What Haymaker does

Haymaker is a U.S.-based professional services firm founded in 2014 by Connor Patterson and Helen Steinhauser. The firm operates as an agency alternative that integrates technology, marketing, event production, data/analytics, media, and creative strategy under a single team drawn primarily from the live events industry. Its six marketed practice areas cover Technology (ticketing, database, event technology, web/app development, beacon, AR/VR), Start-Ups (fundraising, launch, product roadmap, sales team build-out, go-to-market, team scaling), Live Events (production, design, site surveys, CAD, operations, vendor management, hospitality), Model & Analytics (revenue/growth modeling, data management, user segmentation), Media (media buys, PR, media partnerships, TV rights negotiation), and Creative Strategy (brand creation, brand strategy, asset creation, brand audits).

The firm's commercial model is the "All IN Model," in which Haymaker shares in the economic impact of client projects rather than billing on a traditional fee-for-service basis, creating cost-efficient alignment between the firm and its clients. Go-to-market is referral-driven through a network of clients, partners, advisors, entrepreneurs, and investors, with the founders maintaining LinkedIn presence as the primary public-facing channel. The October 2020 posting for a Head of Growth / New Business & Client Strategy role on a contract basis — with an explicit path to full-time and partner/equity status — indicates the firm is formalizing its business-development function beyond founder-led origination.

Haymaker's disclosed client base spans enterprise sports properties (2015 and 2016 U.S. Women's Open, 24 Hours of Lemons), community events (Light Up Lancaster), and growth-stage startups (The Wheel, GigWorx), with a documented outcome of 4x growth for GigWorx through a platform pivot and go-to-market engagement. The firm is privately held and founder-owned, with no disclosed external funding rounds, institutional investors, or parent company; revenue, headcount, and contract values are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Haymaker

Legal name

Haymaker

Website

https://haymakermade.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Haymaker is a U.S.-based professional services firm founded in 2014 that integrates technology, marketing, event production, analytics, media, and creative strategy for live-events clients, startups, and growth-stage companies under a shared-economics partnership model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Services & Digital Transformation Consulting

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Technical Production Management & Crew (MPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Digital transformation services
• Event production services
• Marketing consulting services
• Agency alternative services
• Creative strategy services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Professional Services: Haymaker partners with clients to share in the economic impact of projects, creating an aligned business model where both parties benefit from successful project outcomes. The company provides technology, marketing, event production, and creative services on a project basis with cost-efficient and aligned economics.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Haymaker is a professional services firm that partners with clients on digital growth and transformation projects across six practice areas: Technology, Start-Ups, Live Events, Model & Analytics, Media, and Creative Strategy. The firm operates as an agency alternative using an "All IN Model" with shared economic alignment with clients, providing integrated technology, marketing, event production, and creative services on a project basis. Work is delivered by a team of technologists, marketers, event producers, designers, and digital leaders sourced from the live events industry.

Product overview

Haymaker is a professional services firm, not a software product company. It offers integrated consulting services across six practice areas: Technology (Ticketing, Database, Event Technology, Web/App Development, Beacon Technology, AR/VR), Start-Ups (Fundraising, Launch, Product Roadmap, Sales Team Launch, Go-To-Market, Team Scaling), Live Events (Event Production, Design, Site Surveys, CAD, Ops, Vendor Management, Hospitality), Model & Analytics (Revenue/Growth Modeling, Data Management, User Segmentation), Media (Media Buys, PR, Media Partnerships, TV Rights Negotiation), and Creative Strategy (Brand Creation, Brand Strategy, Asset Creation, Brand Audits). The company operates on an 'All IN' partnership model, sharing economic impact with clients rather than charging traditional fees. No distinct named software products, modules, or platforms were identified in the source material.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technology Services Project-based technology services covering ticketing systems, database management, event technology, custom web and application development, beacon technology, and AR/VR capabilities, delivered to clients across the live events and sports industries.
• Start-Ups Services End-to-end support for startups covering fundraising, launch execution, product roadmap development, sales team launch, go-to-market strategy, and team scaling, designed for founders with limited resources for full agency engagements.
• Live Events Services Full-service live event production offering including event production, design, site surveys, CAD, operations, vendor management, and hospitality, delivered to enterprise, mid-market, and community event clients.
• Model & Analytics Services Data and analytics services covering revenue and growth modeling, data management, and user segmentation to support client decision-making and growth planning.
• Media Services Media services spanning media buys, PR, media partnerships, and TV rights negotiation to support client visibility and audience growth.
• Creative Strategy Services Creative strategy services covering brand creation, brand strategy, asset creation, and brand audits to support client positioning and integrated marketing execution.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4x growth achieved for GigWorx through platform pivot and Go-To-Market plan
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• MKG: MKG is an experiential marketing and creative agency blending brand experiences, digital campaigns, and content. Comparable to Haymaker because both deliver event-driven, integrated creative engagements rather than pure media buying or pure event production.
• MAS Event Design: MAS Event Design is a creative event production and experience design firm producing corporate events, brand activations, and large-scale live experiences. Comparable to Haymaker's event production, design, and vendor management capabilities for mid-market and enterprise clients.
• Sparks: Sparks is a hybrid experiential marketing and digital agency that combines live event production with brand experience, digital, and creative strategy. It is the closest analog to Haymaker's integrated tech + live events + creative offering for enterprise and sports clients.
• AMP Agency: AMP Agency is a full-service marketing agency specializing in experiential, sports, and entertainment marketing. Directly comparable to Haymaker because both serve sports properties and event-driven clients with integrated creative + digital + event capabilities.
• AgencyEA: AgencyEA is an event production and creative agency producing large-scale brand experiences, conferences, and live events. Directly comparable to Haymaker on the live events + creative strategy axis and on serving enterprise brand and association clients.
• Tinsel Experiential: Tinsel Experiential is a boutique experiential agency producing live events, brand activations, and creative campaigns. Comparable to Haymaker as a similarly sized hybrid agency combining creative, events, and digital services for brand clients.

Broad incumbents

• R/GA: R/GA is a global digital transformation and innovation agency under IPG spanning technology, brand, and experience design. Compares to Haymaker on the digital growth, GTM, and technology implementation side, though at vastly greater scale and with deeper tech platform capabilities.
• Jack Morton Brand Experience: Jack Morton is a global brand experience agency within the IPG network producing experiential marketing, events, and branded content. Overlaps with Haymaker's live events and creative work but operates at much larger scale and with broader geographic reach.
• George P. Johnson Experience Marketing: George P. Johnson is a large experiential marketing agency producing brand experiences, trade shows, and live events globally. Compares to Haymaker on the live events and brand activation side but with a significantly broader service portfolio and enterprise footprint.

Emerging players

• Mekanism: Mekanism is an independent creative agency blending brand storytelling, content production, and integrated marketing. Comparable to Haymaker on the creative strategy + media + integrated campaigns axis but with less live events focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Haymaker