Author: Tom Grainger | GTM Expert, Co-founder at advancedclient.io Published: October 2026 Category: gtm-flow, growth Slug: coldiq-alternatives
Some tools linked in this article are partners we work with. This does not affect our recommendations.
If you are reading this, you probably know ColdIQ. You may have used their agency, watched Michel Lieben's content, or evaluated their Clay-powered outbound builds. And you have probably noticed that things have changed.
In 2026, ColdIQ split into two entities. The done-for-you agency work rebranded to Frontal, led by the same team under a new legal entity. Meanwhile, the ColdIQ brand pivoted to a self-serve GTM data platform: a unified API spanning 700+ endpoints across roughly 39 data providers, sold through credit packages starting at $99 per month.
That pivot left a gap. Buyers who wanted a team to build, own, and operate their outbound and RevOps infrastructure, not an API to do it themselves, needed somewhere else to go.
This article compares 10 agencies that fill that gap. Each one builds GTM systems for B2B companies. Some overlap heavily with what ColdIQ used to offer. Others take a different angle: combining outbound with paid media, or embedding a fractional GTM engineer inside your team.
The goal is not to rank these agencies from best to worst. It is to help you match your specific requirements (budget, timeline, channels, ownership model) to the agency that fits.
Quick Comparison Table
| Agency | HQ | Core Model | Starting Price | Minimum Term | Clay Partner | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Client | London | Project-based, build-to-own | ~$30K project | 4 months | No | Outbound + LinkedIn Ads |
| Understory | US (Remote) | Retainer, allbound | ~$12K/mo | 3 months | Enterprise | Paid + Outbound + Content |
| SalesCaptain | US (Remote) | Retainer, done-for-you | ~$3,500/mo | 3 months | Solutions | Cold email + LinkedIn |
| Growth Engine X | US (Remote) | Retainer, done-for-you | ~$6K/mo | 3 months | Solutions | Cold email |
| The GTM Engineering Co. | US (Remote) | Fractional GTM engineer | ~$4K/mo | Monthly | Solutions | Outbound + RevOps |
| RevPartners | Alpharetta, GA | Retainer, RevOps-first | ~$9,850/mo | 6 months | Elite | HubSpot + Outbound |
| The Kiln | Brooklyn, NY | Retainer, Clay-native | ~$10K/mo | 3 months | Elite | Outbound + RevOps |
| demandDrive | Boston, MA | Retainer, SDR + GTM | ~$7K/mo | 6 months | Studio | Outbound + ABM + SDR |
| Reachly | Bangkok | Retainer, done-for-you | ~$3,500/mo | 3 months | No | Cold email + LinkedIn + Phone |
| OneGTM | US (Remote) | Project or retainer | Custom | Flexible | Solutions | Outbound + RevOps + AI |
1. Advanced Client
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| HQ | London |
| Team | 2 principals (Tom Grainger, CEO; Louis Young, COO) |
| Model | Project-based, build-to-own |
| Starting price | $30K-$50K per project |
| Timeline | 120-day install with full handover |
| Clay partner | No |
| Clutch rating | 5.0 |
What They Build
Advanced Client installs GTM engineering systems as a fixed-scope project rather than an open-ended retainer. You buy a 120-day engagement. At the end of it, you own the infrastructure: the enrichment workflows, the signal models, the sending domains, the ad accounts, the reporting layer. The team hands everything over with documentation and training, then steps back.
The service covers two primary channels: LinkedIn Ads and outbound RevOps. Most clients run both together, though some engage on a single channel.
What separates the approach from typical agency work is the emphasis on custom signal infrastructure. Rather than buying generic hiring or funding signals off the shelf, Advanced Client analyses a company's closed-won deals and sales call transcripts to identify the specific behavioural and firmographic patterns that predict pipeline. Those patterns become custom signal models that feed both the outbound sequences and the ad targeting.
Evidence
Advanced Client publishes named, quantified case studies with pipeline numbers attached:
- m3ter (usage-based billing SaaS, $35.7M raised): $2.4M pipeline created, $447K closed-won, 42 meetings booked. CPL reduced from $5,171 to $334. m3ter was subsequently acquired by Salesforce, and the GTM system kept producing pipeline throughout the acquisition.
- Studio X (design consultancy): $5.7M pipeline generated.
- Verilife (background screening): $312K pipeline, 17 FTSE 100 meetings, 28 days to first results.
- The Cosine (management consultancy): 145 calls booked, $500K-$850K retainer value.
- RAIN Group (sales training): 7 tools consolidated, 12 weeks to build, approximately 15 custom signals installed.
- Saulderson (recruitment): $650K+ pipeline, company subsequently acquired.
- SmashCactus (branding agency): $70K+ pipeline.
- KinCreative (creative agency): 4x revenue growth.
The firm has generated eight figures of pipeline across 30+ B2B brands.
Strengths
- Build-to-own model means you keep everything after day 120. No recurring dependency.
- Custom signal infrastructure built from your own sales data, not off-the-shelf intent feeds.
- Combines LinkedIn Ads and outbound in one coordinated system with shared signal layer.
- Named case studies with hard pipeline numbers across multiple industries (SaaS, professional services, recruitment, creative).
- Based in London, operating globally.
Considerations
- Project-based pricing ($30K-$50K) means a higher upfront commitment than monthly retainers.
- Not a fit if you want someone to run campaigns indefinitely. The model is designed for handover.
- Small team of two principals. You get senior attention, but capacity is limited.
- No Clay partnership. The team builds on its own stack.
Pricing
$30K-$50K per project. Fixed scope, 120-day timeline. No monthly retainer after handover (optional advisory available).
Best For
B2B companies doing $1M+ in revenue (or venture-backed) that want to own their GTM infrastructure outright and have a team ready to operate it after handover.
2. Understory
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| HQ | US, fully remote |
| Team | ~30 people |
| Model | Retainer, allbound |
| Starting price | $8K/mo (paid media), $12K/mo (GTM engineering) |
| Minimum term | 3 months |
| Clay partner | Enterprise (one of first 5 certified Clay Experts) |
What They Build
Understory was founded by Alex Fine and Ali Yildirim. Alex was an early Clay expert and GTM engineer who built his reputation running automated outbound systems. Ali came up through paid media and demand generation, running campaigns across Google, Meta, and LinkedIn.
Their thesis is that paid media, outbound, and content only work when they feed each other. They call this "allbound": paid media across Google, Meta, Reddit, and LinkedIn; trigger-based outbound and GTM engineering built on Clay; founder and executive content on LinkedIn; creative and landing pages; and RevOps.
The paid media side starts at $8,000 per month for a single channel at the Seed tier (under $50K ad spend) and runs to $25,000+ per month at Enterprise. GTM engineering starts at $12,000 per month. Both can be combined.
Evidence
Understory publishes 18 named client testimonials and 10 video case studies. The marquee testimonial is from Adam Robinson (founder of RB2B and Retention.com). Named clients include Expensify, Nylas, Clay, RB2B, Retention.com, Sonrai Security, Netacea, Wiza, and RemoFirst.
The agency holds Clay Enterprise Partner status with four certified Clay experts on staff, plus HeyReach and Instantly partnerships.
Strengths
- True allbound model: paid media, outbound, and content run as one coordinated system under one roof.
- Strong Clay Enterprise Partner status with deep enrichment and workflow expertise.
- Named clients in SaaS (Expensify, Nylas, Clay) lend credibility to the B2B focus.
- Transparent published pricing for both paid media and GTM engineering tiers.
- Team of ~30 means capacity to run multiple channels simultaneously.
Considerations
- Combined engagements (paid media + GTM engineering) can reach $20K+ per month, which prices out earlier-stage companies.
- Retainer model means ongoing spend, not a build-and-handover approach.
- Strong US focus. European or UK campaigns may not be their primary strength.
- Allbound model is strongest when you are running all channels together. If you only need outbound, you are paying for a structure built around integration.
Pricing
Paid media from $8,000/mo. GTM engineering from $12,000/mo. Combined engagements are custom-quoted.
Best For
SaaS companies past product-market fit that want paid media and outbound run as one integrated motion, with budget for a $12K+ monthly retainer.
3. SalesCaptain
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 |
| HQ | US, remote |
| Team | 50-249 employees |
| Model | Retainer, done-for-you outbound |
| Starting price | ~$3,500/mo |
| Minimum term | 3 months |
| Clay partner | Solutions |
What They Build
SalesCaptain runs intent-triggered outbound campaigns for B2B companies. The model reads intent, funding, and revenue data across 250+ data points to surface accounts already in-market, then runs AI-insight campaigns, intent-signal campaigns, and inbound reactivation sequences.
The agency covers cold email, LinkedIn outreach, multi-channel campaigns, sales data and CRM enrichment, AI and Clay automation, email deliverability infrastructure, and CRM integration.
SalesCaptain has been named the #1 Top Outbound Agency three years running and has received a Tekpon award.
Evidence
Published case studies with named clients and numbers:
- Curated Media: 391 positive replies, 156 booked appointments, 12 closed clients, $60K in new ARR.
- Global Recruitment Service: 501 booked appointments in 10 months, 715 positive replies, 57 new clients closed, $394K in new ARR.
- Riskwell (risk management SaaS): 32 booked appointments in 4 months, 35% booked meetings ratio, 5-10 SQLs per week.
- Onyx: 35 positive replies in 30 days.
- Socura: 114 positive replies in 13 months.
The agency also claims 200+ prospects in under six months for a financial services client and results for Nestle (323 positive replies).
Strengths
- Accessible entry price at approximately $3,500 per month. One of the lowest starting points on this list.
- Strong volume of published case studies across multiple industries (SaaS, recruitment, media, cybersecurity).
- Large team (50-249) gives capacity for multi-market campaigns.
- Clay Solutions Partner with AI and automation capabilities.
- Award recognition from multiple third-party platforms.
Considerations
- "Positive replies" is a softer metric than pipeline value or closed-won revenue. Some case studies do not quantify downstream revenue.
- At 50-249 employees, you may not always get senior operators on your account.
- Pricing is competitive, but the depth of custom signal work at $3,500 per month will differ from what a $10K+ retainer agency delivers.
- Most results are reported in appointment or reply volume rather than pipeline dollars.
Pricing
From approximately $3,500 per month. Hourly rates of $200-$300 per hour for custom scoping. Minimum project size of $5,000.
Best For
B2B companies that need done-for-you outbound at an accessible price point and measure success primarily by meetings booked and positive reply rates.
4. Growth Engine X
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 |
| HQ | US, remote |
| Team | Small (founder-led) |
| Model | Retainer, done-for-you cold email |
| Starting price | ~$6K-$8K/mo |
| Minimum term | 3 months (application-based) |
| Clay partner | Solutions (former Clay employee) |
What They Build
Growth Engine X was founded by Eric Nowoslawski, who was Clay's first marketing contractor when Clay had just four employees. Eric helped build Clay's early YouTube and LinkedIn presence before launching his own agency.
The agency runs cold email at scale, handling everything from building lead lists using 20+ data sources to infrastructure, data-driven copy, and end-to-end campaign management. Growth Engine X sends 1.2 million emails per month across its client base and has served over 300 customers since founding.
The model is application-based with a 3-month minimum. The agency is built for higher-volume, later-stage teams where lifetime value exceeds $5K and the target market contains 100K+ contacts.
Evidence
Published case studies include:
- Clay: 4:1 return on ad spend within 2 months.
- Instantly.ai: 10-20 positive responses per day across a 3+ year partnership.
- Heritage Wealth Capital: 552 positive responses in four months.
- Google reputation management client: Positive replies on 1 in 70 emails using hyper-personalised copy that referenced specific negative reviews.
No third-party review footprint exists on Clutch, G2, or Trustpilot, so all published results are self-reported by the agency.
Strengths
- Deep Clay expertise from the founder's early history at Clay itself.
- High-volume execution: 1.2M emails per month across the agency gives real operational scale.
- 300+ customers served means the playbook has been tested across many verticals.
- Strong track record with well-known GTM tools (Clay, Instantly) as named clients.
- Application-based intake means the agency is selective about fit.
Considerations
- Cold email only. No LinkedIn Ads, no paid media, no SDR management. If you need multi-channel, you will need a second vendor.
- No third-party reviews on Clutch, G2, or Trustpilot. All evidence is self-reported.
- Application-based intake and minimum $5K+ LTV requirement means this is not for early-stage companies testing outbound.
- Results are reported in reply volume rather than pipeline or revenue figures.
Pricing
Approximately $6K-$8K per month. Application-based. 3-month minimum engagement.
Best For
Later-stage B2B companies with large addressable markets (100K+ contacts) that want high-volume cold email execution from an operator with deep Clay expertise.
5. The GTM Engineering Company
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2024 |
| HQ | US, remote |
| Team | Solo practitioner (founder-led) |
| Model | Fractional GTM engineer |
| Starting price | $4K/mo (Starter) |
| Minimum term | Monthly |
| Clay partner | Solutions (independently vetted) |
What They Build
The GTM Engineering Company was founded by Jorge Macias, a YC S18 alumnus. The model is built around a single embedded GTM engineer who acts as RevOps strategist, data engineer, and outbound builder.
This is a fractional model aimed at seed to Series B venture-backed founders with small teams and no in-house RevOps. Rather than building a system and handing it over, or running campaigns on your behalf, GTME embeds an operator inside your team who builds and iterates alongside you.
Published pricing is transparent: Starter at $4,000 per month, Growth at $6,000 per month, and Enterprise at custom scope.
Evidence
The GTM Engineering Company publishes content and educational resources on GTM engineering (the blog at gtmeagency.com covers GTM engineering definitions, fractional models, and pricing guides). Jorge's YC S18 background adds founder credibility.
Specific named case studies with quantified results are limited in public sources. The agency's primary proof point is the founder's credentials and the transparency of the pricing model.
Strengths
- Transparent, published pricing. Rare in this category. You know what you are paying before a discovery call.
- Fractional model means you get a senior operator embedded in your team, not a campaign manager on a retainer.
- Low entry point at $4K per month. Accessible for early-stage venture-backed companies.
- Monthly terms. No 3-month or 6-month lock-in.
- YC S18 founder background adds startup credibility.
Considerations
- Solo practitioner model. If Jorge is at capacity, there is no bench depth.
- Limited published case studies with quantified outcomes (pipeline, revenue, meetings).
- Fractional means part-time attention. If you need a full-time operator building daily, the hours may not be enough at the Starter tier.
- The model works best for founders who want to learn and operate alongside the engineer, not for teams that want to hand everything off.
Pricing
Starter: $4,000/mo. Growth: $6,000/mo. Enterprise: Custom. Monthly terms.
Best For
Seed to Series B founders with no in-house RevOps who want an embedded fractional operator to build and teach, not just execute.
6. RevPartners
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 |
| HQ | Alpharetta, Georgia |
| Team | Mid-size (acquired by Walker Sands in June 2026) |
| Model | Retainer, RevOps-first |
| Starting price | $9,850/mo (RevOps as a Service) |
| Minimum term | 6 months |
| Clay partner | Elite |
What They Build
RevPartners is the only firm in the world that simultaneously holds HubSpot Elite Solutions Partner and Clay Elite Studio Partner status. The agency was co-founded by Brendan Tolleson and operates from Alpharetta, Georgia.
The service spans CRM architecture and unified data models, HubSpot builds and migrations (from Salesforce, Marketo, Pipedrive, Dynamics, and Zendesk), custom integrations, embedded fractional RevOps, and a Clay-driven outbound layer they call "allbound."
In June 2026, Walker Sands acquired RevPartners, adding RevOps and GTM engineering to its existing B2B marketing services.
HubSpot onboarding starts at $1,500-$3,000. RevOps as a Service is tiered by hours per week, with the entry tier at $9,850 per month on a six-month initial term, plus a $5,000 one-time onboarding fee.
Evidence
RevPartners publishes 18 named written testimonials and 13 client video case studies. Specific results cited include rebuilding two full team pipelines from the ground up with flawless technical execution on complex integrations and custom data flows, and transforming a weekly, 100% manual communication process into an 85% evergreen automated machine.
The dual Elite status (HubSpot + Clay) is independently verifiable through both Clay's and HubSpot's partner directories.
Strengths
- Only firm with dual HubSpot Elite + Clay Elite status. Unmatched for HubSpot-native companies that also want Clay-driven outbound.
- Deep CRM migration expertise (Salesforce, Marketo, Pipedrive, Dynamics, Zendesk).
- Walker Sands acquisition brings additional marketing resources and stability.
- Strong testimonial volume (18 written, 13 video).
- RevOps-first approach means the plumbing is right before outbound campaigns start.
Considerations
- $9,850 per month plus $5,000 onboarding means the first month costs nearly $15K. This is a premium play.
- 6-month minimum is the longest lock-in on this list.
- HubSpot-centric. If you run Salesforce or another CRM as your primary system, RevPartners may not be the best fit.
- The Walker Sands acquisition is fresh (June 2026). Integration effects on team composition and service delivery are still playing out.
- Case study results are described qualitatively rather than with pipeline dollar figures.
Pricing
HubSpot onboarding: $1,500-$3,000. RevOps as a Service: from $9,850/mo (6-month term) + $5,000 onboarding fee.
Best For
HubSpot-native B2B companies that need CRM architecture, RevOps, and Clay-driven outbound built under one roof by a team with verified Elite status on both platforms.
7. The Kiln
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| HQ | Brooklyn, New York |
| Team | ~26 (acquired by 2X in January 2026) |
| Model | Retainer, Clay-native GTM engineering |
| Starting price | ~$10K/mo |
| Minimum term | 3 months |
| Clay partner | Elite Studio |
What They Build
The Kiln was founded in Brooklyn by Patrick Spychalski and Mathias Powell, both former Clay employees. The agency designs custom, AI-powered inbound, outbound, marketing, and RevOps systems, nearly always centred around Clay.
In January 2026, 2X acquired The Kiln. Prior to acquisition, the company had scaled to 26 employees. The team consists of GTM experts, data scientists, and former Clay employees.
The Kiln's published best GTM tool stack includes Clay at the centre, with integrations across data enrichment, sending infrastructure, CRM, and analytics layers.
Evidence
The Kiln publishes named case studies with quantified results:
- Crescendo: Quarterly pipeline grew by $14M in 4 months.
- Hologram: GTM efficiency improved by 90%, with 30-40% of pipeline now generated from The Kiln's systems.
- Daxko: Overhauled marketing operations, cleaned up decades of messy data, and built scalable outbound motions.
The founders' Clay pedigree (both former Clay employees) provides technical credibility in the Clay ecosystem.
Strengths
- Founded by former Clay employees. Possibly the deepest Clay expertise of any agency on this list.
- Strong named case studies with pipeline dollar figures ($14M for Crescendo).
- Clay Elite Studio Partner status verified through Clay's directory.
- Broad service scope: inbound, outbound, marketing, and RevOps.
- 26-person team provides depth beyond a solo practitioner.
Considerations
- The January 2026 acquisition by 2X is a material change. Integration effects on the team, pricing, and delivery model may still be settling.
- Starting at $10K+ per month with a 3-month minimum means a $30K+ initial commitment.
- Clay-native approach means the agency's strength is tied to Clay. If you do not want Clay in your stack, this may not be the right fit.
- The Daxko case study is described qualitatively rather than with pipeline numbers.
Pricing
From approximately $10K per month. Custom-quoted based on scope. 3-month minimum engagement.
Best For
B2B companies that want Clay at the centre of their GTM stack and value an agency whose founders built Clay itself.
8. demandDrive
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| HQ | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Team | 231 employees |
| Model | Retainer, SDR + GTM engineering |
| Starting price | ~$7K/mo (single SDR) |
| Minimum term | 6-12 months |
| Clay partner | Studio (certified May 2026) |
What They Build
demandDrive is the oldest and largest agency on this list. Founded in 2012 by Chris Squillace, the company runs three service pillars: growth marketing (demand gen, ABM, website and conversion work), sales services (outsourced SDR/BDR and outcome-based appointment setting), and revenue operations (CRM and GTM tech architecture, automation, analytics, and Clay builds).
The differentiator is the combination of GTM infrastructure build and human SDR execution under one roof. Most GTM engineering agencies build the system and hand it over, or build the system and send the emails. demandDrive builds the system and also provides the trained SDRs to work it.
In May 2026, demandDrive joined Clay's Solutions Partner Programme as an official Clay Studio Partner, adding Clay-powered enrichment to its existing managed outbound and ABM capabilities.
The company received investment from Everlane Equity Partners, which provides financial stability behind a 231-person operation.
Evidence
Published, named case studies with quantified results:
- Medrio: $16M in pipeline generated.
- Jenzabar: 1300% ROI.
- The Lee Company: 70% reduction in cost per qualified opportunity.
- Qorvo: $136M in new converted opportunities.
15 years of operation across software, cybersecurity, healthcare, and manufacturing gives a breadth of vertical experience that newer agencies cannot match.
Strengths
- Build + execute model. You get the GTM infrastructure and the SDR reps under one contract.
- Largest team on this list (231 employees). No capacity constraints.
- 15-year track record with major enterprise results ($136M for Qorvo, $16M for Medrio).
- Three service pillars (marketing, sales, RevOps) cover the full pipeline.
- Clay Studio Partner adds modern enrichment capabilities to established execution.
- Private equity backing provides operational stability.
Considerations
- 6-12 month contracts with $7K-$20K+ monthly pricing means a significant financial commitment.
- Large agencies can mean less personalisation. You may be managed by junior account managers rather than senior operators.
- Clay partnership is new (May 2026). The agency's Clay expertise is still maturing compared to native Clay agencies like The Kiln or Growth Engine X.
- The SDR model means ongoing dependency. This is not a build-and-handover approach.
Pricing
Single SDR engagements: $7K-$10K/mo. Multi-SDR or ABM: $12K-$20K/mo. Enterprise: $20K+/mo. Contracts typically 6-12 months.
Best For
B2B companies that want GTM infrastructure build and managed SDR execution under one roof, with the scale and track record of a 15-year-old agency.
9. Reachly
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| HQ | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Team | 7 people |
| Model | Retainer, done-for-you outbound |
| Starting price | ~$3,500/mo |
| Minimum term | 3-6 months |
| Clay partner | No |
What They Build
Reachly was founded by Thibault Garcia, who scaled business development at Taboola APAC, InMobi SEA, and Agoda Media Solutions before launching the agency. The company is headquartered in Bangkok and serves clients across APAC, the US, Canada, the UK, and ANZ.
The service covers TAM mapping, signal-based account scoring, contact sourcing and verification, deliverability infrastructure, copy and sequencing, and inbox management with meetings booked directly onto your calendar. Reachly runs outbound across three channels: cold email, LinkedIn, and cold calling, all from a single flat retainer.
First qualified meetings typically arrive in 5-7 weeks. The agency is triple-certified (specific certifications from Smartlead and other outbound platforms) and recently expanded into the US market.
Evidence
Published case studies with named clients and quantified results:
- Primal: 85+ SQLs in 6 months, 6 new deals closed, CAC reduced by 35%, 4.57x ROI.
- The Great Room (premium workspace operator, part of CBRE): 10x+ ROI on outbound investment, multiple sourced meetings including a $250,000 contract.
Broader metrics: $3M+ in qualified pipeline, 2,500+ booked meetings, and 50+ B2B clients served globally. The agency is tracking toward $1M ARR.
Strengths
- Lowest entry price on this list alongside SalesCaptain at $3,500 per month.
- Multi-channel execution (email + LinkedIn + phone) included in the flat retainer.
- APAC expertise is rare. If you are targeting Southeast Asian, Australian, or Japanese markets, Reachly has regional knowledge most agencies lack.
- Named case studies with ROI figures (4.57x for Primal, 10x+ for The Great Room).
- Reply management and meeting booking included. You get meetings on your calendar, not just a list of interested contacts.
Considerations
- Small team of 7. Capacity is limited, and losing a single team member has outsized impact.
- Bangkok HQ means time zone gaps with US or European clients.
- No Clay partnership. The agency runs its own stack.
- Triple certification is self-described. Verify the specific certifications and what they cover.
- $3M+ pipeline across 50+ clients is a strong start, but the per-client average is lower than enterprise-focused agencies.
Pricing
Flat retainer from $3,500/mo. Most engagements land between $3,500-$8,000/mo. Pay-per-meeting pricing also available ($150-$1,000+ per meeting). 3-6 month minimum.
Best For
B2B companies targeting APAC markets or looking for multi-channel done-for-you outbound (email + LinkedIn + phone) at an accessible price point.
10. OneGTM
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2025 |
| HQ | US, remote |
| Team | Solo practitioner (founder-led) |
| Model | Project, retainer, or advisory |
| Starting price | Custom |
| Minimum term | Flexible |
| Clay partner | Solutions |
What They Build
OneGTM was founded by Garrett Wolfe, employee #9 at Unify, where he helped grow the company from $400K to $6M+ ARR building scalable outbound and GTM infrastructure.
The agency is AI-native by design. Garrett builds GTM systems using Claude Code and Cursor alongside Clay, n8n, RB2B, email infrastructure, and custom automation. Every engagement is built hands-on by the founder: enrichment, scoring, signal monitoring, and inbound and outbound automation, with advisory available when you want direction over delivery.
OneGTM works on project, retainer, or advisory terms depending on the engagement. Pricing is not published.
Evidence
Published case study:
- Coastal Recruiting: Accepted candidate intros grew 4.7x in 4 months. Positive candidate replies rose from approximately 35 per week to approximately 125 per week. Interested candidates replied on 71 of 72 days between July and September 2026.
Garrett also publishes an extensive library of GTM engineering content, including the 35+ agency comparison at getaob.com/gtm-engineering-agencies and educational resources on GTM engineering roles and tools.
Strengths
- AI-native approach. OneGTM builds with Claude Code and Cursor alongside Clay, which means AI-generated workflows and systems that go beyond standard Clay templates.
- Unify pedigree. Building Unify from $400K to $6M+ ARR provides real operational credibility.
- Flexible engagement models. Project, retainer, or advisory means you can match the format to your needs.
- Strong content output gives transparency into the founder's thinking and methodology.
- The Coastal Recruiting case study shows a clear 4.7x improvement metric over 4 months.
Considerations
- Solo practitioner. Everything is built by Garrett personally. This means senior attention on every engagement, but also a capacity ceiling.
- Only one published case study with quantified results. The track record is early.
- Custom pricing with no published rates means you need a discovery call to understand cost.
- AI-native tools (Claude Code, Cursor, n8n) mean the systems may require technical comfort to maintain after handover.
Pricing
Custom. Project, retainer, or advisory terms available. Contact for scoping.
Best For
Companies that want AI-native GTM systems built with modern tools (Claude Code, n8n, Clay) by an operator with real GTM engineering credentials from scaling Unify.
Decision Matrix: How to Choose
The right agency depends on four factors: your budget, your desired ownership model, the channels you need, and your technical environment.
By Budget
| Budget Range | Best Fit |
|---|---|
| Under $5K/mo | SalesCaptain, Reachly, The GTM Engineering Company |
| $5K-$10K/mo | Growth Engine X, demandDrive (single SDR), The GTM Engineering Company (Growth) |
| $10K-$20K/mo | Understory, The Kiln, RevPartners, demandDrive (multi-SDR) |
| $20K+ or project-based | Advanced Client, Understory (combined), demandDrive (enterprise) |
By Ownership Model
| Model | Agencies |
|---|---|
| Build-to-own (you keep it) | Advanced Client, OneGTM |
| Embedded fractional operator | The GTM Engineering Company |
| Managed retainer (they run it) | SalesCaptain, Growth Engine X, Reachly, demandDrive, Understory |
| RevOps + outbound hybrid | RevPartners, The Kiln |
By Channel Mix
| Channels Needed | Best Fit |
|---|---|
| Cold email only | Growth Engine X |
| Cold email + LinkedIn + Phone | Reachly, SalesCaptain |
| Outbound + LinkedIn Ads | Advanced Client |
| Outbound + Paid media + Content | Understory |
| Outbound + managed SDR reps | demandDrive |
| HubSpot RevOps + outbound | RevPartners |
| Clay-native outbound + RevOps | The Kiln |
| AI-native GTM systems | OneGTM |
By Technical Environment
| Your CRM / Stack | Best Fit |
|---|---|
| HubSpot | RevPartners, demandDrive |
| Clay-centric | The Kiln, Growth Engine X, Understory |
| CRM-agnostic | Advanced Client, SalesCaptain, Reachly |
| AI-native (Claude, n8n, Cursor) | OneGTM |
What About Frontal (Formerly ColdIQ Agency)?
Frontal still exists. The ColdIQ done-for-you agency rebranded to Frontal in 2026, led by the same team (Michel Lieben, Alex Vacca, and a 30+ person remote team across 4 continents). Frontal is one of four Clay Elite Studio Partners in the world.
If you liked ColdIQ's agency model, Frontal is the direct continuation. The rebrand separated the agency work from the ColdIQ data platform, but the operators, the client roster, and the Clay partnership carried over.
The 10 agencies in this article are alternatives for buyers who:
- Were evaluating ColdIQ and found the pivot to a self-serve API did not match their needs
- Want a different engagement model (project-based, fractional, or allbound rather than managed retainer)
- Need specific channel coverage ColdIQ did not offer (LinkedIn Ads, managed SDR reps, phone)
- Are looking for UK/European or APAC regional expertise
- Want to compare pricing and track records across the category before committing
Frontal's pricing for the agency side is not publicly listed. If you are considering Frontal, add it to your shortlist alongside the agencies above and run the same evaluation criteria.
FAQ
What happened to ColdIQ?
ColdIQ split into two entities in 2026. The done-for-you agency work rebranded to Frontal (frontal.so), keeping the same team, clients, and Clay Elite partnership. The ColdIQ brand pivoted to a self-serve GTM data platform offering a unified API across 39 data providers, sold through credit packages starting at $99 per month.
How much does a GTM engineering agency cost?
Monthly retainers range from $3,500 per month (SalesCaptain, Reachly) to $20,000+ per month (demandDrive enterprise, Understory combined). Project-based models like Advanced Client run $30K-$50K for a complete 120-day build. Fractional models like The GTM Engineering Company start at $4,000 per month. The median across the category sits at $5K-$8K per month.
What is the difference between a GTM engineering agency and a lead generation agency?
A lead generation agency typically runs campaigns and delivers meetings or contacts. A GTM engineering agency builds the underlying infrastructure: the data enrichment workflows, signal models, sending domains, CRM integrations, and reporting layer. The output is a system you can operate, not just a list of contacts.
Should I choose a Clay partner agency?
If Clay is already in your stack or you plan to adopt it, choosing a Clay partner (especially Elite or Enterprise tier) means the agency has verified expertise and direct support from Clay's team. If Clay is not part of your plan, a Clay partnership is irrelevant to your decision.
What is the typical contract length for a GTM engineering agency?
Most agencies require a 3-month minimum. Some (RevPartners, demandDrive) require 6-12 months. Advanced Client's project model is a fixed 120-day engagement. The GTM Engineering Company offers monthly terms, which is the most flexible option on this list.
Can I hire a GTM engineering agency for a single channel?
Yes. Growth Engine X focuses exclusively on cold email. The GTM Engineering Company and OneGTM can scope single-channel projects. However, agencies like Understory and Advanced Client are designed around multi-channel integration, and you may not get the full value from a single-channel engagement.
How do I evaluate a GTM engineering agency before signing?
Ask for named case studies with pipeline or revenue figures (not just reply rates). Check for third-party reviews on Clutch or G2. Ask which specific operators will work on your account. Clarify the ownership model: will you own the systems after the engagement ends? And run a reference call with a past client in a similar stage and industry to yours.
Tom Grainger is co-founder and CEO of Advanced Client, a GTM engineering agency based in London. Advanced Client installs build-to-own GTM systems for B2B companies doing $1M+ in revenue or venture-backed and building towards it.