Radar › Companies › Marketing Services · Chicago
Radar · Marketing Services in Chicago

Best Marketing Services Companies in Chicago, United States

The 376 best Marketing Services companies in Chicago, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: IRI.

376companies tracked
$401.3Mdisclosed funding
0unicorns
26have raised

Ranked: Best Marketing Services companies in Chicago

#CompanyDisclosed fundingLast roundStageEmployeesFoundedTech stackPatents & IP focusRecent signals
1IRI
Provider of market research and advertising services
$125M96 mo agoAcquired5,5001979UNIXApache HTTP ServerHSTS+1——
2SAVO
Provider of digital marketing and custom software development services
$93M144 mo agoAcquired1361999———
3Context Media
Provider of content marketing services
$42M266 mo agoAcquired—1999———
4Sandbox
Service agency for marketing and promoting solutions
$28M104 mo agoAcquired4002014ZohoLiteSpeedGoogle Font API+313 patents
Proppant storage, handling, and debris separation solutions for hydraulic fracturing operations
—
5VSA Partners
Provider of digital marketing, branding, and advertising services
$28M—Acquired169
169 → 144 (-15%)
1982WebflowApple iCloud MailGoogle Workspace+20—1 job opening · 1 partnership · 1 award
6Sandbox
Independent advertising agency
$22M122 mo agoDeadpooled1242013—13 patents
Proppant storage, transport, and handling equipment for hydraulic fracturing operations
—
7UPshow
Cloud based digital signage platform
$22M56 mo agoAcquired382015WebflowVimeoAmazon Web Services+16——
8Rise Interactive
Digital marketing agency
$21M98 mo agoSeries B179
179 → 388 (+117%)
2004—21 patents
Patents concentrated in computing, sensing & instrumentation
1 expansion
9Performics
AI-powered performance marketing solutions driving growth through data-driven insights
$10M—Acquired3751998WordPressMySQLPHP+14—3 awards
10Sentic
Sentic is an IT services and IT consulting company specializing in digital marketing strategies
$2M127 mo agoSeed32014———
11Visual Feeder
Provider of advertising services
$2M49 mo agoSeed152017——1 launch
12Youth Noise
Provider of SEO, PPC, and inbound marketing services
$2M240 mo agoSeed—2000———
13Tavern Research
Platform providing nonprofit AI solutions
$1M16 mo agoSeed—2024———
14Authentic
Provider of branding, advertising, SMS, and web designing services
$1M35 mo agoSeed1,6262018WordPressMySQLPHP+2418 patents
Healthcare data exchange platforms and blockchain-enabled transaction marketplaces
—
15CakeStyle
Provider of resources for generating business ideas and marketing strategies
$1M166 mo agoSeed—2011———
16OWND
Provider of branding services
$750K39 mo agoSeed72020——1 partnership · 1 award
17Sales Empowerment Group
B2B sales agency driving organic growth with integrated revenue solutions
$540K94 mo agoAcquired522009HubSpot CMS HubZohoTwitter Ads+22——
18Tempesta Media
Provider of digital marketing services
$500K44 mo agoSeed332011——1 launch
19FarShore
Custom software and design firm building innovative web and mobile applications
$125K110 mo agoSeed1472006BootstrapGSAPApache HTTP Server+16——

Top 12 Marketing Services companies in Chicago

#1
Seed · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2024
$1.2Mraised
▾

Platform providing nonprofit AI solutions. It is a co-intelligence platform that provides a secure environment for organizations to store and utilize private data alongside a language model of their choice, delivering tailored insights and solutions. The platform serves nonprofits, advocacy groups, and the public sector, offering a range of features and tools to support operations and decision-making. With a focus on collaboration and innovation, it aims to empower organizations to drive positive change and make a meaningful impact.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 879 LinkedIn followers
Funding rounds
  • Jan 2025Seed$1.2M
Founders & team
Avi ZenilmanCo-Founder
#2
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2015 · 38 employees
$21.5Mraised
▾

Cloud based digital signage platform. The platform offers software and hardware solutions for advertisers that help them in running engaging advertising campaigns by managing the signage content and screens. Also, it has features such as analytics, campaign monitoring, etc. It caters to multiple industries including healthcare, fitness, etc.

Funding rounds
  • Sep 2021Venture Debt$10M
  • Sep 2020Series A$14M
  • Mar 2019Series A$6M
  • Mar 2017Angel$1.5M
Founders & team
Adam HirsenCo-Founder & CEOMatt GibbsCo-Founder & CMO
Investors
4490 Ventures, Jump Capital, TDF Ventures, Espresso Capital, G2T3V, MK Capital
Tech stack
Amazon CloudfrontAmazon S3Amazon SesAmazon Web ServicesChili PiperCore-Js
#3
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1999 · 136 employees
$93.1Mraised
▾

Provider of digital marketing and custom software development services. The company delivers cohesive strategies for organizations. Services include search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, content marketing, and data analytics. The company also builds custom, mobile-first websites and scalable, high-performance applications tailored to operational needs.

Funding rounds
  • Jun 2014Series D$49.1M
  • Jun 2013Conventional Debt$10M
  • Jun 2011Series B$14M
  • Jul 2008Series B$10M
Investors
Sterling Partners, SAP Ventures, NXT Capital, Sapphire Ventures, Goldman Sachs
Tech stack
WordpressMysqlPhpZurb FoundationGravity FormsYoast Seo
#4
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1979 · 5500 employees
$125.3Mraised
▾

Provider of market research and advertising services

Investors
ICG Enterprise Trust, Ares Capital Corporation, Constitution Capital Partners, Cohesive Capital, UNC Kenan-Flagler Private Equity, HarbourVest Partners
Tech stack
Apache Http ServerBootstrapDocusignFacebook PixelFont AwesomeGoogle Font Api
#5
Seed · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2018 · 1626 employees
$1.2Mraised
▾

Provider of branding, advertising, SMS, and web designing services

Funding rounds
  • Jul 2023Seed$1.2M
Founders & team
Mike NellisFounder & CEO
Investors
Grassrootsanalytics, Higher Ground Labs
Tech stack
CloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCore-JsFlickityFont AwesomeGoogle Analytics
#6
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2014 · 400 employees
$28Mraised
▾

SandBox is a service agency for marketing and promoting brands. It helps brands to design the website, create strategies, promote across various media solutions and connect with brands to improve business performance. Clients include LG, American Express, United healthcare, Kite, Coherus and Shire.

Funding rounds
  • Sep 2017PE$6M
  • Mar 2016Conventional Debt—
  • Mar 2016PE$22M
Founders & team
Mark AnthonyCo-Founder & President
Investors
Alaris Equity Partners, CIBC
Tech stack
CloudflareCloudflare Browser InsightsGoogle Font ApiHostingerHttp/3Litespeed
#7
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1999
$42Mraised
▾

Provider of Enterprise Content Integration (ECI) solutions. The company helps unify, organize and optimize enterprise content. It's software and solutions provide stand-alone value or complement existing content management investments to leverage content across the extended enterprise.

Investors
Lehman Brothers, New Enterprise Associates, Adams Capital Management, Shamrock Ventures, SVB
#8
Series B · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2004 · 179 employees
$21Mraised
▾

Digital marketing agency

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 66k LinkedIn followers — 9.0% of this cohort's audience · 40 engagements/post (1.6× cohort median)
Activity: 1 expansions announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Mar 2018Series B$8.7M
  • Jul 2016Series A$12.3M
Investors
Quad, Quantometrica
Tech stack
Windows ServerMicrosoft Asp.NetAzureIisModernizrLinkedin Insight Tag
#9
Deadpooled · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2013 · 124 employees
$22Mraised
▾

Sandbox is an advertising agency which was formed with merger of four other agencies. Sandbox helps clients with creative development, strategic marketing. The group is an independent company which is owned by the employees and a group of holding companies. Acquired GA Communication Group.

Funding rounds
  • Mar 2016Conventional Debt—
  • Mar 2016Series A—
  • Mar 2016Series A$22M
  • Feb 2015Venture Debt$27M
Investors
Monroe Capital, Alaris Equity Partners
Tech stack
Google Font ApiCloudflareHttp/3
#10
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1982 · 169 employees
$28Mraised
▾

Provider of digital marketing, branding, and advertising services

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 20k LinkedIn followers — 2.7% of this cohort's audience
Hiring: 1 hiring post in 12 mo (public) · hiring: Director, UX Design
Activity: 1 partnerships · 1 awards (incl. VSA) announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Conventional Debt$28M
Founders & team
Anne-Marie RosserCEO
Investors
Cognitive Capital Partners, Keebeck Cognitive Partners
Tech stack
Node.JsReactNext.JsTypekitLinkedin Insight TagGoogle Tag Manager
#11
Seed · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2020 · 7 employees
$750Kraised
▾

Provider of branding services

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 1k LinkedIn followers
Activity: 1 partnerships · 1 awards (incl. Versigent) announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Feb 2023Seed$750K
Investors
Byfounders, Skyfall Ventures, Steeldao
#12
Seed · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2017 · 15 employees
$1.7Mraised
▾

Operator of a media technology company designed to create immersive brand activations. The company creates captivating experiences on digital windows using projection technology, enabling clients to reach their target audience everywhere.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 965 LinkedIn followers
Activity: 1 product launches announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • May 2022Seed$1.7M
Founders & team
Eddie YangFounder & CEOYaxi YangFounder
Investors
Sandalphon Capital, Blue Field Capital, Techstars, Lair East Labs, Atland Ventures, Zain Ventures

Funding & investor landscape

$401.3Mtotal disclosed funding
20companies funded
30disclosed rounds
0rounds last 90 days
Most active investors
Alaris Equity Partners2 rounds
Albatross Ventures2 rounds
G2T3V2 rounds
New Enterprise Associates2 rounds
Sandbox Industries2 rounds
4490 Ventures1 rounds
Adams Capital Management1 rounds
Aktion Partners1 rounds
Alliance HealthCard1 rounds
Apollo Global Management1 rounds

Notable founders

Avi Zenilman
Co-Founder · Tavern Research
Adam Hirsen
Co-Founder & CEO · UPshow
Matt Gibbs
Co-Founder & CMO · UPshow
Mike Nellis
Founder & CEO · Authentic
Mark Anthony
Co-Founder & President · Sandbox
Anne-Marie Rosser
CEO · VSA Partners
Eddie Yang
Founder & CEO · Visual Feeder
Yaxi Yang
Founder · Visual Feeder
Ben Otfinoski
Partner · Sentic
Millie Tadewaldt
Co-founder and CEO · CakeStyle
Cecelia Myers
Co-Founder · CakeStyle
Brian O'Neil
Founder & CEO · Sales Empowerment Group
Prism market signals · United States · country-scoped Prism corpus, 18,294,285 docs

Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage

Share of Marketing Services coverage by sub-theme.

Regulatory-risk over time rising

Funding & growth over time

funding rising · growth rising

Common questions

How many Marketing Services companies are there in Chicago, United States?
Radar tracks 376 indexable Marketing Services companies headquartered in Chicago, United States that meet our profile-completeness bar.
What is the total funding raised by Marketing Services companies in Chicago, United States?
The Marketing Services companies in Chicago, United States on this list have raised a combined $401.3M in disclosed equity funding across 20 funded companies.
Which is the highest-funded Marketing Services company in Chicago, United States?
IRI is the highest-funded Marketing Services company in Chicago, United States, with $125.3M in disclosed equity funding.
How many Marketing Services companies in Chicago, United States are funded?
20 of the 376 Marketing Services companies in Chicago, United States on this list have disclosed at least one equity funding round.
How many Marketing Services unicorns are there in Chicago, United States?
None of the Marketing Services companies in Chicago, United States on this list currently has a disclosed valuation of $1B or more.
Who are the top investors in Chicago, United States Marketing Services companies?
The most active investors in Chicago, United States Marketing Services companies on this list include Alaris Equity Partners, Albatross Ventures, G2T3V, New Enterprise Associates, Sandbox Industries.
Rohit KhannaTrends & Stories

Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.

Coming soon