Powered by Happiness: How Launch has Built a Performance Marketing Agency That Puts its People and Clients First

The Challenge

Scaling a performance marketing agency profitably in a market dominated by volume-based, transactional work — while avoiding the commoditisation trap and building something genuinely differentiated.

The Strategy

Launch deliberately moved away from high-volume PPC work toward fewer, larger, longer client relationships, evolving into a strategic growth partner rather than a service provider.

Execution and Innovation

Its proprietary Seven Pillars of Growth framework and Connected Performance model delivered a full-funnel approach combining media, measurement and experimentation, underpinned by a psychologically safe culture and 377% more investment in people.

Results

Launch grew to £3.25 million over four years, with profit up 241%, a 79% win rate, client NPS of 79 against an industry average of 51, and new business dependency falling from 39% to 15%.

Judges' Verdict

*"A benchmark for modern marketing, its Connected Performance model and Experimentation Academy represent genuine intellectual property that transcends standard service delivery."*

*"A mature, values-led ecosystem where strategy, people, and results are inextricably linked to drive long-term, repeatable growth."*