(01)Engagement
Overview
Founded in 2000, Crawford Group is a California-based enterprise marketing and managed services agency specializing in embedded marketing, event, creative, and operational teams for large enterprise organizations. Over the past two decades, the agency built deep-rooted partnerships with global brands including Adobe, Cisco, AWS, Bloomberg, and Boomi, becoming known for its flexible delivery model, strategic marketing expertise, and ability to integrate seamlessly inside client organizations. Through its embedded team structure and outcome-driven approach, Crawford Group established itself as a trusted long-term partner for Fortune 500 companies navigating increasingly complex marketing and event execution needs.
(02)Inside The
Enterprise
Crawford Group operates as an enterprise marketing partner focused on embedded managed services, strategic consulting, and high-level marketing execution. The agency provides embedded teams, individual talent placements, and project-based program management across marketing, creative, martech, events, and customer experience functions. Unlike traditional staffing firms, Crawford Group positions itself as a strategic delivery partner, providing highly specialized talent and managed teams that operate directly within client organizations. Its operational model combines flexibility, scalability, and subject matter expertise, allowing enterprise clients to rapidly scale marketing initiatives while maintaining continuity and quality.
(03)Founder's
Motive
After building Crawford Group over more than two decades, founder Judy Crawford began exploring opportunities to position the agency for its next phase of growth. While the business remained highly profitable and deeply entrenched with enterprise clients, the goal was to find a strategic partner that could further scale the platform, support continued expansion, and provide long-term opportunities for both the team and clients. The decision was centered around continuity, growth, and ensuring the agency’s strong reputation and culture would continue to thrive within a larger organization.
(04)Founder’s Vision
For Crawford Group, the ideal acquirer needed to understand enterprise marketing complexity, embedded service delivery, and the importance of long-standing client relationships. Preserving the agency’s strategic approach, delivery standards, and flexible managed services model was essential. The right partner would value Crawford Group’s reputation, operational maturity, and deep enterprise relationships while bringing additional infrastructure, growth resources, and scalability to support the next chapter of expansion
(05)Setting the Stage
To prepare Crawford Group for market, Merge positioned the agency as a highly differentiated enterprise marketing platform with exceptionally strong client retention and recurring revenue visibility. The business stood out for its embedded team structure, long-term Fortune 500 relationships, and diversified service offerings spanning marketing, creative, martech, and event management. Crawford Group’s scalable staffing infrastructure, mature operational systems, and highly recurring engagement model made it especially attractive to buyers seeking predictable enterprise revenue and long-term client partnerships.
(06)Attracting Suitors
Merge marketed Crawford Group as a rare opportunity to acquire a deeply embedded enterprise marketing partner with decades-long client relationships and a highly scalable managed services model. Buyers were particularly drawn to the agency’s strong positioning within large enterprise organizations, its outcome-driven delivery approach, and its ability to provide flexible embedded teams across multiple marketing disciplines. Crawford Group’s long-standing relationships with globally recognized brands such as Adobe, AWS, Cisco, and Bloomberg reinforced its credibility and market leadership within the enterprise services landscape.
(07)Sealing the Deal
Crawford Group was acquired by 24 Seven, a leading talent and workforce solutions firm specializing in creative, marketing, digital, and technology staffing. The acquisition strategically expanded 24 Seven’s enterprise marketing and managed services capabilities while strengthening its ability to support large-scale embedded team engagements for global clients. By combining Crawford Group’s embedded delivery expertise and enterprise client relationships with 24 Seven’s national talent infrastructure and workforce solutions platform, the combined organization created a stronger, more scalable offering for enterprise marketing organizations.
(08)Unlocking Synergies
Following the acquisition, Crawford Group gained access to expanded operational resources, broader talent networks, and additional infrastructure to support future growth. The partnership enhanced the combined organization’s ability to deliver embedded marketing solutions, strategic consulting, and enterprise workforce management at scale. Clients benefit from expanded capabilities and deeper support resources, while employees gain increased opportunities for professional growth within a larger platform organization.
(09)Finding a New Home
Merge guided Crawford Group through a strategic, founder-focused acquisition process centered on long-term alignment, operational continuity, and future growth. Through targeted buyer outreach, thoughtful positioning, and hands-on transaction support, Merge helped Crawford Group find the right strategic home with 24 Seven, a partner well-positioned to support the agency’s next chapter. The result is a strengthened enterprise marketing platform built to serve some of the world’s most sophisticated organizations with scalable, embedded marketing solutions.
(01)Engagement
Overview
Founded in 2018, ThinkFuel is a Canada-based HubSpot CRM and digital growth agency serving B2B companies across North America. Built around deep technical expertise in HubSpot architecture, automation, and data-driven marketing, ThinkFuel developed a reputation for solving complex CRM challenges for scaling organizations. Over time, the agency became known for its sophisticated implementations, enterprise-grade integrations, and ability to support fast-growing teams navigating increasingly complex revenue operations.
(02)Inside The
Enterprise
ThinkFuel operates as a HubSpot-first CRM and marketing infrastructure partner, helping clients design, implement, and optimize their entire revenue technology stack. The agency supports organizations through HubSpot onboarding, custom CRM architecture, automation, API integrations, reporting, and advanced marketing operations. Its delivery model blends strategic consulting with hands-on technical execution, allowing clients to scale their sales, marketing, and service operations on a single, integrated platform.
(03)Founder's
Motive
After several years of rapid growth, ThinkFuel’s founder began exploring what the next chapter could look like for the agency. While the business remained healthy and in high demand, the founder wanted to step back from day-to-day operations and join a larger ecosystem that could support continued scale. The goal was not simply to exit, but to place ThinkFuel inside a platform that would give the team greater resources, stability, and long-term opportunity while reducing the founder’s operational burden.
(04)Founder’s Vision
For ThinkFuel, the right buyer needed to deeply understand HubSpot, CRM complexity, and the evolving needs of sophisticated B2B clients. Preserving the agency’s technical culture, delivery standards, and client relationships was critical. The ideal partner would bring operational scale, enterprise-level infrastructure, and business development support, while allowing ThinkFuel’s team to continue delivering high-touch, technically advanced work.
(05)Setting the Stage
To prepare ThinkFuel for market, Merge positioned the agency as a highly specialized HubSpot platform with strong technical differentiation. The business was presented as a best-in-class CRM and automation firm serving clients with complex RevOps and growth requirements. Its mature delivery processes, experienced technical team, and growing North American footprint made ThinkFuel an attractive acquisition target for strategic buyers seeking to deepen their HubSpot capabilities.
(06)Attracting Suitors
Merge marketed ThinkFuel as a rare combination of HubSpot technical depth, CRM architecture expertise, and enterprise-grade execution. Buyers were drawn to the agency’s ability to support sophisticated clients with custom integrations, automation workflows, and advanced reporting. As demand for complex CRM and RevOps solutions continued to rise, ThinkFuel stood out as a platform capable of leading the next phase of HubSpot maturity in the market.
(07)Sealing the Deal
ThinkFuel was acquired by Parkour3, a leading HubSpot digital marketing and automation agency based in Montreal. Parkour3 sought to expand its technical depth and market reach within the HubSpot ecosystem. By combining Parkour3’s strength in automation, data strategy, and scalable execution with ThinkFuel’s deep HubSpot architecture and implementation expertise, the combined firm created a significantly stronger enterprise delivery platform across Canada and the United States.
(08)Unlocking Synergies
Following the acquisition, ThinkFuel became part of a larger HubSpot-focused organization with greater capacity to invest in technology, people, and long-term strategy. The combined platform is now better equipped to serve increasingly complex B2B clients, deliver enterprise-level CRM solutions, and support continued growth across North America. Clients benefit from expanded capabilities, while the team gains access to broader infrastructure and opportunity.
(09)Finding a New Home
Merge guided ThinkFuel through a founder-first acquisition process centered on strategic alignment, continuity, and long-term growth. Through targeted buyer outreach, thoughtful positioning, and hands-on transaction support, Merge helped place ThinkFuel with Parkour3, a partner that values technical excellence, client relationships, and the future of HubSpot-driven growth. The result is a powerful new platform positioned to lead the next chapter of CRM and marketing automation across the Canadian and U.S. markets.