It’s one thing to say you want to change the world and another thing entirely to do it. Scout Lab, a bi-coastal creative agency, knows the difference. The brands they work with don’t simply exist for social media likes or fortune—they’re here to make the world a better place, even in small ways. So when Scout Lab says “We build brands that advance humanity forward,” they genuinely mean it.

BIPOC and queer-owned Scout Lab was born when Willow Hill, co-founder and CCO, and Kaitlyn Barclay, co-founder and CEO, joined forces after working separately in the tech world. Willow and Kaitlyn were initially introduced through a mutual friend, but it wasn’t until they both moved to New York around the same time that they truly connected. Willow had extensive experience in purpose-driven brands, and before starting her own agency, she worked with Airbnb to build the hospitality brand globally. Kaitlyn worked in multi-sided marketplaces and was a part of various startups, including one acquired by ClassPass in 2015. But it was the 2016 election that prompted them to combine their skills to fight injustice and create a better, more inclusive, and more equitable world.