From Competitors to Co-Founders (The Unlikely Trio) - Upframe Creative

Company: Upframe Creative
Owners: Shay Vandendriessche, Carrie Kuhl, and Hannah Merritt
Year Started: 2019
Employees: 1-10

What happens when three solo entrepreneurs, once direct competitors, join forces? In this episode, Carrie, Shay, and Hannah of Upframe Creative reveal how they merged talents to build a tight-knit, high-performing agency in rural South Dakota. You’ll hear real talk on defining roles, maintaining culture, and what it really takes to grow without losing control.

Inside this episode:

• Why treating a partnership like a marriage is the key to success
• The surprising advantage of hiring people with an “entrepreneur’s heart”
• How to protect your culture when expanding your team
• The moment they knew they’d found the perfect agency niche (and why it matters)