We help enterprise brands aggregate AI models, enforce governance, and scale creative and media, safely.
From insight to production to distribution, we unify the entire marketing workflow in one platform.
Most enterprise teams are stuck in pilot purgatory, testing AI tools that never scale, stitching together fragmented workflows, and watching budgets disappear into non-working spend. We built Pencil to end that.
We aggregate the best AI models from every provider –OpenAI, Google, Adobe, and more– into a single governed platform. This is what we call the Open Garden: you're never locked into one vendor's roadmap. You get the best model for every use case, today and tomorrow.
Our platform unifies the entire marketing workflow –from insight and creative concept through production, governance, and media distribution. Enterprise teams can design, orchestrate, and scale creative systems that hold up in production, across markets and languages, without sacrificing brand control.
Act 1 is efficiency. Reduce creative production costs by up to 50%, automate localization, and free up budget buried in agency fees and manual process.
Act 2 is growth. Reinvest those savings into media performance –more variants, better ROAS, faster iteration.
We believe AI should be a tool for the humans behind great marketing, not a replacement for them. The right tool changes what's possible.
SOC2 certified. No-Train policy. IP indemnification. Built for the security, scale, and governance that global brands actually need.
Trusted by Diageo, Unilever, Indeed, and L'Oréal. Gartner Cool Vendor 2025.
Founded in 2018. Part of The Brandtech Group since 2023.
Rating Reviews
Rating is calculated based on
9
reviews and is evolving.
Pros: The best part about working at Pencil is the genuinely creative atmosphere and the talented colleagues I get to collaborate with daily. The company is at the forefront of innovative design tools, which is exciting. We have a lot of flexibility in how we approach our marketing campaigns, and management generally trusts us to do our jobs well. The Austin office vibe is pretty laid-back and friendly, making it a pleasant place to spend time.
Cons: While creativity is high, sometimes the project management and internal processes can feel a bit ad-hoc, leading to occasional confusion or scope creep. Clearer documentation and more structured feedback loops would go a long way. Occasionally, work can spill into evenings or weekends due to fast-paced project demands, though this isn't the norm.
Advice to Management: Continue fostering the strong collaborative culture and focus on empowering teams. Consider implementing more standardized project management tools and communication protocols to streamline workflows and reduce ambiguity.
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Pros: The best part about Pencil is definitely the opportunity to work on challenging projects and learn new technologies. The engineering team is full of talented people who are happy to share knowledge. It's a great environment for rapid skill acquisition, especially if you're looking to grow your technical expertise in a dynamic tech company.
Cons: While individual teams are often well-run, there's a noticeable disconnect in strategic communication from senior leadership. Sometimes project priorities shift without clear explanations, which can be frustrating. This can lead to a feeling of working in silos rather than a cohesive company-wide effort.
Advice to Management: Focus on improving cross-departmental communication and providing clearer strategic roadmaps. Regular town halls with Q&A sessions could greatly benefit alignment and employee morale.
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Pros: The best part about Pencil is definitely the work flexibility. Being able to largely set my own schedule and work remotely most of the time was a huge plus. The team I worked with was great – very collaborative and supportive. I also appreciated the challenging projects that allowed me to grow my skills in digital marketing.
Cons: Sometimes, it felt like different departments were operating in silos, which made broader company-wide initiatives challenging to coordinate. While leadership communication is generally okay, I often found myself wishing for more clarity on long-term strategic direction. This could lead to occasional confusion on priorities.
Advice to Management: Consider more frequent, transparent communication about company strategy and goals to ensure all teams feel aligned and understand the bigger picture.
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As a CEO, how do you ensure employee trust in a remote tech startup in San Francisco?
In our San Francisco-based tech startup, I prioritize transparency in decision-making and openly share company performance metrics to build trust among our remote employees. Regular virtual town halls and one-on-one check-ins are crucial for maintaining that connection and fostering a sense of psychological safety.
How does Pencil handle communication from recruiters for roles in the tech industry?
Pencil's hiring process involves direct communication from the recruiting team, ensuring timely updates on your application status for tech roles. They aim to keep candidates informed throughout the process.
What's the typical merit increase at Pencil for a Software Engineer in London?
As a mid-level Software Engineer at Pencil, I typically saw my merit increase around 3-5% annually, which felt standard for a tech company of our size in the London tech scene.
What's the hiring process like at Pencil, especially for entry-level marketing roles in a medium-sized tech company?
My experience with Pencil's hiring process for a junior marketing position involved a screening call, a skills assessment, and two interviews, which felt thorough but fair for assessing candidates.
How does collaboration work between different teams at Pencil, like engineering and marketing?
In my experience at Pencil, cross-team collaboration is really encouraged. We often have joint brainstorming sessions, which helps teams like product development and sales align on strategies for our SaaS platform.
What's the typical salary range for a Product Manager at Pencil, a Series B SaaS company in the FinTech industry?
Based on my experience, salaries for Product Managers at Pencil, a Series B SaaS company in the FinTech industry, are quite competitive, generally falling between $120,000 and $160,000 annually, with variations based on experience.
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