PaperTelevision

What PaperTelevision does

PaperTelevision (Papertelevision LLC) is a boutique digital agency founded in 2012 by Josh Sears and based in Ohio (Dayton/Cincinnati). The firm operates with a team of 1–10 employees and delivers an integrated service stack spanning UX/UI design, branding, web development, film and video production, and AI integration. It serves a diversified client base that includes household-name consumer brands, universities, and nonprofits — notably Notre Dame, Whirlpool, and the Tony Hawk Foundation — with media coverage extending to TechCrunch, ABC News, the Today Show, and Wired. Go-to-market is conducted through direct sales, referrals, and case studies rather than a scaled sales motion.

Beyond agency services, PaperTelevision has built and commercialized a portfolio of proprietary software products: PathPro (a SaaS application), MapifySamurai (a WordPress-based AI plugin), and a la pup (an e-commerce product). The firm has also developed client-owned platforms including GreenlightGO, a marketplace positioned as 'Airbnb for film production,' and Fiduciary In A Box, a financial-services tool. This dual structure — services front-end paired with a products back-end — indicates an attempt to shift from billable hours toward recurring software revenue, though the revenue weighting between services and products is not disclosed.

PaperTelevision is bootstrapped and has not raised external capital. Revenue is generated through project-based agency engagements, software/SaaS monetization (PathPro, MapifySamurai), e-commerce (a la pup), and client-owned platform development. The combination of marquee client logos, 12+ years of operating history, and zero outside capital positions the firm as a small-scale, brand-led, founder-driven operator rather than a venture-backed growth business.

Name

PaperTelevision

Legal name

Papertelevision LLC

Website

https://papertelevision.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PaperTelevision is a bootstrapped boutique digital agency in Ohio providing UX/UI, branding, web development, video production, and AI integration services, while also developing and commercializing proprietary software products including PathPro, MapifySamurai, a la pup, and GreenlightGO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Web Design & Development Services

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital & Programmatic Media Buying (Display, Video, CTV, Audio) (BPAFABAB)

Keywords

• Web design services
• Software development
• UX/UI design
• SaaS platforms
• WordPress development

Headquarters

HQ city

Milford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Web & App Design Services: UX/UI design, branding, iOS/Android app design, and software prototyping delivered as project-based professional services to external clients ranging from scrappy startups to industry giants.
2. Software Development Services: Full-stack development services including Ruby on Rails, e-commerce platforms, SaaS platforms, and AI implementations, billed as project engagements.
3. Film Production & Video Services: Creation of promotional videos including viral reels, TikTok, YouTube shorts, commercials, Kickstarter videos, and product showcases for clients.
4. Proprietary SaaS Products: Internal product development including PathPro (SaaS feedback/project management platform) and MapifySamurai (WordPress AI mapping plugin), generating recurring subscription revenue.
5. E-commerce (a la pup): Direct-to-consumer e-commerce sale of breed-based, high-end dog decor products throughalapup.com.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PaperTelevision is a full-service digital design and development agency that helps businesses conceptualize, design, build, and launch websites, mobile apps, e-commerce stores, and SaaS platforms. Services include UX/UI and branding, software prototyping, Ruby on Rails and WordPress development, AI integrations, and promotional film/video production, delivered as project-based engagements for clients ranging from startups to industry giants. The firm also develops and sells proprietary products: PathPro (SaaS feedback and project management), MapifySamurai (AI-powered WordPress mapping plugin), and a la pup (breed-based dog decor e-commerce).

Product overview

PaperTelevision is a full-service design and development agency offering both client services and proprietary software products. Their core services include UX/UI design, branding, software prototyping, web development, AI implementation, and WordPress development. Their proprietary product portfolio includes: Fiduciary In A Box (compliance automation platform for employee benefits), GreenlightGO (film production studio marketplace), PathPro (feedback and project management SaaS), MapifySamurai (AI-powered WordPress mapping plugin), and a la pup (dog decor e-commerce brand). The company serves clients from startups to industry giants since 2012.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PathPro: SaaS platform combining feedback collection tools and project management into a single solution to grow products.
• MapifySamurai
• a la pup

Products and services

• PathPro

Quantifiable outcome

• GreenlightGO (Papertelevision client) achieved $1.5M in sales in year 1 and $5.5M after 3 years; filled 16,000 production days across hundreds of studios.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Huge Inc. Digital experience agency offering strategy, design, marketing, and engineering. Overlaps with PaperTelevision's UX/UI, branding, and full-stack capabilities, with a comparable 'concept-to-launch' value proposition.
• MetaLab: Design and product agency building apps, brands, and software products for leading tech companies. Directly comparable in combining design + dev services with productized offerings, similar in size and positioning to PaperTelevision.
• R/GA: Full-service digital agency combining strategy, design, technology, and content for enterprise clients. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary design + dev + film studio serving industry giants like PaperTelevision's marquee FIAB and GreenlightGO projects.
• Instrument: Independent creative and engineering studio partnering with brands on digital products and brand systems, sharing the brand-design + engineering + product-build profile PaperTelevision markets.
• ustwo: Digital product studio designing and building apps, platforms, and brands for clients, with internal products like ustwo Studios publishing apps. Directly comparable mix of client services and proprietary digital products to PaperTelevision's PathPro and a la pup.
• Big Spaceship: Digital agency focused on design, technology, and storytelling, including promotional video and branded digital experiences — closely tracks PaperTelevision's combination of UI/UX, web development, and film/video production.
• Codex (former Teehan+Lax studio): Design + engineering studio specializing in digital product design and WordPress/editorial platforms for publishers — closely overlaps PaperTelevision's WordPress and Shopify expertise and small-team model.
• Work & Co: Boutique digital product studio designing and engineering websites, apps, and brand experiences for global brands — directly comparable service offering (UX/UI + full-stack dev + branding) at a similar premium positioning to PaperTelevision's 'cradle-to-grave' model.

Broad incumbents

• Frog (frog design): Global design and innovation consultancy within a larger holding structure; broader incumbent offering strategy, design, and engineering across many categories — overlaps heavily with PaperTelevision's integrated design+tech practice.

Regional players

• Coopermine / The Cooper Carry Co. Boutique design studios of similar size based in the Midwest/Ohio region serving SMB to mid-market clients — comparable in scale and geographic concentration to PaperTelevision's Midwest positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PaperTelevisionLLC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/papertelevision-llc
• Xx.com/joshsears

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 PaperTelevision