Fast Company Names Code and Theory One of the World's Most Innovative Companies

Rhea-AI Summary

Code and Theory, a Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) company, has been named to Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies 2025 in two categories: Design and Teamwork. The creative and technology network, uniquely balanced with 50% creative professionals and 50% engineers, was recognized for several transformative projects:

Notable achievements include rebuilding NBC's Big Board, which helped MSNBC achieve record viewership; transforming the NFL app resulting in 5 million weekly users and 2.3 billion minutes of game streaming; revamping the Minnesota Star Tribune's digital experience, reaching 32% of monthly subscriber goals within 24 hours; and launching YETI's interactive platform with 28% engagement rate.

The company also announced its new Enterprise Experience Transformation (EXT) practice, led by former Accenture executive Adriana Rubio, addressing AI disruption challenges in the consulting ecosystem.

Positive

• Record-breaking engagement metrics across multiple client projects
• Strategic expansion with new Enterprise Experience Transformation practice
• Multiple industry recognitions including Fast Company's Innovation Awards and Ad Age's B2B Agency of the Year
• Demonstrated success in digital transformation projects generating measurable client ROI

Negative

• None.

The creative and technology network was honored twice based upon its transformational work for NBC, NFL, Minnesota Star Tribune and other top clients.

NEW YORK, March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Code and Theory, part of Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), has been named to Fast Company's prestigious list of the World's Most Innovative Companies for 2025, twice. The only technology and creative network with a balance of 50% creative and 50% engineers, Code and Theory partners with its clients to redefine what is possible to create lasting impact and drive long-term growth.

Code and Theory was honored within both Fast Company's Design and Teamwork categories. Fast Company created the special Teamwork list this year to honor the most innovative companies that demonstrated a high degree of collaboration in developing new products, ideas and strategies, either by bringing together internal teams or partnering with outside organizations to realize their innovations. Code and Theory was recognized for its partnership with The Minnesota Star Tribune for transforming the news experience.

This recognition places Code and Theory among industry giants like Waymo, Nvidia, Duolingo — companies that are driving innovation, redefining industry standards and reaching remarkable milestones. 

Code and Theory is reshaping industries, including finance, publishing, sports and government, setting new standards for innovation. In 2024 alone, the network's creative work drove bold, measurable results for its clients. For example, Code and Theory:

• Amid widespread misinformation, cyber threats and political polarization, Code and Theory rebuilt NBC's Big Board from the ground up, ensuring it delivered meticulously verified, real-time election data and transformed complex statistics into clear, engaging narratives. The Big Board (and on-air data analyst Steve Kornacki) propelled MSNBC to its most viewers in network history surpassing rival CNN. See the case study.
• Transformed the NFL app from a static tool into a dynamic, fan-first experience that reflects the league's energy and boldness. The relaunched app drives over 5 million weekly users, and fans streamed more than 2.3 billion minutes worth of games last year (that's more than 10x the Netflix catalog). Explore the case study.
• In less than six months, Code and Theory delivered a comprehensive transformation for the Minnesota Star Tribune: a modern digital experience that's more accessible for younger readers, created new premium opportunities for advertisers, and leveraged best-in-class technology to build the system so it can all flex for the future. Less than 24 hours after launch, The Minnesota Star Tribune hit 32% of its monthly subscriber goal. Read all about it here.
• Built, designed and launched YETI's newest brand experience, Plan Your Wildest Year Yet. This interactive platform empowers adventure seekers everywhere to generate their very own custom calendar of global outdoor events to kick off 2025 right. The 28% "Add to Calendar" rate was 25% over the industry benchmark for campaign website engagement and made for hundreds of thousands of events added, proving YETI tapped into real outdoor demand. See the award-winning work.

Code and Theory continues to drive impact with the launch of its new Enterprise Experience Transformation (EXT) practice. Debuting at Adobe Summit today, this strategic initiative will solve a critically overlooked market challenge: the siloed consulting ecosystem, leaving businesses dangerously unprepared for AI disruption. Adriana Rubio, who built the world's largest Adobe practice during her tenure at Accenture, joined Code and Theory as managing director of the EXT practice earlier this month.

Code and Theory Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Dan Gardner says, "Being recognized for our teamwork with the Minnesota Star Tribune is a particular honor. We've built Code and Theory around talent with different skill sets from Deloitte to Cosmopolitan to the White House. Our leaders thrive at bringing our clients' entire C-suite together. This is the secret to our innovative culture, which is obsessively focused on solving for tomorrow's opportunities." 

Code and Theory was named Ad Age's B2B Agency of the Year last week and has also been named Digiday's Most Innovative Company among other honors.

Code and Theory CEO Michael Treff says, "Innovation isn't just about the big ideas. It's about executing them in ways that drive measurable impact. Our ability to merge design and technology has delivered tangible outcomes for our clients, helping them solve complex challenges and achieve long-term growth. By always focusing on the customer experience first, we can unlock innovation that drives business results."

Fast Company Editor-in-Chief Brendan Vaughan says, "Our list of the Most Innovative Companies offers both a comprehensive look at innovation today and a playbook for the future. This year, we recognize companies that are harnessing AI in deep and meaningful ways, brands that are turning customers into superfans by overdelivering for them and challengers that are introducing bold ideas and vital competition to their industries. At a time when the world is rapidly shifting, these companies are charting the way forward."

About The Code and Theory Network
The Code and Theory Network is the only technology and creative network with a balance of 50% creative and 50% engineers. Our unique makeup makes us the place where CMOs, CTOs and CIOs come together to drive results for their businesses. We partner with our clients to redefine what is possible to create lasting impact and drive long-term growth. Part of Stagwell, Code and Theory offers a global footprint and the capabilities to work across the entirety of the customer-facing journey and implement the technology that powers it. The network includes the flagship agency Code and Theory as well as Kettle, Instrument, Left Field Labs, Truelogic, Create. Group, Rhythm and Mediacurrent. Code and Theory clients include Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, NBC, NFL and Yeti. For more, visit codeandtheory.com

About Stagwell
Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world's most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 40+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

CONTACT:
Kenneth Hein
kenneth.hein@codeandtheory.com

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SOURCE Stagwell Inc.

FAQ

What major achievements led to Stagwell's (STGW) Code and Theory winning Fast Company's innovation award in 2025?

Code and Theory won in Design and Teamwork categories for transforming NBC's Big Board, revamping the NFL app (5M weekly users), Minnesota Star Tribune's digital platform, and YETI's interactive experience.

How successful was Code and Theory's NFL app transformation for Stagwell (STGW)?

The transformed NFL app attracted over 5 million weekly users and generated 2.3 billion minutes of game streaming, exceeding Netflix's catalog by 10x.

What results did the Minnesota Star Tribune achieve after Code and Theory's digital transformation?

The Star Tribune reached 32% of its monthly subscriber goal within 24 hours of launching the new digital experience.

What was the engagement rate for YETI's new platform developed by Stagwell's (STGW) Code and Theory?

YETI's 'Plan Your Wildest Year Yet' platform achieved a 28% 'Add to Calendar' rate, exceeding industry benchmarks by 25%.