regular engagement where The Cohorts brings digital expertise while Unsworth Shepherd provides creative direction. Multiple joint client projects including NZDA, Pitango, Approach Signs, Furnz, Q Wines, and others.
• Marvel ExperiencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on digital components for NZOC Winter Olympics activation campaign, delivering competition microsite for ice block challenge.
• BandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal brand agency that developed new positioning and digital design for Stephen Hill Motors project.
• BrandspankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvertising agency collaboration on Memsabi project where The Cohorts delivered the website solution for the client's digital marketing campaign.
• pHd3minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Sistema website project bringing brand new website to life for international market.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Accenture Song: Global experience and technology services arm of Accenture competing for end-to-end digital, brand and product engagements. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping design, build and marketing capabilities serving multinational clients.
• Deloitte Digital: Global consulting firm's digital arm offering strategy, design and technology at scale. Comparable as a much larger incumbent competing for the same enterprise digital transformation mandates that The Cohorts targets.

Direct peers

• Rush Digital: Auckland-based digital agency specialising in bespoke digital products, apps and connected experiences. Comparable for its bespoke product development capability and NZ enterprise client roster.
• Alt Group: Auckland-based design agency specialising in brand, digital, and environmental design with multiple NZ design awards. Comparable for its award-winning design pedigree and NZ enterprise client focus.
• Flight Digital: NZ/AU digital agency offering web development, e-commerce and digital marketing services. Comparable for serving mid-market and enterprise clients with project + retainer commercial models.
• DSi (formerly DNA Design): Auckland-based digital agency delivering web, mobile and digital strategy for NZ enterprise clients. Comparable as a mid-sized NZ digital services firm competing for similar corporate mandates.
• Luminary: Australia-based digital agency offering web development, e-commerce and digital strategy. Comparable as a regional (ANZ) competitor with similar service offerings and enterprise customer base.
• Springload: Wellington-based digital agency offering strategy, design, and custom web/app development for NZ enterprises and government. Comparable in size and service mix to The Cohorts, with similar bespoke development and design-led approach.
• Resn: New Zealand-based creative digital studio known for award-winning bespoke websites and digital experiences for global brands. Closely comparable as a boutique NZ design-led agency serving enterprise clients with custom interactive work.
• Trigger (formerly known as Gladeye/Colenso BBDO digital arm): Auckland digital agency focused on web, mobile and digital product engineering. Comparable for its bespoke development work and serving NZ and international clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thecohortsnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thecohortsnz
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecohortsnz
• Xx.com/the_cohorts_nz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 The Cohorts