Why it started: Young and McNeill first teamed up in 2019 to start freelancer collective The Social Circle. By 2024, the had co-founded Definitely Real, a creative and production agency with 9 full time staffers.
What sets it apart: Definitely Real operates with the “yes, and?” approach from improv comedy to emphasize collaboration. With a team primarily made up of women and LGBTQ+ creatives, fostering diversity is a chief priority.
Fun Fact: Young and McNeill met at Canadian Music Week, where their bands—Blonde Diamond and Lovecoast—crossed paths while touring Western Canada. They bonded over music, and both are singers who married their drummers.
6. Beers With Friends
Founded: August 2024
Agency type: Creative
Location: Hybrid, NYC
Headcount: Undisclosed
Founders: Dana Hork, former SVP of marketing, Wonder; James Wood, former CCO, Code3
Clients: Grubhub/Seamless, Virgin Galactic, Goodwipes, Violife, Perfect Bar, Manitoba Harvest, Curio Wellness, Thoughtful, Hally Hair, GORGIE, Don’t Ban Equality
Why it started: Like many agencies on this list, Hork and Wood were frustrated with the traditional agency model, so they designed Beers With Friends to focus on just one client at a time.
What sets it apart: The agency offers creative solutions on-demand through a five-day sprint process, which it aptly calls “Beer Runs.” Its “Agency on Call” model is set up to deliver fast work by senior talent.
Fun fact: Beers With Friends leans hard into its branding. “Beer Runs” are offered in four, six, or 12 packs and can be purchased on the agency’s ecommerce-like website. The agency also hosts Happy Hours where the team tackles fun challenges—like rebranding “Black Friday” and “The Big Game”—to keep their creative juices flowing.
7. Narratory Capital
