Key information for high-impact growth decisions. Market sizing, white space analysis, competitor landscapes, consumer surveys, risk assessments.
We take you from ideation to go-to-market planning and execution. Financial forecasts, board approvals, strategic partner roadshows, executive placement.
Buy and sell-side advisory. Due diligence, board recommendations, story and collateral building, investor introductions.
01Performed a digital IP valuation for a publicly traded media conglomerate.
02In-market customer surveys for US and various Asian markets to inform product strategies for a new ecommerce platform.
03Market research and executive surveys to inform new advertiser products and sponsor packages for a major audio streaming platform.
04Europe and North America landscape analysis of the digital sports media and social betting / casino / gaming industries to inform white spaces and roll-up targets.
01Product roadmapping and go-to-market planning for a new “livestream e-commerce” platform launched by publicly-traded SAAS company.
02Developed new growth strategy for top podcast network and digital media brand. Led to 8-figure YoY revenue growth.
03Advised on the owned & operated AVOD growth strategy for a major video streamer incumbent.
04Launched a premium scripted podcast vertical for an award-winning production company. Led to 7-figure YoY revenue growth.
05Advised on a “social commerce” roll-out for a large celebrity-backed media media and licensing brand. Included evaluation of social shopping portals, 3PLs, and user acquisition agencies.
06Placed a senior Hollywood executive into COO role at a venture-backed digital content x commerce platform.
07Created the business model, go-to-market plan, and growth strategies for OTT platform launches in sports, news, and film.
08Conducted a user acquisition “funnel” audit. Included revised strategy and optimization across OTT networks, FAST platforms, social media, email, website, and CTV.
01Led buy-side diligence into an 8-figure podcast network and ad-tech platform.
02Evaluated 200 growth stage e-commerce companies as part of a search for a Content x Commerce investor roll-up strategy.
03Raised seed funding for an early stage international podcast network.
04Provided buy-side advisory, including valuation and future growth planning, on a nine-figure acquisition of an Asia-based digital media network.
PORTAL A is an award-winning branded and original content company. The company's accolades include being named Agency of the Year by The Streamys...
Learn moreWe specifically hired Chris and his team to support competitive landscape analysis, market intelligence and growth planning for branded ad sales ...
Learn moreXL Media (LSE: XLMedia PLC) is a global performance publisher. It combines the power of people, data-driven behavioral insight, and captivating ...
Learn moreTeam Coco is a digitally-native comedy brand, and a joint venture between Conan O’Brien and WarnerMedia. Entering 2020 Team Coco sought to ...
Learn moreFAO Schwarz is the world's most renowned specialty kids toy manufacturer and retailer. Since being founded over 160 years ago, the company has ...
Learn moreVERB Technology Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: VERB) is rapidly emerging as the market leader in business-focused interactive video sales and marketing ...
Learn moreAtmosphere is a free multi-channel TV streaming service with content designed for businesses offering 51 original and partner TV channels. ...
Learn moreRed Seat Ventures partners with talent, brands, and influencers to fund, build, and operate unique businesses. Founder and executive leadership ...
Learn moreEffinFunny is a full-service creative production company that makes award winning content targeted at the growing US born South Asian ...
Learn moreRockWater is an active collaborator with Mattson, a global food and CPG innovator behind brands like Popchips, Blue Bottle Cold Brew, White ...
Learn moreFilmNation Entertainment, one of the world’s preeminent independent entertainment companies, sought to diversify and complement its core film and ...
Learn moreCASHDROP, launched in January 2020, is a cloud POS Company with a twist on the economic model. Merchants access full capabilities of the app for free,
Learn moreSuper Studios is an innovative web3 creative lab founded by acclaimed crypto thought leader Elliot Wainman (@elliotrades) and his partner Dave ...
Learn moreAt Will Media is an award-winning, full service podcast company. They are the go-to producer for innovative new audio formats, like the first ...
Learn moreRevry is a uniquely positioned streaming media company representing the newest voices within the LGBTQ+ community, and we’ve had a wonderfully ...
Learn moreCollabspace is a mobile-first platform for Creators and Creative Freelancers to connect and transact for paid creative gigs and collab ...
Learn moreCosmily is a single platform that combines education, discovery, purchase, and community for skincare enthusiasts – generating custom skincare ...
Learn morePORTAL A is an award-winning branded and original content company. The company’s accolades include being named Agency of the Year by The Streamys, Video Agency of the Year by Digiday, and a Top 20 Content Creator by AdWeek. Its clients include Google, Amazon, Target, Disney, MLB, and Snapchat. The company’s founders engaged RockWater to evaluate both its existing and new planned business lines within branded and original content. The strategy assignment resulted in a new investment and resource plan, to help drive revenue growth and accelerate new market entry.
RockWater was a great executive ally. They took time to understand our growth needs, created a custom workplan, and executed with precision. Their recommendations were data-based and actionable, and are now part of our operating plan. RockWater also brought good energy to our org, which helped get team buy-in. We look forward to working with them again.
Zach Blume, Co-Founder and President at Portal-A
We specifically hired Chris and his team to support competitive landscape analysis, market intelligence and growth planning for branded ad sales solutions – as we better understood his broader capability set, we expanded our engagement to include new IP incubation ideas, IP valuation and more. I highly recommend RockWater to any client in need of sharp and actionable strategy advisory.
Thomas De Napoli, Sr. Director of Viacom Velocity
XL Media (LSE: XLMedia PLC) is a global performance publisher. It combines the power of people, data-driven behavioral insight, and captivating editorial content to build valuable connections between brands and consumers.
When we began looking for intelligence partners, we knew we wanted a group who would work with us as part of a team, not a vendor. We found exactly what we were looking for in RockWater. Starting from a very open place, they were comfortable with and capable of helping us identify and focus on the most advantageous areas of business for the group. The research they deliver is consistently contextual, actionable and valuable in driving strategic decisions and growth.
Elizabeth Carter, VP of Marketing and Taylor Quist, Head of Global Brand Strategy
Team Coco is a digitally-native comedy brand, and a joint venture between Conan O’Brien and WarnerMedia. Entering 2020 Team Coco sought to capitalize on incredible revenue and M&A market momentum. Their executive leadership required advisory to define their growth strategy and execution plan, board communications, and buy-side M&A diligence and valuation.
In my role as COO of Team Coco, when we decided we needed help strategizing and plotting new growth initiatives, RockWater was the first call I made.
Adam Sachs, COO
FAO Schwarz is the world’s most renowned specialty kids toy manufacturer and retailer. Since being founded over 160 years ago, the company has transformed into an omnichannel brand across brick & mortar, wholesale, and web and social commerce. The company is owned by ThreeSixty Group, which owns and operates 5+ global consumer brands including Vornado and Sharper Image.
To plan FAO’s digital transformation, we needed an expert team who understood how parents and kids are spending their time and money online, which is powering new direct-to-consumer business models for toy retailers. RockWater was a great bolt-on partner to us and facilitated outlining an exciting new growth strategy for FAO Schwarz.
Jan-Eric Kloth, President, International Sales, Retail, & Corporate Strategy at ThreeSixty Group
VERB Technology Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: VERB) is rapidly emerging as the market leader in business-focused interactive video sales and marketing tools, including livestream ecommerce, CRM, and content management applications. With offices in California and Utah, VERB services clients in 60 countries and in 48 languages.
Founder and C-suite leadership sought market research, consumer and executive surveys, and go-to-market planning for a new livestream commerce product launch.
Atmosphere is a free multi-channel TV streaming service with content designed for businesses offering 51 original and partner TV channels. Atmosphere offers an incredibly powerful advertising medium where brands can develop contextualized advertising campaigns with highly targeted delivery by venue-type, geography, or content channel type. The platform was developed using proprietary content, technology, and data to deliver unparalleled experiences for businesses, consumers, and advertisers. The business was incubated within Chive Media Group and spun out in 2019.
Chris and the RockWater team gave us the exact leverage we were looking for in an advisor. The team brings deep industry perspective, thoughtful frameworks, and a strong network of relationships.
Mike Grisko, CFO
Red Seat Ventures partners with talent, brands, and influencers to fund, build, and operate unique businesses. Founder and executive leadership sought investment targets for a Content x Commerce investor roll-up strategy, optimization of their user acquisition “funnel” across 6+ digital channels, and an audience and marketing forecast model.
RockWater delivers something few others can: unique perspective. Chris and his team analyze the complicated playing field and cut through the BS to deliver actionable insights that add immediate value. RockWater acts as an extension of my own team, adding a tool to our toolbox at the exact moment we need it.
Chris Balfe, Founder & Partner
EffinFunny is a full-service creative production company that makes award winning content targeted at the growing US born South Asian demographic. Their team has developed, created, and produced content for Comedy Central, FX, TBS, Red Hour, and ABC digital.
The company’s leadership tapped RockWater to research whitespace opportunities and develop the go-to-market plan to drive new revenues and grow enterprise value.
RockWater is an active collaborator with Mattson, a global food and CPG innovator behind brands like Popchips, Blue Bottle Cold Brew, White Castle, and Yogurtland. Together, RockWater and Mattson are bringing unique food & beverage commerce solutions to traditional and digital media partners ranging from publishers and celebrities to sports / esports leagues and franchises.
Chris and his team are not just collaborators, they’re visionaries. They see opportunities for clients that they don’t see themselves. We have ideated with RockWater, and think of them as a group of creatives, as well as strategists.
Barb Stuckey, President & Chief Innovation Officer
FilmNation Entertainment, one of the world’s preeminent independent entertainment companies, sought to diversify and complement its core film and TV businesses by expanding into audio and digital, with the end goal of broadening its storytelling platform and driving additional enterprise value.
RockWater’s team dovetails incredibly sophisticated marketplace intelligence with an impressive, far-reaching network of leading professionals at nearly every top digital-focused company – with this powerful combination, they provide clients with invaluable strategic insights and guidance. Chris and the team helped us quickly identify and prioritize opportunity lanes for FilmNation as we expanded our global content platform into the digital space. We’d recommend them with the highest praise, in a heartbeat.
Milan Popelka, COO
CASHDROP, launched in January 2020, is a cloud POS Company with a twist on the economic model. Merchants access full capabilities of the app for free, and CASHDROP charges the merchant’s end customer a 5% convenience fee. It aligns CASHDROP to remove as much friction as possible for the merchant, since they only make money when the merchant does.
CASHDROP has tapped RockWater numerous times to advise on its fundraising and M&A activities.
The crew at RockWater are some of the most competent people I’ve ever worked with, and can parachute into a new project with lightning speed. They are always the first advisor I call, when I want to do something BIG
Benjamin Vear, President and Member of the Board
Super Studios is an innovative web3 creative lab founded by acclaimed crypto thought leader Elliot Wainman (@elliotrades) and his partner Dave Murray. Super Studios is building its corner of the Metaverse called The SuperVerse where its protocol ($SUPER) will be the foundation of an array of dapps. The first two dapps include the sophisticated NFT marketplace Gigamart (shipping Q4 ‘22) and the Play-And-Earn game Impostors (www.impostors.gg). Impostors recently saw its genesis drop sell out in 10 seconds generating over $100M in primary and secondary sales.
At Will Media is an award-winning, full service podcast company. They are the go-to producer for innovative new audio formats, like the first singing competition podcast series for Audible, and the original Siegfried & Roy series for Apple TV+. At Will also makes premium content for brand partners like the New York Times, Netflix, and Marriott Bonvoy. At Will is quickly growing their portfolio of premium scripted and non-fiction originals, and is included in the first audio slate ever featured at the TriBeCa Festival.
Revry is a uniquely positioned streaming media company representing the newest voices within the LGBTQ+ community, and we’ve had a wonderfully positive experience with RockWater’s support in scaling our opportunities with revenue and partnerships.
Damian Pelliccione, CEO/Co-Founder
Collabspace is a mobile-first platform for Creators and Creative Freelancers to connect and transact for paid creative gigs and collab opportunities. Their unique platform solution makes these creator economy collabs as seamless as possible — facilitating quick discovery, assessment, communication, management, and payment for creator partners.
Collabspace was built by a team of founders and engineers with extensive creator economy, product, and engineering experience, and is the result of over 25,000 engineering hours. The company’s leadership engaged RockWater to help them develop fundraising strategies and M&A opportunities.
Cosmily is a single platform that combines education, discovery, purchase, and community for skincare enthusiasts – generating custom skincare routines from experts and peers powered by data-driven personalization. It is a trusted platform that filters out the noise from branded, augmented, and negative content.
Cosmily has repeatedly engaged RockWater to prepare for its fundraises – creating its pitch, financial model, and sourcing investors.
RockWater has been an invaluable resource, and is the first on my list to call when I need to kick off a fundraise.
Jeff Turnbull, Chief Executive Officer