What Berlin does

Berlin is an independent, owner-operated full-service creative agency headquartered in the Birks Building in downtown Edmonton, Alberta. Founded in 2012 by Justin Archer and Michael Brechtel (Archer had launched a solo public relations consultancy in 2011), the firm operates as a closely-held partnership currently led by four partners: Michael Brechtel (Managing Partner), Justin Archer, Willie Lee, and Michael Walters. The firm rebranded from Berlin Communications to simply Berlin and runs five integrated service lines — advertising campaign development, branding and design, interactive and digital experiences, media communications and public relations, and strategy consulting — delivered to clients across healthcare, energy, real estate, food and beverage, government, forestry, and community sectors. Its commercial model is professional services: project-based engagements with likely retainer overlays, quote-based pricing, and direct-to-client acquisition via inbound inquiries ([email protected]) and referrals rather than a channel or reseller network.

The business is fundamentally a people-led creative services firm, not a technology platform — the firm explicitly states 'Not applicable' as its core technology, offers no proprietary products, API, or software, and its core 'platform' is the multidisciplinary bench of roughly 15-20 staff including creative direction, account services, production, public affairs, and design. Berlin monetizes through billable creative and communications work, with documented client outcomes including +25% increase in mammogram screenings for the Alberta Society of Radiologists, home sales doubling for Strata Developments' Ardrossan campaign, +31% sales lift for Sea Change Brewing's Non-to-Five collection, and policy change (Alberta's Health Minister lowering the recommended breast cancer screening age by five years) — outcomes that the agency leverages in sales conversations and award submissions.

Berlin's go-to-market is sales-led and reputation-led: a polished website and portfolio (berlin.ca), an active Instagram presence, LinkedIn, Vimeo case study videos, and earned media from industry recognition. The firm has accumulated significant award equity, including Best in Show at both the 2024 Advertising Club of Edmonton ACE Awards and the 2024 Calgary Anvil Awards, 17 trophies at the 2024 ACE Awards (its best-ever showing), a 2022 international CommArts Award, and back-to-back Strategy Magazine Small Agency of the Year finalist status as the only Alberta agency to achieve that recognition. It is geographically concentrated in Alberta with no disclosed international footprint, and it operates with no external institutional capital, no parent company, and no subsidiaries.

Name

Berlin

Legal name

Berlin

Website

https://berlin.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Berlin is an independent, owner-operated full-service creative agency in Edmonton, Alberta, offering advertising, branding, digital, public relations, and strategy services to enterprise, government, and nonprofit clients across Alberta.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advertising & Marketing Services

NAICS

Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD)

Keywords

• Creative advertising
• Brand design
• Digital marketing
• Public relations
• Media strategy

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Creative and Communications Services: Berlin generates revenue through providing integrated advertising and communications services to clients. Services include advertising campaigns, branding and design, interactive and digital experiences, media relations, public relations, and strategic consulting. Work is project-based and retainer arrangements likely exist for ongoing client relationships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Berlin is an independent, full-service creative agency based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It sells integrated advertising, branding and design, interactive and digital, media/communications and PR, and strategy services to client organizations. The agency combines creative, digital, media, and strategic disciplines under one roof for organizations seeking marketing and brand communications support.

Product overview

Berlin is an independent full-service ideas agency offering a unified portfolio of creative services. The agency provides five integrated service lines: Advertising Campaign Services, Branding + Design Services, Interactive + Digital Services, Media/Communications + Public Relations, and Strategy Services. These services work together as a comprehensive creative offering rather than as standalone products—enabling Berlin to deliver end-to-end campaigns from brand development through digital execution and media relations. The agency serves diverse clients across healthcare, real estate, food & beverage, energy, government, and nonprofit sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advertising
• Branding + Design
• Interactive + Digital
• Media/Comms + PR
• Strategy

Quantifiable outcome

• +25% increase in mammogram screenings for Alberta Society of Radiologists
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Overhaul MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partner for the Love Alberta Forests virtual forest tour project, contributing to the international award-winning interactive experience.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• lg2: Quebec-based independent creative agency with offices in Toronto and New York. Comparable to Berlin as a Canadian independent creative agency with strong creative credentials and integrated service offerings.
• No Fixed Address: Toronto-based independent creative agency offering advertising, branding, and digital services. Comparable to Berlin as another Canadian independent agency competing in the mid-market and enterprise creative space.
• Zulu Alpha Kilo: Toronto-based independent creative agency known for unconventional creative and multiple Agency of the Year wins. Most direct Canadian independent peer to Berlin in terms of size, creative reputation, and integrated full-service offerings.
• Rethink: Vancouver/Montreal/Toronto independent creative agency with strong award pedigree and integrated campaign capabilities. Closely comparable to Berlin in operating model as an independent, creatively-led Canadian agency.
• Juniper Park\TBWA: Toronto-based independent creative agency within the TBWA network, known for award-winning creative campaigns. Highly comparable to Berlin as a mid-sized Canadian creative agency with strong award recognition.

Broad incumbents

• DDB Canada: Canadian arm of global DDB network offering full-service creative, advertising, and digital services across multiple offices. Comparable to Berlin in service breadth but operates as broader incumbent with international network resources.
• TAXI (MacLaren McCann): Canadian creative agency with strong heritage and broad service offerings including advertising, branding, and digital. Comparable to Berlin in service offerings but operates as part of larger network with greater geographic reach.
• Cossette: One of Canada's largest full-service creative and communications agencies offering advertising, branding, digital, PR, and media. Comparable to Berlin in service breadth but operates at much larger scale across multiple Canadian markets.

Regional players

• Calder Bateman: Edmonton-based full-service creative agency and Berlin co-founder Justin Archer's former employer. Directly comparable as an Alberta-headquartered full-service creative agency competing in the same local market.
• Arrival Design + Interactive: Edmonton-based creative and digital agency offering branding, web design, and marketing services. Comparable to Berlin as a competing Edmonton-headquartered creative agency serving the Alberta market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berlin-comm
• Instagraminstagram.com/berlin_comm
• Facebookfacebook.com/BerlinAdPR

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 Berlin