Former AKQA Creative Chiefs Launch !F Creative Capital: Agency Takes Equity Stakes in Client Brands

Two former chief creative officers from AKQA, Duan Evans and Timo Otsuki, are launching a new agency called !F Creative Capital. The shop will offer conventional creative services but with a twist: clients can pay partly in equity or through revenue-sharing tied to sales. The model aims to align agency incentives with client growth, especially for startups and emerging brands that may lack large marketing budgets. Evans and Otsuki believe this approach can attract ambitious founders who want a true partner invested in their success. The agency will focus on brand strategy, design, and digital experiences, leveraging the founders' pedigree from AKQA, where they worked with major global clients. !F Creative Capital is entering a competitive landscape, but its equity-based compensation could differentiate it from traditional agencies. The founders see this as a way to build long-term relationships and share in the upside of client success. The launch reflects a broader trend of agencies experimenting with alternative pricing models to stay relevant. Whether this model scales beyond early adopters remains to be seen, but it signals a shift toward more entrepreneurial agency-client partnerships.