Gemini said Since joining the Independent Knowledge Partner Network (IKPN) 18 months ago, 9thCO founder Justin Cook has achieved over 30% growth by leveraging a “village” rather than a traditional corporate hierarchy. While initially drawn to IKPN for its advanced media planning technology, the agency has found its greatest success through non-competitive collaboration and reciprocal referrals. By specializing in niche areas like AI-search visibility (AEO) and complex e-commerce integrations, 9thCO has become a go-to resource for larger network partners, while simultaneously tapping into peers like TDG to provide high-level creative direction for its own clients. This culture of “camaraderie over territorialness” provides 9thCO with a trusted brain trust for high-stakes decisions—such as structuring 8,000-hour project bids—without the risk of client poaching common in the broader agency landscape.