Health Communication Strategies Inc.

What Health Communication Strategies Inc. does

Health Communication Strategies Inc. (HCS) is a boutique digital communications agency that provides full-service communications support — including website design and development, social media marketing, email marketing, video production, digital advertising, analytics and reporting, branding, and event marketing — to NGOs and international organizations working in public health and global development. The agency's core technical stack combines standard web development frameworks (JavaScript, Laravel, WordPress, Drupal) with Adobe Creative Suite for design, social media management platforms (Sprout Social, Hootsuite), email automation (Mailchimp), and analytics tools (Google Analytics 4, Power BI). Differentiated capabilities include community-led health messaging, Meta Brand Lift measurement studies, and viral counter-disinformation video production, with documented outcomes including 1.1 billion people reached across 84 countries (COVID-19) and 63 million people reached through LGBTQ+ community outreach (mpox).

The firm's seven named core professionals are distributed across Geneva, Toronto, the UK, and South Africa, and combine clinical credentials (MDs, MPH) with digital marketing and multimedia production expertise. HCS generates revenue through custom, quote-based professional services engagements with enterprise-level clients including the World Health Organization, International AIDS Society, UNICEF, the United Nations, The Oslo Center, and FIFA. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven: HCS acquires clients through thought leadership content, demonstrable case studies, and high-visibility event work (AIDS 2024, Words Matter! 2025, COP/WHA campaigns, Africa Women's Forum). The company is privately held with no disclosed external funding, and operates as a founder-controlled consultancy without a parent entity.

Name

Health Communication Strategies Inc.

Legal name

Health Communication Strategies

Website

https://healthcommstrat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Health Communication Strategies is a boutique digital communications agency providing full-service marketing, video production, and event communications to NGOs and international organizations in public health and global development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Communications Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Life Sciences PR (MPAAADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare/Pharma Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAJ), Digital PR & Social Media Communications (MPAAADAJ), Public Health Communications, Risk Communication & Community Engagement (HLAJAMAH), Digital Health, Health Information Systems & Data Programs (BPADAIAJ)

Keywords

• Health communications services
• Digital communications agency
• Public health marketing
• Global development communications
• NGO digital strategy

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital marketing services: Custom professional services including website design and development, social media marketing, email marketing, digital analytics and reporting, video production, digital advertising, and digital design and branding for NGOs in global health and development.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Health Communication Strategies is a digital communications agency that delivers tailor-made marketing, web development, social media, email, video production, digital advertising, analytics, and branding services to NGOs and international organizations working in public health and global development. The agency combines creative storytelling with data-driven strategy to help clients communicate complex health messages, counter misinformation, and demonstrate measurable campaign impact.

Product overview

Health Communication Strategies (HCS) is a digital communications agency offering an integrated suite of services for global health and development organizations. The company provides seven core service offerings: Website Design & Development (with WordPress and Drupal), Social Media Marketing, Email Marketing, Digital Analytics and Reporting, Video Production, Digital Advertising, and Digital Design & Branding. These services are delivered as consultative offerings rather than a software platform, combining digital storytelling, video production, and marketing to help NGOs communicate effectively in public health and global development contexts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Website Design and Development
• Social Media Marketing
• Email Marketing
• Digital Analytics and Reporting
• Video Production
• Digital Advertising
• Digital Design and Branding
• Event Marketing
• Viral Marketing Campaigns

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached 1.1 billion people across 84 countries with COVID-19 campaigns
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Obese AestheticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2024Partnered with Obese Aesthetics to provide comprehensive branding, design and digital marketing support for AIDS 2024 (25th International AIDS Conference). Obese led the project while HCS provided specialized digital marketing services including banner designs, email marketing, web design, social media coverage, booth design, digital analytics, and digital advertising.
• The Oslo CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on multiple conferences and forums including Words Matter! 2025 and 2025 Africa Women's Forum. HCS leads digital marketing while The Oslo Center provides strategic direction and hosts events.
• European UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with EU on 2025 Africa Women's Forum, contributing to regional promotion and event branding for the forum that brought together leaders from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
• European Network for Political Foundations (ENoP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with ENoP on 2025 Africa Women's Forum to increase women's political participation across East Africa.
• The Christian Democratic International Center (KIC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with KIC on 2025 Africa Women's Forum as part of the consortium organizing the event.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• APCO Worldwide: APCO Worldwide is a large global communications consultancy with a dedicated global-health and international-development practice serving UN agencies, multilaterals, and governments. Comparable in services and client base but at much larger scale and with broader portfolio beyond health.
• Edelman: Edelman is the world's largest PR firm with a global Health practice serving pharma, NGOs, and global-health organizations. Overlaps on health communications and behavior-change campaigns but is a broad incumbent rather than a vertical specialist.

Direct peers

• M Booth Health: M Booth Health is the healthcare and wellness specialty practice within M Booth, offering earned media, digital, influencer, and content services to health brands and nonprofits. Comparable as a health-vertical communications agency with similar creative-led, social-content capabilities.
• Fenton Communications: Fenton is a public-interest communications firm with a Global Development & Health practice, serving foundations, NGOs, and international organizations. Closely comparable service mix (digital, video, PR) and overlapping client roster in global health and development.
• Burness: Burness is a public-interest communications consultancy serving nonprofits, foundations, and global development organizations. Overlaps on campaign storytelling, policy communications, and digital content for development NGOs — comparable mid-sized peer.
• Crosby Marketing Communications: Crosby Marketing Communications is an integrated agency specializing in health, social impact, and government clients, with deep public-sector and nonprofit experience. Comparable in vertical, audience, and digital-campaign service mix.
• Global Health Strategies: Global Health Strategies (GHS) is a communications and policy consulting firm focused exclusively on global health, serving UN agencies, multilaterals, and health NGOs across LMICs. Most direct peer to HCS — same global-health-communications niche, same client base (WHO-adjacent), same community-led methodology.
• Spitfire Strategies: Spitfire Strategies is a strategic communications firm focused on nonprofits, foundations, and public-interest clients, with strong message-development and digital campaign capabilities. Comparable in vertical focus and boutique operating model.
• Vanguard Communications: Vanguard Communications is a healthcare-focused PR and content firm serving health systems, public health agencies, and health nonprofits. Comparable as a vertical-specialized communications agency though more U.S.-centric in footprint.
• Purpose: Purpose is a social-impact communications agency that runs narrative change, behavior-change, and digital campaigns for NGOs, multilaterals, and foundations. Overlaps with HCS on digital storytelling, multi-stakeholder campaigns, and public-interest client base; comparable in GTM (case-study-led, event-driven).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HCS_agency
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hcs-agency

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 Health Communication Strategies Inc.