Savannah James Launches Holding Company Signed

Savannah James and April McDaniel launched a new company named Signed this week, which will serve as a holding company for their portfolio of women-focused businesses and media ventures. Signed will consolidate three existing ventures: Crown+Conquer, a creative agency founded by McDaniel in 2016; Let It Break, a membership-based women's community established in 2024; and the podcast Everybody's Crazy, also launched in 2024.

The founders have appointed Christopher Gray as chief creative officer, leveraging his prior experience at Nike and Wieden+Kennedy London. The new company is launching in partnership with MarcyPen Capital Partners, a private equity and venture capital firm cofounded by Jay-Z. The stated goal of Signed is to utilize its three founding companies as a foundation for developing new brands under its umbrella.

McDaniel explained that the concept for Signed emerged from observing the shared purpose of their existing brands: celebrating and fostering the growth of female-owned businesses. She noted that this realization revealed a scope for the venture that exceeded their initial expectations, prompting a focus on leveraging their strengths and seeking external expertise for scaling. The partnership with MarcyPen and the addition of talent like Gray are intended to provide this necessary support and strategic vision.

James emphasized her belief in the importance of surrounding the company with experts, stating, "There's always somebody that's smarter. There's always somebody who's more efficient." This philosophy underpins their strategy for building Signed by integrating specialized talent. The company's initial lineup, combining a creative agency, media distribution, and a community platform, represents a strategic advantage, offering a comprehensive offering that many larger firms are striving to build.