Here Be Dragons

What Here Be Dragons does

Here Be Dragons is an independent, full-service creative agency founded in 2019 by advertising veterans Eric Dunn (Co-Founder & Executive Director) and Ken Hall (Co-Founder & Executive Creative Director), headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm offers an integrated service stack spanning Strategy, Creative, Brand, Production, and Media — including brand identity design, campaign development, digital experiences, film/video/photography production, animation, motion design, media integration consulting, and AI Development as a production capability. Its operating model is anchored by a proprietary 'Creative Collaboration' methodology, an egoless process designed to break down traditional agency-client silos and accelerate creative development by bringing stakeholders together early and often.

The agency generates revenue through project-based professional-services fees on integrated marketing engagements, engaging clients through direct B2B relationship building rather than via intermediaries. Its named client portfolio includes enterprise and Fortune 500 brands across hospitality (Hard Rock, Palms, Ritz-Carlton LA Live, Wynn), insurance (USAA), technology (Facebook/Meta, Smule), wine (19 Crimes, Decoy), beverage (Beautiful Drinks), cryptocurrency (Okcoin), ticketing (StubHub), and entertainment (Improv). Documented campaign outcomes include StubHub's Ticket Oak work helping capture 60% share of the $5B secondary ticket market (Advertising Week Hall of Fame), 19 Crimes' 153M impressions and 101% sales lift, and Aero's 5.6x ROAS.

Here Be Dragons operates as a privately held, founder-led partnership with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or parent-company relationship. The firm runs lean, with approximately 7 employees per firmographic data, flexing production capacity via project-based contractor networks typical of small creative shops. There are no public financial disclosures, no operating geographies or office locations listed beyond its San Francisco base, and no documented M&A, leadership, or restructuring activity in the supplied data.

Name

Here Be Dragons

Legal name

Here Be Dragons

Website

https://hbdagency.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Here Be Dragons is an independent, full-service creative agency founded in 2019 by industry veterans, offering strategy, creative, brand, production, and media services to enterprise and Fortune 500 brands across hospitality, technology, finance, beverage, and entertainment categories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative and Advertising Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Packaging & Brand Identity Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAN)

Keywords

• Creative agency services
• Brand advertising
• Marketing strategy
• Campaign development
• Brand identity design

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Creative Agency Services: Full-service creative agency offering strategy, creative, brand identity, production, and media services to enterprise clients. Revenue generated through project-based fees, campaign development contracts, and ongoing client engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Here Be Dragons is a full-service creative agency that delivers integrated branding and marketing services to enterprise and Fortune 500 clients. The agency offers five core service pillars—Strategy, Creative, Brand, Production, and Media—delivered through a proprietary Creative Collaboration™ process that breaks down traditional agency-client silos for more efficient creative development.

Product overview

Here Be Dragons is a full-service creative agency offering integrated branding and marketing services. The agency operates as a unified service offering rather than a software product, providing Strategy, Creative, Brand, Production, and Media services. Their approach centers on a proprietary Creative Collaboration methodology that breaks down traditional agency-client silos for integrated, efficient, and accelerated creative development. They partner with iconic brands on launch, growth, storytelling, consumer connection, voice definition, and brand transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategy Services Strategic brand consulting covering brand strategy, campaign planning, social strategy, content strategy, communications planning, and marketing ecosystems development for enterprise clients.
• Creative Services Full creative capabilities including brand advertising, integrated campaigns, content creation, social media creative, digital design, design systems, and experiential marketing for enterprise brands.
• Brand Services Brand identity design and refresh, digital experiences, and packaging design services for clients seeking to define or redefine their brand identity.
• Production Services Film and video production, photography, business affairs, AI development, digital and social content production, animation, illustration, and motion design services.
• Media Services Integration consulting, added value ideation, measurement, and analytics services to support media planning and campaign performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• StubHub campaign drove double-digit growth and 60% share of $5B secondary ticket market
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• R/GA: R/GA is a globally scaled creative and experience agency offering strategy, brand, design, and production. It overlaps with Here Be Dragons in integrated creative and production services but operates at significantly larger scale within the IPG network.
• Wieden+Kennedy: Wieden+Kennedy is the archetypal large independent creative agency, serving Fortune 500 brands with integrated, award-winning campaigns globally. It is the high-end reference point for what an independent creative shop can become, rather than a direct size-matched competitor.

Direct peers

• GUT: GUT is an independent, creatively driven agency network serving global brands across advertising, brand, and production. Its independent creative positioning and integrated offering align with Here Be Dragons' go-to-market.
• Joan Creative: Joan Creative is an independent creative agency producing integrated campaigns for major consumer brands. It is comparable as a smaller, independent creative competitor pursuing enterprise work similar to Here Be Dragons' roster.
• Anomaly: Anomaly is an independent creative agency offering strategy, creative, brand identity, design, and production for major global brands. Like Here Be Dragons, it positions itself as a full-service alternative to holding-company agencies without the overhead.
• 72andSunny: 72andSunny is an independent creative agency that partners with iconic global brands on integrated campaigns, brand storytelling, and cultural work. Its positioning and scope closely mirror Here Be Dragons' full-service creative model.
• Droga5: Droga5 is an independent creative agency known for iconic, award-winning campaigns for Fortune 500 brands. It is directly comparable as a creatively led, independent alternative to network agencies with deep enterprise client rosters.
• Mother: Mother is an independent creative agency known for culturally resonant, award-winning work for major brands. It is comparable to Here Be Dragons as an independent shop that competes on creative quality against holding-company networks.
• The Martin Agency: The Martin Agency is an independent creative agency producing integrated campaigns for major U.S. brands across categories including hospitality, financial services, and consumer goods. It is comparable as an independent full-service creative competitor.
• Mekanism: Mekanism is an independent creative agency offering integrated brand, advertising, and content production for major consumer brands. Its independent, full-service creative model and enterprise client base are highly comparable to Here Be Dragons.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/here-be-dragons

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 Here Be Dragons