Shape Cleveland

What Shape Cleveland does

Shape Cleveland is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, founded in 2017 by Patrick Fenner. The organization operates as a professional photography and videography studio delivering event coverage, promotional and commercial video, documentary-style storytelling, product and headshot photography, live streaming, and aerial drone services. Its primary customer base is Cleveland and Northeast Ohio-based nonprofit organizations seeking affordable, mission-aligned visual storytelling, supplemented by local small-to-medium businesses and a smaller set of corporations (including Cleveland Clinic, Kent State University, General Electric, and Audio-Technica) that either purchase services or sponsor nonprofit projects in exchange for brand placement.

The studio is structured around a hybrid production-and-education model. A small permanent staff of six media professionals (Executive Director, Managing Director, Lead Editor, two Production Assistants, and a Gear Manager) leads client work, while the Shape Scholars Internship Program places high school seniors through recent college graduates onto real client projects as paid crew members. Production runs on professional-grade donated and discounted equipment, including LiteGear LiteMats, EcoFlow Delta and River portable power systems, and Rhino Camera Gear camera sliders, enabling flexible on-location shooting and live streaming setups without significant capital outlay.

Commercially, Shape operates on a project-based pricing model with most engagements starting at approximately $1,000, fees varying with scope, time, and personnel, and 501(c)(3) status allowing clients to potentially treat fees as tax-deductible contributions. Disclosed 2024 client-based revenue was $98,288, with the remainder of operations funded by corporate sponsorships (companies fund nonprofit projects for logo placement on deliverables) and direct donations. Go-to-market combines direct consultative sales to regional nonprofits and businesses with referral-driven growth from Cleveland's nonprofit and small-business community.

Name

Shape Cleveland

Legal name

Shape Cleveland

Website

https://shapecleveland.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shape Cleveland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit studio that provides professional photography, videography, live streaming, and drone services to Cleveland-area nonprofits and local businesses while training student interns in production.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Client-Based Services: Fees charged for professional photography and videography services including event coverage, live streaming, drone photography/video, product photography, commercial video, headshots, and social media content. 2024 client-based revenue was $98,288.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Companies sponsor nonprofit media projects in exchange for logo placement at the beginning and/or end of videos. Sponsors receive brand recognition while supporting local nonprofits.
3. Donations: Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit accepting donations that go toward educational internships, operations, and providing creative services for nonprofits in Cleveland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Shape Cleveland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit media production organization that provides professional video production, photography, live streaming, and drone videography services to nonprofits, local businesses, corporations, and community organizations in the Cleveland, Ohio area. The organization combines a client-service production studio with an educational mission through its Shape Scholars Internship Program, training emerging media professionals while delivering commercial creative work.

Product overview

Shape Cleveland is a professional photography and videography firm operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The company offers an integrated suite of media production services including video production (event coverage, promotional, commercial, documentary, social media content), photography (headshots, product, commercial, event), live streaming, and drone aerial services. The organization pairs these professional offerings with its educational mission through the Shape Scholars Internship Program, which provides student interns hands-on experience working alongside industry professionals on client projects. The service model is designed to be flexible and accessible to nonprofits, local businesses, corporations, and individuals, with pricing starting around $1,000 for video projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Video Production
• Professional Photography
• Live Streaming
• Drone Photography and Videography
• Shape Scholars Internship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 2024 Revenue: $98,288 from client-based services

Named customers20 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Vivid Metal PrintsminorOthersVivid Metal Prints pioneered the process of printing on metal. They provided Shape with beautiful sample prints and delivered a presentation for student interns about the process and benefits of printing on metal.
• EcoFlowcoreOthersEcoFlow donated Delta and River portable power products to Shape. These are used to power lights, computers, PA systems, and entire production setups for live streams, providing energy independence for flexible shooting locations. Shape plans to charge EcoFlow batteries with solar panels for clean energy productions.
• LiteGearcoreOthersLiteGear donated retiring rental gear kits including LiteMats to Shape. These professional lights were the first donation received by Shape and brought early legitimacy to the organization, providing quality lighting for interviews and productions.
• Rhino Camera GearminorOthersRhino Camera Gear offered Shape a discount on a completed Arc II camera slider kit at NAB in 2019. The equipment has been used in countless shoots and shared with interns and staff.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Duck: NYC-based communications firm exclusively serving nonprofits with branding, video, and campaign work. Closely comparable to Shape's nonprofit-focused studio model and target customer base.
• IDEO.org: Nonprofit design and innovation firm applying creative talent to social impact projects. Comparable to Shape in its use of mission-driven creative teams to deliver work for nonprofits and purpose-driven clients.
• StoryCorps: National 501(c)(3) that produces audio and video storytelling content with a social mission. Comparable to Shape as a mission-driven production studio focused on nonprofit and community storytelling rather than purely commercial work.
• Worldstudio: Nonprofit design and media organization that runs educational programs for underrepresented creatives while serving mission-driven clients. Highly comparable hybrid production-plus-education model.

Broad incumbents

• Purpose: Social impact creative agency producing campaigns, films, and brand work for nonprofits, foundations, and corporate purpose clients. Overlaps with Shape's nonprofit-targeted production work but operates at significantly larger scale and scope.
• Skyword: Content production platform and agency producing video, written, and design content for enterprise marketing teams. Comparable in service offering but commercial (not nonprofit) and substantially larger.
• Contently: Content production marketplace and agency connecting brands with freelance creative talent. Overlaps with Shape's content production services and freelance-style resourcing model, though oriented to commercial enterprise clients.

Emerging players

• Videohaus: Boutique video production studio offering end-to-end video services to nonprofits, startups, and mid-market brands. Similar service mix and SMB/nonprofit client orientation, with a for-profit structure.
• Bunker Labs: Nonprofit supporting veteran and military-spouse entrepreneurs through programs, content, and community. Comparable to Shape as a small nonprofit combining an educational mission with media production for community storytelling.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSxIAHDmXkYC054Qc0SJEwg/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/shapecleveland
• Instagraminstagram.com/shapecleveland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Shape Cleveland