A member benefit

Sister Cities

Two markets. A few months. No agenda, just good company.

We pair independent agencies from two different markets and put them together for a stretch. You get to know each other — video, Slack, or in person — and celebrate what makes being independent worth it. Share what you know while you're at it.

Business has come out of these a few times, which is great. It tends to happen because somebody was generous first.

Markets are set by an agency's HQ, but if you're remote you should take part where you live, not where your logo does.

24 markets · 12 pairings · 357 agencies · This round runs through December 31, 2026

Find your market

Type your city. Markets are grouped by metro area, the way a media DMA is — so if you're in Culver City you're in Los Angeles, and if you're in Sewickley you're in Keystone.

Type the city you live in, not just your agency's. A market is set by the agency's HQ, but plenty of you are remote or sitting in a second office. If you're in Denver working for a New York shop, you belong in Rocky Mountain too. Just reply to the pairing email you already got and we'll fold you in — nothing to sign up for.

Your city

What people have done with it

Curiosity in Cincinnati and Brandenburg in Reykjavik were paired in the very first round, back at the start of 2025. They ran a one-week talent swap — real people, on the ground, in each other's shops. They're still in touch several rounds later.

Other markets have simply thrown a happy hour. Both count.

Easy to start

A shared Slack channel that outlives the round. Somebody makes it, everyone joins, it's still there in March.
Host when you travel. Say when you'll be in their city. This is how the in-person ones happen.
Guest on each other's show. Plenty of members run a podcast or a newsletter. It's a 45-minute ask.

Worth an hour

Show and tell, no clients in the room. Three pieces each and honest reactions.
Bring the pitch you lost. Harder, better, and something only peers can do together.
Trade vendor lists. Editors, music licensing, PR, insurance, benefits. Unglamorous, worth money.
Sit in on a new-business call. Silent observer. Costs nothing, teaches plenty.

The bigger swing

A talent swap. A week like Curiosity and Brandenburg, or one brief, or a single day. Any size works.
A joint response. When a brief needs something you don't have, your sister market might.
A market happy hour. Pick a night, pick a bar, tell z so he can be jealous.

How it works

There aren't really any rules. Sort out what works for the two of you.

Getting going: Your pairing email has everyone on it. Reply-all and introduce yourself. In practice one or two people get things moving, and that's usually all it takes.
How often: Once or twice a month suits most groups. Video, Slack, a shared channel, whatever fits.
Where you live: Markets follow the agency's HQ. People don't. Everyone at your agency gets the email for your agency's market — but if you work remotely, or from another office, you're welcome in the market where you live too. Reply to that email and we'll connect you. No form, no list to join. An agency in two conversations isn't a problem; it's the whole idea.
In person: Nothing would make z happier. If it happens, let him know. He may cash in some miles and join you.
The lawyer bit: Be thoughtful about anything sensitive, and leave actual pricing out of it. Nobody's worried — it just got mentioned once and now it lives here.
Above all: Have fun with it.

What changed this round

We reorganized the markets. We're at about 350 agencies now, and a few markets had one or two members in them, which makes for a very short conversation. So some merged, some picked up better names, and every pairing now has enough people in it to be worth your calendar. Nothing was cut and nobody was dropped — as we grow, some will split back out. Amsterdam is already close. Your pairing history came with you, so a market you were paired with under its old name still counts as used.