When we founded Forefront ten years ago, it wasn’t because we had a grand plan to build a huge agency. It started because we both had persistently experienced the same problem throughout our careers.
We’d spent the bulk of our careers in-house at fintech and capital markets firms. All had ambitious goals, with complex products and services to be sold to sophisticated audiences. But when we looked for agency partners, we kept encountering the same gaps. Some firms were strong creatively but lacked the domain knowledge to write, pitch and advise intelligently. Others understood the industry but operated in silos – branding here, PR there, marketing somewhere else – leaving us to stitch everything together internally.
We launched Forefront because we believed firms like ours required a better way.
Not a Pivot. A Clearer Articulation.
Today, as we mark our 10th anniversary as an agency and launch our new website, it’s important to say what this moment is – and what it isn’t. This is not a reinvention or a pivot. It’s a celebration of what we’ve built over a decade and a clearer articulation of who we’ve been all along.
From day one, our goal was to create a holistic agency purpose-built for the capital markets and B2B fintech – one that could think strategically, write fluently about complex topics, design with intention and execute across brand, marketing, communications and PR under one roof.
That philosophy hasn’t changed. What has changed is the scale, the proof and the impact.
Over the past ten years:
- We’ve designed and launched close to 60 brands and websites, including Broadway, Trumid and Eventus.
- We’ve worked with over 200 firms, from early-stage startups like Crossover Markets and OpenYield to category leaders like IEX, Broadridge and FactSet.
- 45+ companies have trusted us to fully outsource their marketing and communications function, including Tower Research Capital, EDX and Bruce Markets.
- Eight of the firms we helped launch have gone on to become unicorns or soon-icorns, including Talos, Hidden Road and DASH Financial.
We’re proud of those numbers – not because they’re impressive in a vacuum, but because they represent trust. They reflect long-term partnerships, repeat engagements and shared wins with clients who view Forefront not as a vendor, but as an extension of their team. They’re the ultimate validation of the vision we had ten years ago.
Just as important, they’ve validated the team we’ve assembled along the way. Early on, we were fortunate to find two exceptionally bright, driven young professionals who didn’t just contribute, but grew into agency leaders. From there, we kept building: bringing in world-class writers, designers, marketers and PR pros who raised the bar on the work and continue to make Forefront what it is.
On Point or All In
One of the things we’re most proud of is the range of companies we serve.
We work with everyone from founders bringing something new into the world to established market leaders evolving, scaling or sharpening their position. In all cases, we’ve applied the same core principles: clarity of message, depth of understanding, disciplined execution and respect for the audience.
Whether we’re helping a startup define its voice or supporting a major player with ongoing brand, marketing and communications efforts, our role is the same: to add real strategic value and deliver work that stands up to scrutiny.
Show, Don’t Tell
That mindset guided the design of our new website.
Rather than lead with big promises, we focused on real work, real outcomes, real examples of how we help clients move forward. The site reflects how we actually operate: integrated, thoughtful and grounded in results.
If you want to understand what we do, the best place to start is the work itself.
What Comes Next
First, to our clients – past and present – thank you for trusting us with your brands, your stories and your growth.
To our team, thank you for the talent, care and commitment you bring every day.
And to our families and friends, thank you for understanding when “5 more minutes” becomes 30 (quality work takes time!).
As we step into our second decade, our focus is simple. We will stay at the forefront – of industry change, of best practices and of what great agency partnership should look like.
We’re excited for what’s ahead – and we invite you to explore the new site to see the full breadth of our services and the work that defines us.
Here’s to the next ten years.
Sincerely,
Mark & Eric