Brandstories

What Brandstories does

Brandstories SRL is a Milan-headquartered, privately held entertainment-first studio founded in 2015 and operating under the direction and coordination of parent company THIS IS IDEAL S.r.l. pursuant to Article 2497 of the Italian Civil Code. The company works with brands and publishers to build narrative worlds and branded content objects across multiple media, applying a proprietary entertainment-grammar methodology (seriality, characters, conflict, narrative universe) to brand communication rather than producing conventional advertising. The studio's service portfolio spans 25+ named offerings including branded podcasts, webseries, documentaries, theatrical performances, storyshows, periodical magazines, TV formats, mockumentaries, vodcasts, brand journalism, integrated impact reports, and live event content - delivered across broadcast (RAI), streaming (Spotify, RaiPlay Sound, YouTube), digital/social, print, and live channels.

The business operates a project-based professional services model with two offices (Milan HQ at Via Palermo 1 and Turin at Via Giuseppe Pomba 1) and a small creative team. Pricing is contact-based and not publicly disclosed; each engagement is scoped and quoted individually. Customer base is enterprise-focused, comprising roughly 30 named marquee clients across luxury (LVMH, Loro Piana), beauty (L'Oréal), beverage (Nespresso, Zonin, Lavazza), broadcasting (RAI), telecommunications (Fastweb, TIM, Intred), energy (Saipem), insurance (Reale Mutua, Reale Group, Generali), automotive (Alfa Romeo), healthcare (Ab medica), publishing (Feltrinelli Education, Corriere della Sera, Wired Italia), retail (Iper, Il Viaggiator Goloso), and government (CCIAA Milano, YES Milano, ISPRA, MIMIT). Distribution is reinforced through flagship strategic partnerships with RAI Kids (ON ARI: 83 episodes), Corriere della Sera (Impact Innovators Board), Lavazza (Nuvola Lavazza events), and OBE (Italian Branded Content Observatory). The firm does not disclose revenue, has no external funding rounds, and operates exclusively in Italy.

Go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, combining direct outreach to large brand marketing and internal communications buyers with industry-event presence at BC&E Festival ADC Group, FEIEA, and MERIT Awards - where recent wins include three 2024 BC&E golds (Sustainability Grand Prix, Video, Best Company for Nespresso Battutine), a 2023 MERIT Impact on Society award, and a 2017 FEIEA European Grand Prix (TIM Carpool Jobs). The studio also convenes multi-brand coalitions (e.g., Have a Nice DEI and PARI), positioning itself as a coalition-builder and IP/format originator rather than a traditional agency of record.

Name

Brandstories

Legal name

Brandstories SRL

Website

https://brandstories.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brandstories is a Milan-based entertainment-first studio that creates branded entertainment (podcasts, webseries, documentaries, theatrical performances, TV formats, live events) for large Italian and international enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Branded Entertainment Services

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Marketing & Branded Content Agencies (MPAAAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ), Social & Digital-First Branded Content (Short-Form, Influencer, UGC-Style) (MPADAEAB)

Keywords

• Branded entertainment
• Branded content production
• Narrative strategy
• Corporate podcast production
• Content studio services

Headquarters

HQ city

Milano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Branded Entertainment & Content Production: Full-service entertainment studio creating branded content, podcasts, webseries, documentaries, short films, magazines, and events for enterprise clients. Projects span strategy, production, and distribution.
2. Format Licensing & IP Development: Creation of reusable narrative formats and intellectual properties that can evolve and expand across multiple projects and platforms over time.
3. Event Production & Management: Live events, storyshows, talks, and conferences with scientific direction and branded entertainment elements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Brandstories is an entertainment-first creative studio that partners with brands and publishers to build narrative worlds and produce branded content objects across multiple media. The studio provides end-to-end services spanning strategy, storytelling, format/IP development, production, and distribution, delivering branded podcasts, webseries, documentaries, TV formats, magazines, theatrical performances, social experiments, talks, and live events for enterprise clients.

Product overview

Brandstories is an entertainment-first studio operating as a single unified creative offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company works with brands and publishers to build narrative worlds and branded content across multiple media. The core service encompasses five interconnected pillars: Strategy (finding cultural friction and story angles), Narrations (using entertainment rules as communication grammar), Format (creating IP designed to last, evolve, and expand), Production (overseeing the entire production process), and Distribution (integrating publishers, broadcasters, digital platforms, and physical environments from the start). The portfolio of named service offerings includes: Branded Podcasts, Webseries, Documentaries, Storyshows and Events, Periodical Magazines, TV Formats, Social Experiments, Talks, People Engagement, Brand Journalism, Integrated Budget and Impact Reports, Territorial Marketing, Multimedia Platforms, Publishing, Scientific Direction and Event Content, Theatrical Performances, Vodcasts, Mockumentaries, Multi-brand Projects, Art for Brand, Communication for Social Impact, Internal Communication and Employer Branding, Digital Branded Entertainment, and DE&I Projects. The common thread across all offerings is branded entertainment and narrative-driven content creation, where every project is conceived as a narrative ecosystem — a cultural asset capable of generating value over time.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Entertainment Studio Services End-to-end branded entertainment studio services for brands and publishers covering strategy, storytelling/narrations, format development, production, and integrated distribution across TV, digital, podcasts, print, and live events.
• Branded Podcasts Audio narrative series where brands become voices and tell stories, creating intimate and authentic relationships with listeners. Distributed via Spotify, RaiPlay Sound, and other major audio streaming platforms.
• Webseries Digital-first video series designed for web distribution, representing an evolution of TV series with greater experimentation opportunities for branded storytelling.
• Documentaries Video reports using journalistic language to tell brand initiatives in a precise and authentic tone for corporate clients.
• TV Formats

Quantifiable outcome

• Alfa Romeo MiTo project achieved over 1.1 million views, over 2 million people reached, and over 7,700 interactions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• THIS IS IDEAL S.r.l.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHIS IS IDEAL is the parent company exercising directional coordination (attività di direzione e coordinamento ex Art. 2497 cc) over Brandstories SRL. Stefano Capraro (CEO of THIS IS IDEAL) serves on Brandstories team. THIS IS IDEAL is an integrated communication group encompassing multiple agencies.
• RAI KidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partnership with RAI Kids for ON ARI TV format - 83-episode AI-themed children's entertainment show on Rai2, Rai Gulp, and RaiPlay. RAI provides broadcast distribution while Brandstories handles production and creative development.
• Corriere della SeraflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEditorial partnership for Impact Innovators Board brand journalism project with Reale Group. Corriere della Sera provides editorial oversight, journalism expertise, and multi-platform distribution including Corriere TV, Corriere Nazionale, Corriere Torino, and social properties. Unique journalism-branded content hybrid model.
• LavazzaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creation of The Evolution of Taste event at Lavazza Cloud (Nuvola Lavazza) in Turin. Strategic partnership for Food & Beverage branded entertainment. Lavazza provides venue and co-branding while Brandstories provides scientific direction and event production.
• OBE (Osservatorio per il Branded Content)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOBE is the Italian Observatory for Branded Content. Partnership for industry events including BC&E Festival and multiple branded entertainment projects. OBE provides industry credibility and awards recognition for projects.
• ISPRA (Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment research institute partnership for RAIPLAY SOUND Tandem podcast on circular economy. ISPRA provides institutional credibility and content expertise on environmental topics for the sustainability podcast series.
• MIMIT (Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian Ministry partnership for Tandem podcast on circular economy. MIMIT provides government backing and Made in Italy focus for the sustainability narrative project.
• Sala GiochiminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction collaborator for ON ARI TV format. Sala Giochi contributes to production execution alongside Brandstories.
• Don't MovieminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction collaborator for ON ARI TV format. Don't Movie contributes to production execution alongside Brandstories.
• Radio 105minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedia partner for Alfa Romeo MiTo #SoloCongliAmici webseries. Radio 105 provides broadcast promotion and integrated initiatives alongside Brandstories digital distribution.
• Wired ItaliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBranded content partnership for Intred Connected to Tomorrow project. Wired Italia provides editorial credibility and audience reach for the business talk content.
• Nic BellominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative collaborator (Media Meda/'Iena') for Nespresso Battutine social experiment and Loro Piana theatrical performance. Nic Bello brings host personality and execution expertise to branded content projects.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• We Are Social: We Are Social is a global socially-led creative agency producing branded content, social campaigns, and entertainment for major brands. Overlaps with Brandstories on branded content creation and social-first formats, but offers broader digital and social marketing services at network scale.
• Dentsu Creative: Dentsu Creative is the global creative network of Dentsu International offering integrated advertising, branded entertainment, and content production for major brands. Comparable as a player in branded content and entertainment storytelling, but operates at global network scale with much broader service portfolio than Brandstories' specialized niche.
• Publicis Production: Publicis Production is the production arm of Publicis Groupe offering branded content, film production, and post-production services globally. Comparable as a branded content production provider for enterprise clients, but bundled within a global advertising network rather than operating as a boutique entertainment studio.
• Fremantle: Fremantle is a global entertainment company producing TV formats, branded content, and digital entertainment. Comparable on TV format development (Brandstories' ON ARI for RAI) and branded entertainment production, but operates as a major global content company rather than a boutique Italian studio.

Direct peers

• Pulse Films: Pulse Films is a London-based integrated content studio producing branded entertainment, documentaries, and commercial films for global brands. Directly comparable to Brandstories as a boutique creative studio operating in the entertainment-first branded content space with multi-format output (film, episodic, music).
• Stink Studios: Stink Studios is a global creative studio producing branded films, interactive content, and immersive experiences for brands. Highly comparable business model as a project-based branded entertainment studio serving enterprise clients across multiple formats with end-to-end production capabilities.
• Tool of North America: Tool is a US-based commercial production and branded content company producing commercials, branded films, and entertainment content for agencies and brands. Comparable as a boutique production house specializing in narrative-driven branded content for enterprise clients.
• Gravity Road: Gravity Road is a London-based creative agency producing branded entertainment, podcasts, and content for brands. Directly comparable as a boutique entertainment-first studio serving enterprise clients with narrative-driven branded content across audio, video, and live formats.
• RSA Films: RSA Films is a global commercial and branded content production company with offices across multiple geographies. Comparable as a branded entertainment production house serving enterprise brands with narrative content, though at significantly larger scale than Brandstories.

Others

• Hogarth Worldwide: Hogarth is the global content production company of WPP offering advertising production, branded content, and adaptation services. Adjacent to Brandstories through branded content production, but positioned as a global production services partner rather than a creative entertainment studio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/brandstoriesita
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/10297494
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearebrandstories

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Brandstories