What Message does

Message is a Los Angeles-based, founder-led strategic communications and creative agency established in 2012. The firm is led by Steve Caplan, Founder and Principal Strategist, who brings over two decades of experience across public affairs, entertainment, and advertising, including prior leadership roles at GMMB and the Association of Independent Commercial Producers, and currently serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Southern California.

The agency offers an integrated suite of professional services across five core categories: Public Relations, Advertising, Digital and Social Media, Media Planning and Buying, and Crisis Communications. Underlying delivery relies on human expertise in strategy, creative development, media relations, and campaign execution; the firm has no proprietary technology platform, software product, or technical infrastructure described in available materials. Notable campaign work includes Comcast's Lift Zone pandemic-response initiative (presented at SXSW and awarded the SXSW People's Choice Award and Innovation Awards finalist status) and Sutter Health's Better Health East Bay philanthropic launch (Ad Age/Modern Healthcare Video Campaign of the Year), the latter executed in partnership with design studio Los York.

Commercially, Message operates as a private, independently held professional services firm with 1-10 employees, serving Fortune 500 enterprises, non-profits, and public sector clients through direct relationship-based engagement led by the founder. Revenue is generated via project-based campaigns and likely retainer arrangements consistent with agency industry norms; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The firm serves only the United States market, with no disclosed funding rounds, external investors, parent company, or M&A activity.

Name

Message

Legal name

Message

Website

https://messagela.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Message is a Los Angeles-based, founder-led strategic communications and creative agency serving Fortune 500 enterprises, non-profits, and public sector clients with integrated public relations, advertising, digital and social media, media planning and buying, and crisis communications services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Communications and Advertising Agency Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Public Relations Agencies (54182)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

PR, Corporate Communications & Crisis Management (BPAFAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crisis Communications & Issues Management (MPAAADAF), Crisis Communications Planning & Response (MPAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Strategic communications services
• Public relations agency
• Crisis communications
• Media planning buying
• Advertising agency

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications & Creative Services: Message generates revenue through providing professional communications services to enterprise and mid-market clients. Services include public relations, advertising, digital and social media management, media planning and buying, and crisis communications. Engagement models likely include project-based campaigns and retainer arrangements, consistent with agency industry norms.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Message is an award-winning strategic communications and creative agency providing integrated public relations, advertising, digital and social media management, media planning and buying, and crisis communications services to enterprise clients. The firm partners with Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and public sector organizations to shape public opinion, elevate executive influence, drive policy outcomes, and execute multi-channel campaigns spanning traditional and digital media.

Product overview

Message is an award-winning strategic communications agency offering a comprehensive suite of professional services. The company provides integrated Public Relations, Advertising, Digital & Social Media, Media Planning & Buying, and Crisis Communications services. These service offerings work together as a unified strategic offering, enabling clients to execute cohesive multi-channel campaigns that span traditional and digital media. The agency specializes in executive communications, creative development, advocacy and public affairs strategy, and leadership advisory services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations Services

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Los YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMessage partnered with design studio Los York alongside Comcast to develop and execute the Lift Zone experience for SXSW. The collaboration combined Message's strategic communications leadership with Los York's design expertise to create a 3D sculpture, immersive VR experience, and compelling short film for the initiative. This co-development partnership was central to the award-winning campaign.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Edelman is the world's largest independent PR firm with global integrated communications capabilities spanning PR, advertising, digital, and crisis. It competes with Message for Fortune 500 and public-affairs work, but operates at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Weber Shandwick: Weber Shandwick is a global communications agency offering integrated PR, social, advertising, and crisis services. It targets the same Fortune 500 clients and public-affairs/advocacy engagements that Message pursues, but with global scale and deep analytics.
• Burson (BCW): Burson is a major global public relations and communications firm offering integrated PR, public affairs, and crisis services. It competes with Message for enterprise reputation and crisis communications work at significantly larger scale.
• FleishmanHillard: FleishmanHillard is a large global PR and integrated communications agency with strong public-affairs and crisis practices. It competes with Message on enterprise reputation, advocacy, and crisis engagements.
• Ketchum: Ketchum is a global communications consultancy offering PR, brand marketing, and digital services. It overlaps with Message on integrated multi-channel campaigns for large enterprise and public-sector clients.
• Ogilvy PR: Ogilvy PR is a global integrated communications network offering PR, social, advertising, and brand strategy. It overlaps with Message on integrated multi-channel work for large enterprise clients.

Direct peers

• M Booth: M Booth is an independent integrated communications agency offering PR, social, and brand marketing. It is a comparable boutique-to-mid-size peer competing for similar consumer and enterprise brand storytelling work.
• GMMB: GMMB is a strategic communications, advertising, and public affairs agency — Steve Caplan's former employer. It is the most directly comparable peer given the shared focus on public affairs, advocacy, and Fortune 500/enterprise campaigns.
• BerlinRosen: BerlinRosen is a mid-sized strategic communications and PR agency with strong public affairs and advocacy practices. It is a comparable founder-led/specialist firm competing for similar enterprise and public-sector mandates.
• Resnicopy Sherman Partners (now part of Kepler Group): A boutique strategic communications and public affairs firm offering media relations, advocacy, and crisis services. Directly comparable to Message in size, founder-led model, and enterprise/public-sector client focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/messagela

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 Message