Agency vs Protocol
Agency vs Protocol, compared side by side on 22 data points: what each one does, how big it is, what it has raised, the tech running each site, and what users report. We score both out of 100 on traction, team and visibility: Agency is on 58/100 and Protocol on 47/100.
Where each one leads
Agency
- our overall score: 58/100 against 47/100
- headcount: 519 against 109
- funding raised: $20.0M against $3.2M
Protocol
- domain rating: 60/100 against 27/100
- LinkedIn following: 35,452 against 7,597
At a glance
| Measure | Agency | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Agency builds custom AI Agents that operate 24/7/365, offering consulting, development tools, and an observability platform to help businesses automate. | Protocol Labs is an innovation network driving breakthroughs in computing to push humanity forward. |
| Category | Agentic AI, AI Agents, Autonomous Systems, Consulting | Agentic AI, AI Agent, Foundation Model, API Platform |
| Sells toBusiness model | B2B | B2B |
| Offering | Services | Platform |
| Founded | 2023 | 2023 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, United States | San Francisco, United States |
| Status | Active | Active |
Size, funding and growth
| Measure | Agency | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Employees | 519 | 109 |
| Headcount growthLast 12 months | -2.3% | Not published |
| Total funding | $20.0M | $3.2M |
| Latest round | Series A | Not published |
| LinkedIn followers | 7,597 | 35,452 |
StartupHub scores
Our own 0-100 ratings. They measure company strength and site quality, not which product suits you.
| Measure | Agency | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| StartupHub scoreOur 0-100 rating | 58/100 | 47/100 |
| Traction | 57/100 | 53/100 |
| Team | 30/100 | Not published |
| Community | Not published | 15/100 |
| Search visibility | 30/100 | 27/100 |
| Quality | 68/100 | 58/100 |
| Agent readinessHow well an AI agent can read and act on the site | F (35/100) | F (36/100) |
| Domain ratingLink authority, 0-100 | 27/100 | 60/100 |
Technology
Detected on each public site, so it reflects the marketing stack as well as the product.
| Measure | Agency | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Vercel | Vercel |
| CDN | Cloudflare | Vercel |
| Frameworks | Next.js, Tailwind CSS | Tailwind CSS |
| Analytics | Google Analytics 4, Google Tag Manager | Google Analytics 4 |
| Support stack | HubSpot | Not detected |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | No | Yes |
Product and pricing
| Measure | Agency | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Key features | Custom AI Agent Building, AI Agent Consulting Services, AgentOps Observability Platform, Vetted AI Agents Directory, Rapid Workflow Automation, Cost Reduction & Revenue Boost | Not published |
Agency vs Protocol: common questions
Which is better, Agency or Protocol?
On our 0-100 score Agency rates higher (58/100 against 47/100). The score weights traction, team, visibility and profile completeness, so it reflects company strength rather than which product suits you. We compare the two on 22 data points above: read the rows that match what you are buying for.
How do Agency and Protocol compare on the numbers?
Agency leads on our overall score (58/100 against 47/100), headcount (519 against 109), funding raised ($20.0M against $3.2M). Protocol leads on domain rating (60/100 against 27/100), LinkedIn following (35,452 against 7,597).
Read the full Agency review and pricing or the Protocol review and pricing. You can also browse other Agency alternatives we track.