Winner: Portal A
A digital content company, Portal A got its start in the early days of internet video with its first project, the web series White Collar Brawler, which eventually ran for multiple seasons on TV. From day one, the agency’s goal was to help brands evolve from advertisers to content creators by providing in-house creative direction, production services, talent partnerships and distribution. In 2019, after a decade of independent growth, Portal A partnered with Jimmy Kimmel’s media company, Wheelhouse, which took a minority stake in the company.
Today, Portal A’s 40-person shop enables a range of brands, including Target, Google, Clorox, Amazon, AB InBev, Universal Pictures, Major League Baseball and Lenovo, to connect with consumers through original content. It also produces original series, specials and films for streaming platforms such as YouTube, Snapchat, Disney and Netflix. For example, the agency created Snapchat Originals’ flagship series Level Up With Stephen Curry, in which Curry mentors a new generation of athletes.
Last year was a banner year for the company. Across original series, brand films and viral moments, the agency reached more than 75 million viewers online, while its content racked up 820,000-plus hours of total watch time.
