Our Indie Year: Rise New York

Rise New York & Partners is evolving into Rise Global Creative, cementing our status as an independent network of creative companies. Closing an extraordinary 2024, we celebrate five years of reshaping the creative landscape with groundbreaking innovation and transformative achievements that signal a bold future for the industry.

Operating across North America, Latin America, and Europe, the Rise network specializes in strategy and creative, design, creative technology, experiential, and high-end Production—offering brand leaders a fresh alternative to the inefficiency of traditional big network agencies.

2024: A Year of Breakthroughs

This year, Rise made an unforgettable debut at Cannes Lions, earning a Silver Lion and seven shortlists, underscoring its reputation for world-class creativity. Accolades at The Drum Awards followed, with wins including Gold in Finance for Nubank and Silver in Retail for WAAW by Alok.

Rise also achieved remarkable business milestones, with 318% revenue growth and the team doubling from 25 to over 50 members globally. Six key leadership roles were added, ensuring the agency’s momentum is matched by a robust foundation.

Creative Highlights

From elevating an emerging audio brand to headliner status at Brazil’s largest music event to modernizing a legendary whisky brand for a younger audience, the agency delivered campaigns that combined cultural relevance with artistic excellence.

“The future of creativity isn’t about bigger budgets; it’s about smarter ideas. “Rise Global Creative delivers those ideas at the speed of culture.”—Flavio Vidigal, Partner and Chief Creative Officer

Notable achievements include an AI-powered campaign for Nubank celebrating its milestone of 100 million customers. This groundbreaking effort featured 100 million particles displayed on the world’s largest LED screen in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Rise partnered with Microsoft to debut a voice feature for its AI-powered Copilot Studio.

“I’ve always believed in the power of creativity to drive change. With Rise Global Creative, we’re building a platform for that change—one that places creativity firmly back at the heart of brand building, where it belongs.”—Flavio Vidigal

Expanding Capabilities Through Acquisitions

This year, Rise made two pivotal acquisitions to bolster its offerings. Spaces&Creatures was rebranded as Artlab by Rise, enhancing the agency’s ability to deliver cutting-edge brand experiences and architectural installations for clients like Nike and Google. Additionally, a NYC-based production shop was integrated under Studio by Rise, led by industry veterans Lilka Hara and Artur Ratton. Together, these moves enable seamless collaboration across LATAM and NORAM markets, setting the foundation for a broader global expansion in 2025.

“We’re not just an agency—we’re a network of creative possibilities. Our model allows us to scale alongside our clients, delivering results that can be truly felt.”—Flavio Vidigal

Global Partnerships on the Rise

Rise’s work attracted top-tier partnerships in 2024. Its collaboration with Google expanded from one to three global partnerships, placing Rise among the tech giant’s elite roster of agencies. Similarly, the team deepened its relationship with Riot Games, evolving from a LATAM partner to a preferred global vendor for campaigns and experiences.

“Technology has democratized creativity. Rise is here to harness that power, creating work that resonates on a global scale.”—Flavio Vidigal

Building a Diverse and Inclusive Future 

As an immigrant-owned company, Rise remains committed to fostering diversity. This year, women’s representation increased from 28.5% to 44.4%, with leadership reflecting Hispanic, Black, and Asian voices.

Key promotions and strategic hires

Flavio Vidigal, who has driven the company’s exponential growth by tripling revenue and expanding its footprint across three continents, will take on the role of Global Creative Chairman, continuing to steer the agency’s creative excellence. Joining him is Etienne Du Jardin, stepping up as Global COO, who will ensure seamless operational integration across offices. Pedro Vidigal has been appointed Global Managing Director, focusing on aligning strategic innovation with the evolving needs of modern brands, while Andre Holzmeister will spearhead the agency’s advancements in AI capabilities as the newly named Global Executive Creative Director.

Additionally, Rise has strengthened its creative roster with the appointment of Edson Pavoni as Global Head of Creative Technology and Isabella Nardini as Global Head of Brand Experience. These new hires reinforce the agency’s commitment to pushing creative boundaries and delivering transformative brand experiences on a global scale.

Industry Recognition

Rise’s transformative work in 2024 earned accolades from Cannes Lions, Ad Week, Ad Age, The Drum Awards, Campaign Online, LBBOnline, and Clio Awards, strengthening its position as a creative powerhouse.

Looking Ahead

As Rise prepares for its 2025 global expansion, its mission remains clear: helping legacy brands stay young and young brands build their legacy. “We’ve built something rare in today’s industry—a truly independent, creatively fluid network designed to move brands at the speed of culture,” said Vidigal. “We’re excited to show the world what’s next.”

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Indie Agency News members can share their 2024 with us. A few guidelines:

• Please put in a Google Doc and share with us here
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