Independent Knowledge Partner Network Adds Bridge Insights & Media and Quimby Digital

Above: IKPN president Lindsay Rutherford

Independent Knowledge Partner Network (IKPN) has added strategic media agency Bridge Insights & Media and social media specialist Quimby Digital to its growing community of independent agencies. The two agencies both amplify and add skills to the network, which will give them technology upgrades and wider access to business partners, resources, and talent. The new partners take IKPN to 21 agencies throughout North America.

Bridge Insights & Media helps clients plan advertising more intelligently over the expanding media infrastructure. The agency is particularly adept with complex local businesses, government and social issue organisations.

Above: Bridge Insights & Media co-CEOs Jen Griffith (left) and Carrie Stein (right)

“We’re excited to really level up our tech stack, bringing more sophisticated tools to our clients,” said Bridge co-CEO Carrie Stein. “We had quite a few candid conversations with existing IKPN partners before signing on, and the resounding kind of anthem we heard was how IKPN legitimately helps with growth strategies.”

Quimby Digital is a social media agency specialising in strategy, content creation, and community management. Known for launching and scaling brand communities on platforms like Reddit, Quimby helps clients foster authentic engagement that drives real business results. The agency is also developing Wimbly, a proprietary AI-powered strategy tool designed to enhance social performance, which will debut later this year. With the upcoming IKPN technology upgrade, Quimby is expanding its capabilities in paid social, allowing the agency to deliver broader remits and bigger wins for its clients.

Above: Quimby Digital CEO Ashley Rector

“We’re going from one paid social person to having an entire operation,” said Ashley Rector, CEO of Quimby Digital. “And from the start of our conversations I’ve gotten practical, real advice continuously on how to strengthen our business – things I haven’t been able to see, talk through, or do as a solo founder.”

The momentum validates IKPN’s model, which sets it apart from holding companies, private equity firms, and other independent agency networks. Whereas holding companies own agencies outright, IKPN invests a minority stake – under 20% – and doesn’t make demands on management. Private equity looks to streamline and sell, while IKPN aims to help keep building in whatever direction management wants to go. Unlike other agency networks, IKPN gives partners dedicated technology and business resources from business development to finance and talent.

“We’re the growth avenue that keeps owners in control of their destiny,” said Lindsay Rutherford, president of IKPN. “We’re giving accomplished leaders the resources to build smarter, healthier, more enduring agencies. That’s our executive team’s sole focus, and it’s the top priority for our community.”

While IKPN partners are collaborative by nature, the network structure binds that spirit and proved attractive to Bridge. “There’s more accountability when you’re partners,” said Bridge co-CEO Jen Griffith. “We can get to strong partnerships faster when we share a network commitment.”

Started in 2021 to give agency owners access to digital media tools and scale to win larger customers, IKPN neither owns nor looks to sell agencies. Instead, the network makes minority-equity investments and provides its community of partners with HR, financial, new business, and technology consultation. IKPN’s funding base and technology access comes from Know Company, an ad tech company that founded the network.