DesignRush

The business operates a two-sided B2B marketplace with a free demand side (brands) and a monetised supply side (agencies). It creates value for brands and procurement teams by vetting project briefs and curating shortlists of relevant agencies, reducing search and evaluation overhead. It creates value for agencies by aggregating demand into a central directory and marketplace, then routing pre-vetted RFPs and enquiries, enhancing discoverability through rankings, awards and editorial content, and providing performance analytics on profile activity.

Revenue is primarily generated from agencies through subscription memberships that unlock access to exclusive marketplace projects, visitor insights, and relationship management, as well as through tiered sponsorship packages that guarantee top category positions, expanded access to projects and integrated promotional placements (articles, banners, newsletters). Additional revenue comes from promotional and awards-related upsells tied to editorial exposure and recognition programmes. The model relies on recurring fees, upsell conversion from free directory listings to higher tiers, and the perceived value of high-intent, pre-vetted leads.

DesignRush is a United States-based B2B marketplace that connects brands with digital, design, marketing and software agencies. It operates an online directory and project marketplace where brands can post projects for free and receive a vetted shortlist of agencies, while agencies use the platform for visibility, lead generation and award-based editorial exposure.

The company generates revenue from the agency side through paid marketplace memberships, sponsorship packages that guarantee higher ranking and visibility, and promotional and awards-related upsells. Its primary customers are agencies that pay recurring fees or sponsorship charges to access pre-vetted RFPs, gain preferential placement in directories and rankings, and receive analytics and account support. Brands and procurement teams use the platform without direct fees to source agencies and manage the early stages of vendor selection.