A small team that does both halves
Based in Denver, Colorado, working with businesses anywhere. We build the tools and we run the marketing, because the two only work when they are made to fit.
How we started.
How we met
MapQuest, 2015. That's where we met, and where we first started building and marketing things together. Years later, we still love the work just as much — just for the businesses where our experience can matter most.
Why we started this
After ten years of that, we wanted to point the same experience at businesses that usually can't access it — the local shops, clubs and owner-operated companies that make our communities what they are.
Why that matters to you
You get people who've actually shipped things under pressure, working on your business like it's their own.
Why "Northstar"
The name comes from where we started: pointing people in the right direction at MapQuest. The north star is the direction you're moving, and we're helping you get there.
How we work
- 01
Discovery call
Not a pitch. We listen to what's actually going on and tell you, honestly, if we're the right fit.
- 02
We confirm the problem
Before anything else, so we're solving what's actually wrong, not what we assumed.
- 03
We recommend, you decide
A clear proposal: what we'd do, what it costs, what it takes.
- 04
We build like it's ours
This is a partnership. Your win is our win. When we don't know something, we say so, then go find out.
The people.
Small on purpose. You talk to the people doing the work.
Brian Thompson
Has spent a decade in product marketing, launching products and scaling them through adoption, retention and the full lifecycle. Has worked with both industry giants and fast moving startups, building brand identity and finding the growth that follows.
Kevin Colin
Has built across the stack: mobile apps, websites and custom systems, at every scale and across a range of industries. Brings the judgment that comes from actually shipping and maintaining what he builds.
What you can expect.
Clear scope, clear cost.
You'll know what a project costs and what it covers before we start. If something changes along the way, you hear about it before it hits the bill.
You own the work
Code, accounts, domains and content are yours. No lock-in, no hostage situations.
Numbers, not adjectives
Marketing reports tell you what was spent and what came back. If it did not work, we say so.
Built to grow
We choose tools that let your site or app expand without being thrown away in a year.