CHALLENGE CONVENTION
Be the exception
We are a marketing consultancy for brands that want to challenge convention in their category.
.png)
We use a challenger playbook to deliver outsized impact through an integrated, tech-enabled approach.
Strategy + Consulting
Rival drives growth by combining marketing fundamentals with challenger principles. We clarify your brand's value to key audiences through communications, distribution, and business intelligence.
Media + Analytics
Our team has managed over $1B in paid media spend, using machine learning and curated data to deliver efficient, impactful results. We create media plans that achieve “more with less” for global brands.
Creative + Production
In 2024, Rival acquired HeyLet’sGo, a top advertising boutique, creating a hybrid of creative and production. Unified teams, tighter timelines, and more deliverables—this is the new “traditional agency” model.
We let our work (and the impact it delivers) speak for itself.
.svg)
Tumblr brings the “Social” back to social media
The social media landscape was imploding. TikTok faced a ban, X turned hostile, and Meta doubled down on "masculine energy." Perfect timing to remind everyone about Tumblr - the original home of internet culture and genuine connection. We moved at internet speed, partnering with real Tumblr creators to craft an authentic campaign in just 10 days.
DAU increase
.svg)
From Fintech Threat to Financial Advisor Champion: How Envestnet won the category
How do you transform a fintech platform from potential threat to trusted advisor ally? Envestnet, the largest financial technology platform for advisors, faced a critical challenge. Despite their powerful suite of tools, they risked alienating their core users - financial advisors who feared being replaced by technology.
increase in conversions to demo on platform
How Lawn Doctor Tapped Culture Not Reach to Help 33 Franchisees Join the Million Dollar Club
How do you take on a category giant with 10x your spend—and win?
Year-over-year increase in pre-season sales
Duckfeet Steps Up Performance Marketing with a 89% YOY revenue increase across Black Friday/Cyber Monday
Duckfeet USA had strong sustainability credentials and premium craftsmanship, but faced an uphill battle: high competition, seasonal sales cycles, and a market where media waste was built into every digital buy. Their goal was ambitious - scale digital performance by 20% in Q4 2023 and double performance-driven revenue in 2024.
.jpg)
year-over-year revenue increase for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
We challenge our partners. Some of them like it.
Connor Altier
"In an industry where brand is king, Rival helped us clearly define our brand strategy to challenge the sportswear industry. Rival was able to cut through the complexity of our business to help us transform our brand and culture for sustainable future growth."
Matt Webster
“Rival has a super power…their ability to draw relevant, differentiated insights out of research and then develop unique messaging that resonates and cuts through is second to none.”
Royden Volans
“Working with Rival has fundamentally changed the way I think about brand. The work they’ve done has given us the foundation for how we want to grow and build this bank.”
Jonny Ola
“Rival is impressive top to bottom. The full team was invested and engaged in the success of the project. The acumen and expertise they provide is unmatched. Not only are they on the cutting edge of media world and brand strategy, but they are also a joy to work with."
Justin Brady
“Rival are head and shoulders above every other agency we’ve ever worked with.”
Matt Webster
“Rival has a super power…their ability to draw relevant, differentiated insights out of research and then develop unique messaging that resonates and cuts through is second to none.”
Jonny Ola
“Rival is impressive top to bottom. The full team was invested and engaged in the success of the project. The acumen and expertise they provide is unmatched. Not only are they on the cutting edge of media world and brand strategy, but they are also a joy to work with."
Justin Brady
“Rival are head and shoulders above every other agency we’ve ever worked with.”
Matt Webster
“Rival has a super power…their ability to draw relevant, differentiated insights out of research and then develop unique messaging that resonates and cuts through is second to none.”
Jonny Ola
“Rival is impressive top to bottom. The full team was invested and engaged in the success of the project. The acumen and expertise they provide is unmatched. Not only are they on the cutting edge of media world and brand strategy, but they are also a joy to work with."
Justin Brady
“Rival are head and shoulders above every other agency we’ve ever worked with.”
Matt Webster
“Rival has a super power…their ability to draw relevant, differentiated insights out of research and then develop unique messaging that resonates and cuts through is second to none.”
Jonny Ola
“Rival is impressive top to bottom. The full team was invested and engaged in the success of the project. The acumen and expertise they provide is unmatched. Not only are they on the cutting edge of media world and brand strategy, but they are also a joy to work with."
Justin Brady
“Rival are head and shoulders above every other agency we’ve ever worked with.”
Matt Webster
“Rival has a super power…their ability to draw relevant, differentiated insights out of research and then develop unique messaging that resonates and cuts through is second to none.”
Jonny Ola
“Rival is impressive top to bottom. The full team was invested and engaged in the success of the project. The acumen and expertise they provide is unmatched. Not only are they on the cutting edge of media world and brand strategy, but they are also a joy to work with."
Justin Brady
“Rival are head and shoulders above every other agency we’ve ever worked with.”
tumblr
“Most brands accept the industry playbook: outspend competitors and ignore the waste. We built something radically different - a precision-led engine that exposed every inefficient placement and eliminated accepted fraud. When you bring real transparency as the starting point, you don't just cut costs by 30% - you transform a seasonal brand into a year-round performer that can compete with anyone”
Envestnet
“Everyone in wealth management shows the same tropes - happy couples on beaches, advisors shaking hands with clients. We rejected that entirely. Instead of adding to the clutter of what retirement looks like, we showed how advisors could bring complex financial tools to life in a completely unique way. And it worked - we did another campaign off the back of its success."
Tim Cawley
“The leaders were focussed on volume, frequency and scale of message not the message or its context, this is where we could win. We built a restless creative engine that finds cultural fuel and rapidly turns that into a consistent flow of creative work that drives relevance and talkability. And the results tell the stroy - record pre-season growth, year-round demand, and a new bar set for annual revenues, all without bloated budgets and carving an ownable space for us in the market.”
Connor Altier
"In an industry where brand is king, Rival helped us clearly define our brand strategy to challenge the sportswear industry. Rival was able to cut through the complexity of our business to help us transform our brand and culture for sustainable future growth."
Royden Volans
“Working with Rival has fundamentally changed the way I think about brand. The work they’ve done has given us the foundation for how we want to grow and build this bank.”
tumblr
“Most brands accept the industry playbook: outspend competitors and ignore the waste. We built something radically different - a precision-led engine that exposed every inefficient placement and eliminated accepted fraud. When you bring real transparency as the starting point, you don't just cut costs by 30% - you transform a seasonal brand into a year-round performer that can compete with anyone”
Envestnet
“Everyone in wealth management shows the same tropes - happy couples on beaches, advisors shaking hands with clients. We rejected that entirely. Instead of adding to the clutter of what retirement looks like, we showed how advisors could bring complex financial tools to life in a completely unique way. And it worked - we did another campaign off the back of its success."
Tim Cawley
“The leaders were focussed on volume, frequency and scale of message not the message or its context, this is where we could win. We built a restless creative engine that finds cultural fuel and rapidly turns that into a consistent flow of creative work that drives relevance and talkability. And the results tell the stroy - record pre-season growth, year-round demand, and a new bar set for annual revenues, all without bloated budgets and carving an ownable space for us in the market.”
Connor Altier
"In an industry where brand is king, Rival helped us clearly define our brand strategy to challenge the sportswear industry. Rival was able to cut through the complexity of our business to help us transform our brand and culture for sustainable future growth."
Royden Volans
“Working with Rival has fundamentally changed the way I think about brand. The work they’ve done has given us the foundation for how we want to grow and build this bank.”
tumblr
“Most brands accept the industry playbook: outspend competitors and ignore the waste. We built something radically different - a precision-led engine that exposed every inefficient placement and eliminated accepted fraud. When you bring real transparency as the starting point, you don't just cut costs by 30% - you transform a seasonal brand into a year-round performer that can compete with anyone”
Envestnet
“Everyone in wealth management shows the same tropes - happy couples on beaches, advisors shaking hands with clients. We rejected that entirely. Instead of adding to the clutter of what retirement looks like, we showed how advisors could bring complex financial tools to life in a completely unique way. And it worked - we did another campaign off the back of its success."
Tim Cawley
“The leaders were focussed on volume, frequency and scale of message not the message or its context, this is where we could win. We built a restless creative engine that finds cultural fuel and rapidly turns that into a consistent flow of creative work that drives relevance and talkability. And the results tell the stroy - record pre-season growth, year-round demand, and a new bar set for annual revenues, all without bloated budgets and carving an ownable space for us in the market.”
Connor Altier
"In an industry where brand is king, Rival helped us clearly define our brand strategy to challenge the sportswear industry. Rival was able to cut through the complexity of our business to help us transform our brand and culture for sustainable future growth."
Royden Volans
“Working with Rival has fundamentally changed the way I think about brand. The work they’ve done has given us the foundation for how we want to grow and build this bank.”
tumblr
“Most brands accept the industry playbook: outspend competitors and ignore the waste. We built something radically different - a precision-led engine that exposed every inefficient placement and eliminated accepted fraud. When you bring real transparency as the starting point, you don't just cut costs by 30% - you transform a seasonal brand into a year-round performer that can compete with anyone”
Envestnet
“Everyone in wealth management shows the same tropes - happy couples on beaches, advisors shaking hands with clients. We rejected that entirely. Instead of adding to the clutter of what retirement looks like, we showed how advisors could bring complex financial tools to life in a completely unique way. And it worked - we did another campaign off the back of its success."
Tim Cawley
“The leaders were focussed on volume, frequency and scale of message not the message or its context, this is where we could win. We built a restless creative engine that finds cultural fuel and rapidly turns that into a consistent flow of creative work that drives relevance and talkability. And the results tell the stroy - record pre-season growth, year-round demand, and a new bar set for annual revenues, all without bloated budgets and carving an ownable space for us in the market.”
Connor Altier
"In an industry where brand is king, Rival helped us clearly define our brand strategy to challenge the sportswear industry. Rival was able to cut through the complexity of our business to help us transform our brand and culture for sustainable future growth."
Royden Volans
“Working with Rival has fundamentally changed the way I think about brand. The work they’ve done has given us the foundation for how we want to grow and build this bank.”
We’re on a mission to understand what challenger brands do differently to grow faster than incumbents.
Breakthrough ideas and insights from challenger brands, straight to your inbox.
Join over 5,300 marketing leaders from Google, F1, Monzo, and more. ideas and insights from challenger brands.
