thesmiling hippo

What thesmiling hippo does

The Smiling Hippo, legally VIKTOR SIMOSIS KAI SIA E.E., is a Greek creative digital agency founded in March 2005 and headquartered in Marousi, Athens. The firm designs and develops custom web platforms, branding, e-commerce sites, and digital marketing programs for enterprise and mid-market clients across verticals including energy drinks, shipping, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, payments, healthcare, and manufacturing. Its client roster is international, anchored by a long-running global engagement with Monster Energy that supports 39 countries, 2,000+ daily admins, and content in 40+ languages.

The agency's core technology is the proprietary TSH Platform — a modular framework providing custom CMS, CRM, ERP, eShop, and Email Marketing components, deployed on a per-project basis and serving as the foundation for sub-products such as Monster Energy University (LMS), easyBoat (yacht charter marketplace), UWORC (AI-driven hospitality HR platform), True Opulence (AI-integrated CRM SaaS), OpulencePay and KatanaPay (payment-industry sites), Precision Skin (AI skincare commerce), AlfaOmega (pharma logistics transformation), and a Hamogelo crowdfunding module for The Smile of the Child.

The business model is professional services: bespoke, project-based engagements with custom pricing determined by scope and complexity, typically delivered on multi-year contracts, sold direct via the company's website New Business contact flow and through referrals and repeat clients. The agency operates on a horizontal segmentation across verticals rather than a verticalized SaaS GTM, and there is no disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional ownership — Viktor Simosis is identified as the owner of the legal entity.

Name

thesmiling hippo

Legal name

VIKTOR SIMOSIS KAI SIA E.E.

Website

https://thesmilinghippo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Smiling Hippo is a Greek creative digital agency, founded in 2005 in Athens, that builds custom web platforms, branding, e-commerce, and AI-enabled digital products for enterprise and mid-market clients across energy, shipping, pharma, payments, and consumer goods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Agency Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Graphic Design Services (541430), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Digital agency services
• Custom web development
• Branding and identity
• Custom web applications
• E-commerce platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Marousi, Athens

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Agency Services: Professional services revenue generated through custom web development, branding, digital marketing, and ongoing support/maintenance engagements for enterprise and mid-market clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Smiling Hippo is a creative digital agency that builds bespoke digital platforms, websites, and brand identities for enterprise and mid-market clients. It leverages a proprietary TSH Platform framework (custom CMS, CRM, ERP, eShop, and Email Marketing modules) to deliver tailored web applications, multi-language corporate websites, e-commerce platforms, digital marketing, and ongoing support across industries including pharmaceutical, energy, maritime, hospitality, and retail.

Product overview

The Smiling Hippo is a creative digital agency offering custom web development and digital services rather than a packaged SaaS product. Their core offering is the proprietary TSH Platform—a modular framework providing custom CMS, CRM, ERP, eShop, and Email Marketing capabilities deployed on a per-project basis with TSH Custom branding. This platform serves as the foundation for their client project portfolio, which includes Monster Energy University (custom LMS), easyBoat (yacht charter marketplace), UWORC (AI-powered HR recruitment platform), True Opulence (AI-integrated CRM for luxury marketing), OpulencePay (payment processing), Precision Skin (AI-powered skincare e-commerce), and AlfaOmega (pharma logistics digital transformation). Services include branding, UI/UX design, full-stack development, digital marketing, SEO, and systems integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TSH Platform (Custom CMS, CRM, ERP, eShop, Email Marketing) Proprietary web platform framework providing modular components including custom CMS, CRM, ERP, eShop, and Email Marketing systems. Built for each client project with TSH Custom branding and deployed across industries including LMS, yacht charter, HR recruitment, payment processing, and corporate websites.
• Custom Web Development End-to-end design, development, and deployment of custom websites and digital platforms for enterprise and mid-market clients across multiple industries and regions, with multi-language and multi-regional content management.
• Branding and Identity Design Brand strategy, corporate identity development, logo design, brand guide creation, and rebranding engagements for enterprise clients such as EuroEnergy, ARMATUS Family Office, Healthnet, and Mavelec.
• Custom Web Application Development Bespoke web application development including learning management systems, GPS tracking applications, HR recruitment platforms, CRM SaaS platforms, crowdfunding platforms, and AI-powered e-commerce platforms tailored to specific client requirements.
• E-commerce Platform Development Custom e-commerce platform design and development using the TSH Custom eShop framework, including AI-powered bespoke product experiences and online booking/payment workflows.
• Digital Marketing Services Digital marketing offerings including performance marketing, digital marketing campaigns, audience reach initiatives, email marketing automation via the TSH Custom Email Marketing system, and SEO optimization.
• Ongoing Support and Maintenance

Quantifiable outcome

• Monster Energy platform serves 39 countries with 2000+ active admins daily, supporting content in 40+ languages
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EKKO Media GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for Monster Energy University project. EKKO Media Group served as President/CEO involvement in the LMS development project for Monster Energy.
• Savvy PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongterm collaboration partners for Thrace Greenhouses project. Savvy Partners CEO Marianna Milissis quoted as referring to The Smiling Hippo as a valuable partner providing 360° solutions on a 24/7 basis.
• Press-a-PorterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for UWORC project. Greek communications/PR agency working on hospitality industry HR platform.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Isobar: Global digital agency network (Dentsu) offering strategy, creative, technology, and platform builds — comparable as a much larger incumbent serving overlapping enterprise clients with end-to-end digital services.

Direct peers

• Netguru: Digital consultancy building custom web/mobile platforms, AI, and product engineering services for enterprise — comparable as a mid-sized full-service digital shop delivering bespoke platform builds and AI integrations.
• Digitas: Global connected marketing agency delivering brand, creative, technology, and data services — directly comparable as an enterprise-focused full-service digital agency with custom platform and CRM capability.
• B-Reel: Creative technology agency producing digital products, brand experiences, and innovation work for global brands — directly comparable in blending creative, technology, and emerging-tech (incl. AI) for enterprise engagements.
• Ustwo: Digital product studio building apps, platforms, and brand experiences for enterprise — directly comparable as a creative tech studio that designs and engineers bespoke digital products for global clients.
• Dept: Global digital agency combining creative, technology, and data services for enterprise clients — directly comparable in offering full-stack digital transformation, custom platform builds, and brand strategy across industries.
• Fantasy Interactive: Creative technology and digital product agency building interactive experiences and custom platforms — directly comparable as a boutique agency pairing creative design with custom engineering for enterprise clients.
• R/GA: Creative technology agency building digital products, platforms, and brand experiences — directly comparable as a hybrid creative/engineering shop producing custom enterprise platforms and AI-enabled experiences.
• AKQA: Global full-service creative and digital agency designing brands, platforms, and customer experiences for enterprise clients — directly comparable as a creative digital agency serving marquee brands with bespoke digital builds.
• Huge: Digital experience agency building customer platforms, brand systems, and commerce solutions for enterprise — directly comparable in combining strategy, design, and custom platform development for global brands.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-smiling-hippo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 thesmiling hippo