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For immediate release

JumpStart From Ideasicle X Promises Advertising Agencies A Leg Up In New Business Pitches 

agencies get 20+ pitch ideas in 3 days, affordably

BOSTON, MA (December 14, 2023): Today, Ideasicle X has announced a new product called “JumpStart” that is designed specifically for advertising agencies who are pitching new business. With JumpStart, Ideasicle X will take an agency’s creative brief and use its proprietary web application to recruit a team of four A-list creative talent, brief them, and monitor their ideas, generated virtually, over a 3-day period. Agency directors will then be given online access to all the ideas the team comes up with and the thought processes that went into each. Agencies can expect at least 20 ideas per 3-day session to “jump start” their own creative process.

According to Ideasicle X CEO, Will Burns, “JumpStart is about helping agencies win more pitches. I was the Director of New Business at Arnold Worldwide for over seven years, so I know how mission-critical it is to get to the big idea quickly in a pitch. Our goal with JumpStart is to help agencies avoid the blank slate, and instead start with a flurry of ideas from incredible creative teams, and from which the agency can develop presentation-ready materials. And do it in a way that won’t break the pitch budget.”

3 days ~ 20+ ideas ~ $9,000

Ideasicle X is a web application designed specifically for virtual idea generation. Its model puts four creative freelancers together posting ideas, building on each other’s ideas, and riffing new ones. The company previously offered Subscriptions, where customers can run their own projects, or the company runs projects for customers, the deliverables of which are tight presentations of the team’s favorite 10+ ideas from each session. JumpStart is positioned between these two existing products.

Burns explains, “Agencies are generally great at knowing a good idea when they see one. So there are no fancy presentations with JumpStart, just the raw ideas from the creative teams. That’s how we keep the costs down and the timing tight, both of which are helpful in a pitch situation. It’s like a cheat code for agencies. I wish I had this at Arnold.”

North wins Ledlenser with a “jump start” from Ideasicle x

Rebecca Armstrong, CEO North

Rebecca Armstrong, CEO of North, an advertising agency from Portland, OR, recently leveraged their Subscription to Ideasicle X to help win the Ledlenser pitch. The team of four virtual freelancers came up with over 25 ideas in a short period of time and, in this case, Ideasicle X CEO, Will Burns, was asked to observe the session and advise the agency in realtime. One of the ideas provided the inspiration for the North teams to win the pitch. According to Burns, it was this experience that inspired JumpStart as a separate product.

Armstrong said this of her experience, “It's a powerful way to get loads of ideas from top talent both affordably and in collaboration with our internal teams.”

To inquire, companies are asked to email or call Will Burns: (e) willb@ideasicle.com, (ph) 617-304-3268.

About Ideasicle X

Ideasicle X is the first web application designed from the ground up specifically for idea-generation for teams of four working remotely. With a Subscription to our virtual platform you can choose any four talents to mentally collide, spark each other, and build upon each other’s ideas. Or Ideasicle X will manage it all for you. Ten years in development, the virtual model we have pioneered is changing the way advertising agencies and clients work with freelance creative talent and with their employees. Founder and CEO, Will Burns, is an advertising veteran from such creative agencies as Wieden & Kennedy, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Mullen, and Arnold. More at www.ideasiclex.com. 

For media inquiries, please contact: Will Burns, (617) 304-3268, willb@ideasicle.com

 
 
 

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Ideasicle X, Ernie Schenck, and Conductor Partner for Rogerson Communities, Form Firebrand

BOSTON – October 24, 2023 - When Rogerson Communities, a Boston-based provider of housing and healthcare for older adults needed a ‘Brand Positioning Study’ they called on Rich Schreuer, a market researcher with Echo Cove Research. He tested multiple broad positions for the brand and the messaging was starting to emerge.

But they needed a branding partner to give these insights meaning and relevance. 

The answer was CEO Will Burns and Ideasicle X. Burns explains what happened next. “We had research on the outside audiences and their perceptions of the brand, but we wanted to know what the people who worked at Rogerson thought of the organization. So we started there.”

Burns continues, “Once the strategy was approved, I recruited a creative team of four experienced writers, including Ernie Schenck, David Baldwin, and Monica Taylor, using the Ideasicle X web application and we came up with two rounds of 10 different taglines. As part of the Ideasicle X process, one of the assigned creatives on the taglines project—Ernie Schenck—was also assigned to write a manifesto to bring to life (and make actionable) the approved tagline.”

“That was as far as we normally took our branding projects. But Ernie Schenck had the idea to create a larger brand offering where we don’t stop with the manifesto, but instead go all the way to a produced video (light bulb moment). I loved the idea but we needed a production partner we could count on,” adds Burns.

“The answer for an anthem video was found with production company, Conductor, and Head of Growth and Relationships, Mike Wilmot and Executive Producer Margie Sullivan. I’d worked with both of them before and figured I’d approach them about turning manifestos like the Rogerson Manifesto into compelling brand videos. They agreed and joined Ideasicle X and Ernie Schenck.  We had our partner and Ideasicle Firebrand was born,” said Burns.

The result for Rogerson, with voiceover from Lance Jensen, is a tagline, manifesto, and a 2:00 minute video called “The Art of Well Being” which visually and impactfully illustrates Rogerson’s brand and their commitment to healthy aging.

The resulting brand anthem video:

Rogerson Vice President, Advancement and Marketing Courtney Barth commented, “Our gratitude for your deep understanding and generosity is truly incalculable.  Rogerson has been in existence for nearly 165 years, and because of your work, the organization finally has the perfect words and vision for what we do. We can’t wait to share it with everyone. Thank you!”

Researcher Rich Schreuer adds, “I’ve worked with a lot of creative agencies and found that most feel constrained by research, believing that it limits their creative freedom. Ideasicle X takes the opposite approach, using research as the foundation for their creative execution.  Indeed, I’ve never seen an agency embrace research insights like this. You can clearly see the research come to life throughout the brand video.

The video will be used to inform employees and outside vendors of the Rogerson brand. It will also be seen on the Rogerson website, at their donor gala in the spring and on social media channels.

Creative credits belong to Will Burns and Ideasicle X for strategy and brand idea concepts/manifesto, writer Ernie Schenck, Production Margie Sullivan and Mike Wilmot at Conductor, Editor Ellen Lacy and Voiceover, Lance Jensen.

ABOUT ROGERSON

Rogerson Communities has been providing housing and health care for elders and low-income individuals and families since it was founded in 1860. Today, we serve over 2,000 Greater Boston families through 30 facilities and programs — providing greater independence and longevity to a diversity of individuals. More information: www.rogerson.org.

ABOUT IDEASICLE FIREBRAND

Ideasicle Firebrand is the combination of Ideasicle X, a virtual web application designed for virtual idea generation, Ernie Schenck, renowned and award winning creative director and writer, and Conductor, a full service production company, with the singular aim of developing brand ideas with A-list creative talent all the way through to a brand anthem video, and all for $100,000. More information: www.ideasiclex.com/firebrand.

 
 
 

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Ideasicle X Announces Free Subscription With Any ProXy Service Purchase 

Virtual idea generation firm looks to goose its subscription penetration with the “proxy power-up promo.”

BOSTON, MA (September 18, 2023): Today, Ideasicle X has announced a new incentive for its ProXy Service product: a free one-year subscription (a $5,000 value). The platform currently allows users to subscribe and run their own idea projects—recruit teams of four, upload creative briefs, monitor the ideas, etc.—or customers can hire Ideasicle X to run the idea projects for them through its ProXy Service. Starting today, any customers of the ProXy Service get a one-year Subscription to the platform free. More importantly, customers get to see the web application in action before they start managing idea projects themselves.

According to Ideasicle X CEO, Will Burns, “We all know the saying, ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ This promotion is like that only with ideas, not fish. Ideasicle X will teach the customer how to use the web application with the ProXy Service project so they can generate ideas themselves whenever they’re needed once the Subscription begins.”

we do it. then you do it.

Ideasicle X is a web application designed specifically for virtual idea generation. With the ProXy Service, Ideasicle X handles the entire process. A Strategist is briefed by the customer on the creative problem to be solved and then the Strategist manages two rounds of idea generation with a team of 4 creative freelancers. This white glove service costs $25,000 for two rounds of 10+ ideas. That includes all payments to any Ideasicle Experts (creative freelancers).

The customer typically does not engage directly with the platform with the ProXy Service. However, as part of the promotion, they will be invited as “Observers” so they can watch the teams post, build, and riff on their ideas. This feature allows the customers to get familiar with the Ideasicle X web application from a distance while a skilled Strategist navigates the process. Once the ProXy Service project is over, the customer gets a free one-year Subscription so they can open up and run their own projects without the white glove service (or associated cost). There will be fees associated with hiring creative freelancers for future idea projects, but the Subscription to the platform will be free.

The Subscription retails for $500/month or $5,000 per year for unlimited idea projects.

IDEASICLE X IS A NEW WAY TO COME UP WITH IDEAS.

Burns admits most customers are not used to having four creative people on a single team, nor used to navigating a software platform in order to generate the ideas, but says that’s the opportunity.

“We typically see 30-50 ideas per one-week session using this model. And due to its virtual nature, customers will see their freelance costs cut in half. I think once a customer can see it in action with our ProXy Service, they’ll realize how easy it is to implement themselves and how powerful they will be with a steady stream of ideas at their fingertips.”

To inquire, companies are asked to email or call Will Burns: (e) willb@ideasiclex.com, (ph) 617-304-3268.

About Ideasicle X

Ideasicle X is the first software platform designed from the ground up specifically for idea-generation for teams of four working remotely. With a Subscription to our virtual platform you can choose any four talents to mentally collide, spark each other, and build upon each other’s ideas. With our ProXy Service, we do it all for you. Ten years in development, the model we have pioneered is changing the way advertising agencies and clients work with freelance creative talent and with their employees. Founder and CEO, Will Burns, is an advertising veteran from such creative agencies as Wieden & Kennedy, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Mullen and Arnold. More at www.ideasiclex.com. 

For media inquiries, please contact: Will Burns, (617) 304-3268, willb@ideasiclex.com

 
 
 

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Ideasicle X Targets Start-up Community With ‘Brand Essentials’ Bundle 

Virtual idea generation firm applies its world-class advertising talent to develop brand ideas for start-ups.

BOSTON, MA (May 17, 2023): Today, Ideasicle X has announced a new product bundle designed specifically for start-ups called “The Brand Essentials Bundle.” The bundle includes three separate but essential elements of branding: the focus and unifying inspiration of a brand idea/tagline, a manifesto to help socialize the brand idea, and go-to-market ideas to get the word out. And the idea firm is offering this bundle at 20% off the amount they would charge individually for all three ($36,000 vs $45,000).

one project informs and inspires the next.

The bundled process begins with a call where the start-up leadership briefs an Ideasicle X strategist about the company, its products/services, its ambitions, competition, and anything else relevant. The strategist will then prepare a creative brief reflecting the essence of the company and recruit a team of four Ideasicle Experts. These four will remain intact for the entire trilogy of the Brand Essential Bundle. The strategist will utilize the Ideasicle X SaaS platform to manage the idea generating process virtually. And will execute the projects in a cascading fashion, where the approved idea from the first informs the second project, and the second informs the third.

According to Ideasicle X CEO, Will Burns, despite the up front costs associated with the Brand Essentials Bundle companies will dramatically increase marketing efficiencies over time. “All brands need a powerful, single-minded brand idea to galvanize all the company’s marketing activities. Don’t try to be known for ten little things, be known for one big thing that is differentiating and motivating to the marketplace. Without a brand idea a company is left with random acts of marketing that add up to nothing. We want to help start-ups get off on the right foot.”

A core competency of Ideasicle X.

Ideasicle X has completed brand idea projects for countless companies, including Rogerson Communities, MassPay, Seybert’s Billiards, and many more. It’s what Burns calls the company’s core competency, while not charging hundreds of thousands of dollars for the service.

“There is nothing more valuable in marketing than the brand idea. As such, our creative teams are extremely motivated to work on these projects. And our virtual model massively reduces overhead and, with four rock-star creatives on your team, amplifies idea generation.”

Burns claims there’s no other way to get creative people this famous within the advertising community to generate something this valuable to a company for this price.

To inquire, companies are asked to email or call Will Burns: (e) willb@ideasiclex.com, (ph) 617-304-3268.

About Ideasicle X

Ideasicle X is the first software platform designed from the ground up specifically for idea-generation for teams of four working remotely. With a Subscription to our virtual platform you can choose any four talents to mentally collide, spark each other, and build upon each other’s ideas. With our ProXy Service, we do it all for you. Ten years in development, the model we have pioneered is changing the way advertising agencies and clients work with freelance creative talent and with their employees. Founder and CEO, Will Burns, is an advertising veteran from such creative agencies as Wieden & Kennedy, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Mullen and Arnold. More at www.ideasiclex.com. 

For media inquiries, please contact: Will Burns, (617) 304-3268, willb@ideasiclex.com

 
 
 

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Ideasicle X Challenges Super Bowl Advertisers In 2024 To Focus On The Idea 

Another dismal year of Super Bowl Advertising Has IX taking matters into their own hands.

BOSTON, MA (February 16, 2023): Today, Ideasicle X has launched a promotion entitled, “For The Love Of God, If You're Going To Spend $7M To Run A Super Bowl Spot, Spend $30K On A Great Idea.” Targeted to brands running spots on the 2024 Super Bowl, the company will come up with two rounds of 10+ TV concepts (over 20 total) using its state-of-the-art virtual idea generating platform and four of its A-list advertising creatives. For $30,000 the offering also includes a script for one concept of the client’s choice.

Will Burns, Founder & CEO of Ideasicle X, says the idea came to him while watching the 2023 Super Bowl. “I couldn’t believe I was sitting through yet another year of lame Super Bowl spots. I mean, some were ok, but most were like a high school marketing club wrote them. I knew we had to take matters into our own hands.”

Burns went on to say better ads in the Super Bowl are in everyone’s interest. The network, the NFL, the brands, the viewers who look forward to the ads, and the advertising industry itself who need to maintain this vehicle for showcasing what great creative can be.

both agencies and clients can participate in this promotion.

If you’re a marketer working directly with Ideasicle X, getting 20+ ideas from Ideasicle X creative talent is insurance against your agency perhaps missing the mark. If you’re an agency, getting the creative boost of 20+ ideas when your talent is stretched on other client business.

Burns explained, “All we want are more and better ideas in the world. That’s it. We do this kind of thing all year round, but right now we want to focus on the traditional Holy Grail of advertising media, the Super Bowl. Something had to be done.”

About Ideasicle X

Ideasicle X is the first software platform designed from the ground up specifically for idea-generation for teams of four working remotely. With a Subscription to our virtual platform you can choose any four talents to mentally collide, spark each other, and build upon each other’s ideas. With our ProXy Service, we do it all for you. Ten years in development, the model we have pioneered is changing the way advertising agencies and clients work with freelance creative talent and with their employees. Founder and CEO, Will Burns, is an advertising veteran from such creative agencies as Wieden & Kennedy, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Mullen and Arnold. More at www.ideasiclex.com. 

For media inquiries, please contact: Will Burns, (617) 304-3268, willb@ideasiclex.com

 
 
 

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Ideasicle X Announces New Client Team Functionality 

Ideasicle X now allows job organizers to invite idea directors and observers to live idea jobs.

BOSTON, MA (August 25, 2022): Today, Ideasicle X announces a new feature to the Ideasicle X platform that will give job Organizers of idea projects the power to invite Observers (view only) and Idea Directors (full permissions) to each idea project. This feature means that Organizers are no longer working alone on the client side, but can invite team members to engage with the creative teams of four working on the project or just view the idea activity passively as an FYI.

Will Burns, Founder & CEO of Ideasicle X, says the idea came from customers. “What we heard from most customers is they want one person responsible for setting up jobs, inviting teams, uploading the briefs, and handling the freelance payments (if any), and another person (like the creative director or strategist) to actively monitor the ideas as they’re posted, post comments and course corrections, as necessary, and generally be an active participant on the live job. And still others who may just want to observe the job as it unfolds, but not necessarily engage. Today, Organizers can do all of that.”

Burns said most of the beta testers and early customers, including 180/NY, White Rhino, North, and Lucky Generals, influenced his decision to build this new functionality.

Implications of this new feature means for Ideasicle X users.

Ideasicle X now has the following options for its “Client Team”:

  1. ORGANIZERS - owns the Ideasicle X Command Center, can start new jobs, invite teams, upload briefs, pay any freelancers, track freelance budgets, and invite Observers and Idea Directors into live jobs.

  2. OBSERVERS - invited to a live job by an Organizer with “view only” permissions, so they can see what’s getting posted, but are invisible to the Idea Team. Up to three are allowed.

  3. IDEA DIRECTORS - invited to a live job by an Organizer with the same permissions as the Idea Team, so they can post ideas, post comments to ideas, and generally “direct” the teams. Only one is allowed.

MORE POWER TO THE ORGANIZERS WHILE PROTECTING THE DELICATE CREATIVE PROCESS.

This three-tiered solution allows the customer to involve more of their team in the idea-generation process, but does so in a way that doesn’t disrupt the delicate creative process of the virtual Idea Team of four. The Ideasicle X model was designed for four creative people for a reason. Any more than that (plus an Organizer) and they’ve found the team tends to feel “on stage” and more likely to clam up. Any less than that and they found a user can lose the exponential effect, the flurry of 30-40-50 ideas per session that come from four perspectives colliding.

The Organizers were already able to course-correct the team if they go astray. Now they can invite their creative director to do the same and take a back seat themselves. And because the Idea Director can fully engage with the team, only one is allowed to preserve the intimacy of the team.

The Observers are invisible to the Idea Team, so will not disrupt the mojo of the team in any way. Up to three flies can be invited per job.


 About Ideasicle X

Ideasicle X is the first software platform designed from the ground up specifically for idea-generation for teams of four working remotely. A virtual platform where any four talents of your choosing mentally collide, spark each other, and build upon each other’s ideas. Ten years in development, the model we have pioneered is changing the way advertising agencies work with freelance creative talent and with their employees. Founder and CEO, Will Burns, is an advertising veteran from such creative agencies as Wieden & Kennedy, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Mullen and Arnold. More at www.ideasiclex.com. 

For media inquiries, please contact: Will Burns, (617) 304-3268, willb@ideasiclex.com

 
 
 

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Three Agencies From Three Countries Produce Three Ideas From Ideasicle X In Support Of Prevent WW3 

Ideasicle X answers the call from Ukraine’s Prevent WW3 effort with twelve ideas, calls for more agencies to step up.

BOSTON, MA (March 16, 2022): Today, Ideasicle X announces that twelve ideas were developed by a team of four Ideasicle Experts using the Ideasicle X virtual idea-generation platform in support of the worldwide calling from a Ukrainian organization calling itself “Prevent WW3.” The Ideasicle X ideas were posted publicly on its X Factor Blog with a call-to-action to other agencies to produce those that resonated most with them. To date, three of the Ideasicle X ideas have been adopted for production by three different agencies in three different countries.

Gargoyle Creative, out of Dublin, Ireland, has agreed to produce the “Imaginary Chicken Kiev” concept. The [isdgroup], a Ukrainian agency and one of those who launched the Prevent WW3 effort, applied for implementation of Ideasicle X’s “Build A New Ukraine” concept, but now [isdgroup] supports this project, which will be implemented by Angry Agency, as they had a similar idea at the same time. And an agency from the USA who wishes to remain anonymous has agreed to produce the “Z” concept. That leaves 9 ideas for other agencies to consider producing.

Will Burns is the Founder & CEO of the virtual idea generation platform, Ideasicle X, whose mantra is “Nothing is unthinkable,” said this of the effort, “I have been so heartened by the response to our ideas and the fact three agencies have stepped up to produce three ideas. The only thing that is truly unthinkable is war, so I pray more agencies will step up and leverage our industry’s tremendous creative resources to help prevent world war three.”

Burns mobilized quickly when he learned of the Prevent WW3 brief, which was posted publicly in February. He assembled a team made up of creative greats Ernie Schenck, Don McKinney, Claudia Caplan, and one Ideasicle Expert who chose to remain anonymous. This team of four were briefed on the platform and within a few days came up with thirty ideas while working together virtually, twelve of which were chosen by Burns for public display. The raw ideas, exactly as they were developed on the platform, were included as PDF links within the description of each idea on the blog post. 

“Z”

“Imaginary Chicken Kiev”

“Build A Stronger Ukraine”

Oksana Gonchar, the Creative Group Head of [isdgroup] agency, based in Kyiv, welcomed the help. “We were so appreciative of the work from Ideasicle X. It is very inspiring for us Ukrainians to see people unite to help us fight evil together. So many talented creators are now offering to help us. But action is the most important thing. No client would tell you that your idea is too risky, too controversial, too grim or has wrong tone of voice. This is a list of great ideas. Just act.”

Any agencies who wish to participate by producing one of the Ideasicle X ideas can indicate as much within the blog post using the short forms embedded with each idea. Production of the ideas are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis.

 About Ideasicle X

Ideasicle X is the first software platform designed from the ground up specifically for idea-generation for teams working remotely. A virtual platform where any four talents of your choosing mentally collide, spark each other, and build upon each other’s ideas. Ten years in development, the model we have pioneered is changing the way advertising agencies work with freelance creative talent and with their employees. Founder and CEO, Will Burns, is an advertising veteran from such creative agencies as Wieden & Kennedy, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Mullen and Arnold. More at www.ideasiclex.com. 

For media inquiries, please contact: Will Burns, (617) 304-3268, willb@ideasiclex.com

 
 
 

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