What Ground Media does

Ground Media is a privately held professional services firm founded in 2016 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., with additional offices in New York and Copenhagen. The company specializes in research-backed storytelling for purpose-driven organizations — including nonprofits, foundations, Fortune 100 brands, and political campaigns. Its core product is StoryHeat, a proprietary research and analytics platform that combines survey-based message testing with narrative strategy evaluation, built by PhD scientists and creative strategists. The platform deconstructs narrative components — core values, emotional drivers, messaging frameworks — and provides audience-segmented results, including targeting the 'winnable middle,' with insights delivered in as little as 48 hours.

Ground Media operates a full-service agency model, bundling research, narrative strategy, and video/content production into a single engagement. The firm has executed campaigns for organizations including GLAAD, Disney, Johnson & Johnson, National Geographic, NRDC, and the American Clean Power Association, with documented outcomes such as 6x benchmark persuasion rates, 250M+ media impressions, and attitude shifts of +4.7% to +7.5% on targeted measures. Revenue is generated through quote-based professional services engagements, with pricing not publicly disclosed. The firm has no disclosed funding rounds, is founder-controlled (David Rochkind, CEO), and operates at a small headcount of 1-10 employees.

The company's go-to-market motion is consultative enterprise field sales, targeting decision-makers at nonprofits, advocacy groups, corporations, and political campaigns. Distribution channels include the company website, LinkedIn, Vimeo portfolio, and industry event participation. In 2024, Ground Media extended its methodology through a partnership with Swayable for RCT-based voter persuasion research, won four Anthem Awards for the 'Here We Are' campaign with GLAAD, and opened a Copenhagen office to serve European markets.

Name

Ground Media

Legal name

Ground Media LLC

Website

https://ground.media

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ground Media is a Washington, D.C.-based research-driven storytelling agency that uses its proprietary StoryHeat platform to develop and test narrative campaigns for nonprofits, foundations, Fortune 100 brands, and political campaigns seeking measurable audience impact.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Communications Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO) (MPADADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social & Digital Insights (Social Listening, Online Community Research) (MPAAALAK), Social Issue & Advocacy Documentaries (MPADADAG)

Keywords

• Research-backed storytelling
• Narrative strategy services
• Campaign message testing
• Purpose-driven communications
• Video production agency

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Storytelling Services: Full-service research-backed storytelling campaigns combining narrative strategy development, message testing via StoryHeat platform, and video/content production. Clients include purpose-driven organizations, brands, nonprofits, and political campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ground Media creates research-backed storytelling campaigns for purpose-driven organizations, combining proprietary narrative research via its StoryHeat platform with strategic messaging development and full-service video/content production. The firm sells integrated campaign engagements that validate messaging through rapid audience testing before production and deliver quantifiable persuasion outcomes for nonprofits, brands, foundations, and political campaigns.

Product overview

Ground Media operates as a unified storytelling agency combining proprietary research technology with creative production services. Their core product is the StoryHeat platform—a testing and analytics platform that uncovers high-impact campaign strategies through audience research and rapid survey testing. This platform is complemented by full-service video production and narrative strategy consulting, all integrated into a single process from research to campaign execution. The company specializes in purpose-driven storytelling for brands, causes, and political campaigns, using data-driven insights to craft content that drives measurable audience impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• StoryHeat: A cutting-edge research and analytics platform that evaluates campaign messaging through strategic storytelling, testing narrative strategies and providing insights for maximum audience impact in as little as 48 hours

Products and services

• StoryHeat A proprietary research and analytics platform that tests campaign messaging through rapid surveys and narrative strategy evaluation. Built by PhD scientists and creative strategists, it deconstructs and tests every aspect of narrative strategy including core values, emotional drivers, and audience segmentation to maximize campaign impact within 48 hours. Used by Ground Media as part of its campaign engagements for nonprofits, brands, and political campaigns.
• Video Production Services Full-service video and documentary production for brands, causes, and campaigns, including campaign films, brand videos, animated explainers, and social media content. Delivered as part of integrated storytelling engagements for purpose-driven organizations.
• Narrative Strategy Services Research-backed storytelling strategy development including audience segmentation, message testing, value framing, and campaign narrative design. Sold as part of integrated campaign engagements to purpose-driven organizations seeking measurable impact from their communications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Campaigns persuade audiences at 6x industry benchmark
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SwayablecoreTechnology or Integration · 13 August 2024Ground Media partners with Swayable for the Election '24: Stories That Win research series. Swayable provides Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) survey methodology to test campaign messaging effectiveness. This partnership enables Ground Media to deliver quantifiable voter persuasion data and analysis, combining Swayable's testing infrastructure with Ground Media's strategic storytelling expertise.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Swayable: RCT-based message testing platform that measures persuasion and audience response to advertising and content. Swayable is both Ground Media's technology partner on Election '24 and a direct competitor offering similar research-backed messaging analytics.
• Blue State: Digital agency serving nonprofits, political campaigns, and brands with fundraising, advocacy, and creative services. Comparable in purpose-driven client focus, integrated strategy+creative model, and use of data to drive campaign outcomes.
• Purpose: Creative and strategy agency that builds campaigns and movements for progressive brands, foundations, and nonprofits. Comparable focus on research-driven narrative strategy, measurable social impact, and Fortune 500 / foundation clients.
• Rescue: The Behavior Change Agency, applying research and creative to public health, sustainability, and social-issue campaigns. Comparable in behavior-change methodology, academic-research underpinnings, and outcome measurement frameworks.
• Rad Campaign: Cause marketing and fundraising agency for nonprofits and progressive organizations. Comparable client base, advocacy campaign focus, and integrated digital/creative delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Participant Media: Impact-driven entertainment company producing documentary and narrative content tied to social issues. Comparable in using documentary/storytelling formats to drive measurable social-impact outcomes for NGOs and purpose-driven partners.
• Burson: Global communications and public affairs firm with significant purpose, climate, and public-sector practices. Comparable in serving purpose-driven brands and advocacy organizations at scale.
• Edelman: Largest global PR firm with deep purpose, climate, and health practices serving many of the same Fortune 500 and nonprofit clients as Ground Media. Comparable in issue-led campaign work but vastly broader scope.
• Hill+Knowlton Strategies: Global public relations and communications firm with purpose, sustainability, and health practices. Comparable client overlap (Fortune 500, NGOs) and campaign execution capability, though operating as a much broader portfolio of services.

Emerging players

• dna Communications: Purpose-driven communications consultancy working with brands, nonprofits, and foundations on social impact storytelling. Comparable focus on research-backed narrative strategy for ESG and advocacy clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/groundmedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/groundstory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ground-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Ground Media