Advertising Industry Associations Partner to Launch World’s First LLM Benchmark for Creativity

Built for Humans, Backed by Icons: Springboards Secures Investor Support to Shape the Future of AI and Creativity

Springboards, the AI-powered platform built to inspire creativity and not give you the answers, today announced a significant milestone: the addition of a significant number of strategic investors to accelerate its mission of keeping creative humans in the creative equation. These new partnerships follow unprecedented adoption by over 200 top agencies and underscore the growing belief that AI, when centred around humans and collaboration, is a game-changer for the industry.

With backing from leaders across the advertising, tech, and venture capital worlds including Chris Colter, Managing Director, Media Strategy, Accenture Song A/NZ Australia, Chris Savage, Business Growth Specialist, The Savage Company, Christian Hughes Principal & President, Cutwater Agency, Chuck McBride, CCO & Founder, Cutwater Agency, Connon Bray, Co-founder Tracksuit & Ideally, Ellie Rogers, former Sales Director at Snap, Gabrielle Tenaglia, Head of Marketing, Lettuce, Glen Cassidy, Consultant, Henry Innis, Co-founder, Mutinex, James Hurman, Founding Partner, Previously Unavailable, Mat Baxter, former global CEO, Huge, Matt Hermann, Founding Partner, JAM Branding, Nigel Carr, former CSO The Tombras Group, Reuben Halper , Head of YouTube, Google New Zealand, Rosie and Faris Yakob, Co-founders Genius Steals, Sammy Preston, APAC Client Council and Industry Trade Relations Lead, Meta, Simon Pound, Managing Partner Previously Unavailable, Tom Morton, Founder of Narratory Capital, LLC, former global chief strategy officer at R/GA, Zoe Scaman, Founder, Bodacious, and lead investor Blackbird Ventures.

Springboards is poised to supercharge its growth and bring its vision to more creative teams globally. Co-founded by ex-agency strategists Pip Bingemann and Amy Tucker and CTO Kieran Browne, Springboards offers a suite of AI-powered tools that help creative humans start faster, explore more and collaborate together. 

“We’ve had a lot of ‘pinch me’ moments over the past 24 months, but having this incredible group, people we’ve looked up to our entire careers, back us on this journey is something very special,” said Pip Bingemann, CEO and Co-founder of Springboards.

“We never built Springboards with the intention of keeping it for ourselves but rather knew Springboards would be at its best only when centred around creative humans. It was a no-brainer to invite these industry legends into the fold and continue to explore more possibilities with some of the best thinkers in the world,” said Amy Tucker, CMO/CCO and Co-founder of Springboards.

Springboards plans to leverage the investment to expand its toolset, grow its global user base, and continue its commitment to building AI that empowers, not replaces, human creativity.

‍Zoe Scaman, Founder of Bodacious and Springboards investor said, "I’m proud to be an early supporter, investor and board member of Springboards, not just because it’s a revolutionary platform, but because it’s been built by two brilliant minds who deeply understand both the art and science of strategy. In an era where AI is often met with hype or fear, Springboards represents a rare third path - one grounded in thoughtfulness, integrity and a genuine love of the craft. It’s not about abandoning what we know, but expanding upon it with care. We can marry the old and the new, we just need to do it with clarity, courage and a belief in building something better."

Mat Baxter, former Global CEO at Huge and Springboards Investor says, “The platform does exactly what it says on the tin, giving talented planners amazing AI-powered springboards to develop their insights, generate their ideas and design their strategies. That’s something our industry must absolutely lean into, which is why I’m not just a user, but an investor too.”  

“We love creativity. We love great advertising, bold ideas, and the brilliant people behind them. We love being agile, informed, and constantly delighted. We believe in tools and thinking that make all of us better, faster, and well paid — not replaced. We believe in growth that lifts everyone. We love nice people. And yes, we really love Springboards,“ said Rosie & Faris Yakob, Partners at Genius Steals and Springboards investors.

Tom Morton, Founder, Narratory Capital, Former Global Chief Strategy Officer, R/GA and Springboards investor added, “A lot of marketing AI helps brand owners get generic outputs for less. Springboards helps agency practitioners get strong, brand-friendly insights, briefs and media plans faster. It's a product you would welcome on the team."

“I strongly believe that the future of creativity is human - and that the tools that stimulate human creativity are advancing in incredible ways. I invested in Springboards because they're thinking deeply about how technology can, should and will support and accelerate human creativity,” James Hurman, Founding Partner, Previously Unavailable and Springboards investor, concluded. 

See what the press had to say:

• Industry A-listers invest in AI-powered Springboards - AdNews‍
• Springboards attracts top-tier backing as AI platform eyes global growth | Marketing-Interactive
• Springboards lands investment from ad industry big wigs, as more than 200 agencies adopt AI creative tech | Mi3
• Springboards secures strategic investment to scale human-centred AI for creative teams - Mumbrella
• Springboards Secures Backing from Industry Powerhouse Names - Roastbrief US
• AI Platform Springboards Secures Backing from Industry Powerhouses - B&T
• AI-powered creativity platform Springboards secures backing from industry powerhouses – Campaign Brief

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Springboards co-founders Pip and Amy had a chance to sit down with Peregian Digital Hub Director, Chris Boden, to talk about how they went from freshly laid-off tech workers with a toddler to founders of an AI startup, changing the game for advertising agencies. Peregian Digital Hub is a self-proclaimed “gathering place for AI nerds” in Noosa, Australia, where the co-founders reside, and was a huge influence on kickstarting Springboards.

The conversation ranged from playing and tinkering with AI tools during covid times to building an MVP and learning what VC was, to today with over 100 agencies onboarded and using Springboards to supercharge their creative process. Read on for highlights from the conversation between Chris, Pip, and Amy.

What Business Need Does Springboards Solve?

If you haven’t heard, the ad industry’s got a problem. Margins are shrinking, and a big part of it is what we lovingly call the "pitching problem." Agencies are hustling harder than ever, sinking time and money into speculative work—creating entire campaigns for free just to win a client. It’s exhausting, expensive, and honestly, kinda soul-crushing.

That was the impetus for Springboards, the platform that puts creativity back in the driver’s seat without losing the human spark. Built by ad-world veterans, Springboards is an idea accelerator designed to speed up the creative process without watering down the magic. Think of it as your new brainstorming buddy, helping with everything from strategy to killer concepts.

Here’s what makes us tick:

1. We Want to Fit Into Agency Workflows: Clients don’t just hire you for the work; they want ideas, innovation, and yep, even "someone to blame” if something goes wrong (no judgment!) Springboards isn’t supposed to replace your process—it powers it, giving you more firepower to deliver fresh, unexpected ideas.
2. Not Designed to Give You Answers but an Inspiration Overload: Springboards isn’t about spitting out the answer. It’s about throwing a hundred weird, wild, and wonderful ideas your way so you can pick the best and make them better. It’s like a workshop in your pocket, minus the bad coffee and awkward icebreakers.
3. Humans Always Come First: This isn’t some “robots-take-your-job” story. Pip and Amy built Springboards to keep people in the creative equation. The platform is there to amplify your genius, not replace it. We like to think of it as the Terminator story - we’re using humans partnered up with AI to fight the evil AI.
4. Say Goodbye to Meh Ideas: AI often has this nasty habit of playing it safe and turning out stuff that’s painfully average. We hate that. So we’re constantly tweaking Springboards to make sure it doesn’t fall into that trap. The goal? Help you hit the jackpot without settling for "fine."

Springboards isn’t just helping agencies work smarter—it’s flipping the script for teams and entire agencies:

• One user told us, “With Springboards, I feel like I can take on any agency out there.” That’s the energy we live for.
• Pitches are turning into wins: Agencies using Springboards have more wins under their belts. One client even joked, “The only problem is, I don’t have enough briefs to answer anymore.”

What’s Next?

We’re not stopping here. With plans to continue growing globally and a laser focus on fighting creative entropy (aka the soul-sucking sameness that kills good ideas), Springboards is on a mission to keep creativity alive and well.

Our promise? To keep pushing boundaries and helping the world’s creatives do what they do best: make weird, wild, wonderful things happen. Check out the full interview here for more insights.

Ready to rethink how you work? Join the Springboards revolution, and let’s keep creativity where it belongs—in human hands. Request a demo today at https://springboards.ai/#demo. 

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The advertising industry is in a strange place

Somewhere between chasing clicks and feeding the algorithm, something got lost. The creativity that once defined this field—big ideas, bold campaigns, truly different thinking—got buried under “self-serve” ads, popularity contests, and a relentless drive to please the middle. It feels like we’ve entered what some are calling the “Age of Average,” where everything seems tailor-made for safe, widespread appeal but lacks the soul that once made ads unforgettable. The Springboards team? We think it’s high time for a change.

As AI sweeps through the industry, the question isn’t if it’ll change advertising—it already has. The real question is, will AI be a lifeline to help us out of the creative hole we’ve dug? Or will it dig us in deeper? At Springboards, we see a way forward where AI isn’t the enemy but the creative ally we’ve been waiting for. We believe that with the right tools—and a little bravery—the industry can be revitalized, not just to reflect culture but to break it wide open. Here’s a bit of our journey to this vision and why we’re just getting started.

How Did We Get Here? A Quick Diagnosis of the Problem

Our founder, Pip Bingemann, summed it up perfectly at Cannes in Cairns: “AI is ripping apart the ad world, and damn, isn’t it about time?” What he means is that AI isn’t inherently the problem here. Sure, the machines are here, but they’ve always been around in one form or another. The real issue lies in how we’ve used these tools so far, often in ways that limit creativity instead of pushing it forward.

Three major factors have contributed to this stifling of creativity:

1. Advertising Became Self-Serve: The shift toward digital ads made it possible for everyone to access and create campaigns with minimal expertise. This self-service model may be efficient, but it also means that thoughtful, well-crafted storytelling often takes a back seat to quick, cheap, and easy solutions.
2. Relevance Over Distinction: The pressure to appeal to the masses has reduced creative expression to whatever happens to be popular right now. As a result, ad content has become predictable, losing the unique edge that makes ads stick.
3. The Tyranny of Numbers: Metrics rule everything, and we’ve all felt it. When the focus is solely on views, clicks, and conversions, there’s little room left for originality. We’ve become slaves to what the numbers tell us is “successful,” often at the cost of creative risk-taking.

So here we are, with an industry that’s found itself boxed in. Popularity has replaced boldness, and mediocrity is dressed up as success. But just blaming the machines (or the algorithms) is too easy. The truth is, clients, agencies, and even creatives ourselves have all contributed to this mess. But it’s not too late to fix it.

Enter Springboards: A New Way to Think About AI and Creativity

At Springboards, we’re choosing to look at AI differently. Instead of viewing it as a factory for cookie-cutter ideas, we see AI as a way to get back to the heart of creativity. With Springboards, our goal is to design a tool that works with creative humans, not replacearound them. The machines may be powerful, but so is human imagination—and when those two powers come together, the possibilities are huge.

What makes Springboards different is our approach: we don’t just throw in a bunch of features and call it innovation. Instead, we focus on what actually matters for creatives today. We’re building a platform that fuels unique, inspired, and even risky ideas—because the best ideas are often the ones that break the rules. Springboards is designed to help you push past the safe and obvious, bringing bold ideas back into the spotlight. This isn’t another trend-chasing tool; it’s a creative partner with a shared goal—to take creativity to the next level.

Building Momentum: The Early Buzz

Since our beta launch, we’ve seen an amazing response. Industry leaders, like Zoe Scaman, have shared their excitement, and her tweet alone sparked an unexpected wave of interest. It was proof that creatives everywhere are craving something that feels real—a tool that challenges them, pushes them, and ultimately brings more fun back to the work they love. With demo requests piling up and a waitlist growing, we’re more motivated than ever to bring this new creative approach to as many people as we can.

But this is only the beginning. Zoe’s reaction, along with others, shows us that there’s a real hunger for change. Creatives want a tool that works with them, not against them, to shake up the industry norms. Springboards.ai is just that—a fresh way forward, built to make the creative journey exciting, unpredictable, and, most importantly, ours.

What’s Next? The Official Launch and Beyond

The excitement so far is humbling, but we know the real journey is just beginning. With the official launch of Springboards just around the corner, we’re gearing up to make an even bigger impact. We’re not interested in offering yet another “solution” that falls short on creativity. Instead, we’re focused on providing a tool that sparks curiosity, pushes boundaries, and turns the creative process into an adventure again.

This is a call to every creative out there tired of the “Age of Average.” We’re building Springboards for those who believe that creativity can, and should, disrupt, inspire, and even annoy sometimes. If you’re ready for something different, we invite you to join the waitlist and take part in this journey with us.

So here’s to the end of the average and the beginning of something extraordinary. Creativity deserves more, and with Springboards.ai, we’re just getting started.