Independent creative network Talented has expanded its ‘Grid’ of specialised agencies with the launch of mktgstack, an AI-native marketing agency aimed at founders and brand operators. The new venture is built on the premise that not every marketing challenge requires a traditional advertising campaign.

Founded by former Talented team members Namrata Chawla and Varun Khiatani, mktgstack positions itself as a growth-focused partner that designs and implements modern marketing systems. Its approach draws inspiration from internet-first brands, emphasising owned distribution, founder-led storytelling, content and IP development, AI-enabled workflows, and continuous optimisation over big-budget campaign bursts.

Explaining the rationale, Chawla and Khiatani said many established agencies were built for an era when growth depended on a handful of large campaigns rolled out months in advance. Today’s audiences, however, engage and convert differently. As a result, brands increasingly seek momentum through agile systems and measurable business outcomes rather than one-off creative showcases.

mktgstack joins Talented’s existing ventures, including creator and culture marketing agency The New Thing and fractional consultancy Early Partners. Together, they form the Talented Grid-a collective of founder-led agencies with distinct operating models.

Talented founders Gautam Reghunath and PG Aditiya said the Grid structure allows each agency to be designed around specific client realities, from early-stage startups to established brands. While some units prioritise craft and cultural impact, mktgstack is engineered for speed, efficiency and adaptability-leveraging AI to deliver high-quality output without the scale of traditional agency infrastructure.