For this chapter of “Meet and Indie Agency,” IAN ventures across the pond (by way of Zoom) to chat with Uncharted Studios’ Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Laura Jordan Bambach, and Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Hannah Hattie Matthews about the UK-based agency’s journey and vision.
Founded in 2024 with Chief Strategy Officer Fern Miller, the aptly named agency brings decades of experience from goliaths like Ogilvy, WPP, and Accenture, and carries the rare distinction of being a fully female founded ad agency in the UK. (Fun fact: Jordan Bambach is also the founder of SheSays, the largest global network to progress the careers of women in creative industries.) The founders’ vision for the young shop is to establish itself as a culturally influential agency that steers brands through the rapidly evolving media and technology landscape, emphasizing effectiveness and innovation rather than conventional “business as usual” advertising models.
Uncharted positions itself as a progressive agency focused on creative solutions rather than mass-market outputs, with a mission to lead brands “into culture with confidence.” In proper indie fashion, their model emphasizes agility and specialization, incorporating a network of diverse talent to tailor creative projects to clients’ unique needs. This community-first approach allows them to create bespoke, interdisciplinary teams for each project, drawing from a pool of about 50 collaborators with backgrounds spanning various ages, experiences, and skills.
A core tenet of the team’s philosophy is bridging the gap between brands and niche audiences through culturally resonant campaigns. And with an emphasis on collaboration and community, the agency prioritizes building bridges rather than operating as an isolated entity, reflecting their commitment to diversity and inclusivity in both client work and internal culture.
“The future is about bridges, not islands,” said Jordan Bambach.
While modern thinking fuels them creatively and fundamentally, they eschew the full embrace of AI in all facets of their operation – using it mainly for data, research and quick testing purposes – believing the rise of AI automation has led to repetitive, low value ad production that can conflict with the execution of high-impact, culture-driven strategies.
As they look to expand their client base, the team is eyeing “challenging, innovative sectors” such as alcohol branding, something Jordan Bambach highlighted as especially rewarding and creatively flexible.
Ultimately, Uncharted’s founders are driven by their entrepreneurial spirits and a shared goal to make meaningful, culturally attuned work without being constrained by the traditional agency framework. Their approach is less about producing content en masse and more about creating effective, authentic connections between brands and their audiences.
From what we’ve seen so far, they’re taking on uncharted territory and finding a formula that works!
Watch the interview
Agency stats
- Founded: 2024
- Location: London
What the agency is best-known for and their core strengths
Uncharted is fueled by not only a diversity of thought, but a diversity of talent, enlisting everyone from the creative “fresh out of uni,” to the more seasoned professional coming out of retirement to do work they love and even talent that isn’t traditionally from the industry, but are uniquely skilled at a craft that applies to a specific project. They’re also expert strategists (which you can gather based on how they assembled their team with Nick Fury/Avengers-esque precision).
Why the agency loves being indie
Having a strong preference for the independence and agility that a small, female-led startup offers is the biggest draw, according to Hattie. “It’s just such a joy to be doing something with my friends who share the same values and the same vision as you. You’re all on the same page, all pointing in the right direction.”
Why brands should work with this agency
Uncharted’s flexibility, independence, and diverse network have significant advantages over traditional agency models, especially for clients needing guidance in navigating the complexities of emerging technologies, shrinking budgets, and rapid market changes.
Why talent should put this agency on their list
Building an inclusive culture is very important for the agency, which believes in fostering a collaborative and supportive environment through gatherings, events, and ongoing skill-sharing within their network.
The team also has an established reputation of working with, according to Laura, “really interesting people,” and allowing their voices to thrive – especially creatively. “You’re not going to be doing your ‘10,000 banner ads’” she says. “You’re going to be doing something genuinely interesting. Possibly a bit weird, possibly not.”
“…it’s always going to be something that has creative and cultural value, because that is the work that we are set up to deliver.”
Marketer shout out
- Cristina Diezhandino, Chief Marketing Officer, Diageo
Learn more
- Laura Jordan Bambach on LinkedIn
- Hannah Hattie Matthews on LinkedIn
- Find Uncharted Studio Here
- Uncharted Studio on LinkedIn
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