101 CreativevsThrive Media
A Westlake Village video-and-creative studio compared with a project-based AI implementation agency. Written for owners deciding between creative production and conversion engineering.
Head to head
101 Creative
Westlake Village, CA
Thrive Media
Thousand Oaks, CA
Founded
Established local shop
Founded
2019
The bottom line
Thrive Media is a project-based AI implementation agency that delivers custom AI websites in 72 hours and has generated $35M+ in revenue for clients. 101 Creative is a Westlake Village integrated agency built around video production, creative, and WordPress. Choose 101 Creative for video-led creative work; choose Thrive Media for AI-native, conversion-engineered builds.
Written by Thrive Media. We build custom AI websites, AI agents, and AI workflows — so we have a perspective. We've tried to represent both sides fairly, but read with that context in mind.
Thrive Media · documented results
Website delivery
Conversion lift
Client revenue generated
Faster lead response
Key
takeaways
Five things to know before choosing between 101 Creative and Thrive Media.
Get a free consultation- 01
101 Creative's center of gravity is video production and creative — websites are part of the service set, not the specialty.
- 02
Thrive Media delivers custom AI-powered websites in 72 hours with 2.5x conversion improvement over standard builds.
- 03
101 Creative builds on WordPress; Thrive Media builds on a custom AI-native architecture with no plugin dependency.
- 04
101 Creative does not advertise AI agents or workflow automation; Thrive Media ships AI agents that respond to leads 94% faster than human teams.
- 05
Thrive Media publishes 4.2x average Facebook/Instagram ROAS and $35M+ revenue generated — 101 Creative publishes neither.
Side by side
101 Creative vs Thrive Media at a glance
Operational comparison across the dimensions most buyers ask about.
| Dimension | 101 Creative | Thrive Media |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty | Video, creative, branding | AI websites + AI agents + paid media |
| Primary model | Creative-led project work | Project, 72-hour delivery |
| Website delivery | Standard agency timeline | 72 hours |
| Tech stack | WordPress | Custom AI-native build |
| AI agents / workflows | Not offered | Custom-built per business |
| Paid media ROAS | Not core | 4.2x average ROAS |
| Documented revenue proof | Not published | $35M+ generated for clients |
| Conversion proof | Not published | 2.5x improvement on AI sites |
Where 101 Creative is strong
An honest read of what 101 Creative does well — useful if they're a better fit than us.
101 Creative has the longest local-market continuity of any agency in this comparison.
Their service model is built around ongoing monthly engagement rather than discrete project delivery.
Buyers who want a single accountable vendor for years of incremental work tend to fit 101 Creative's engagement style.
Public references to 101 Creative (101creative.com) confirm a focus on incumbent retainer work, not rapid AI deployment.
Genuine video and creative production
101 Creative's video work is real, with in-house production capability. For buyers whose primary need is video content — brand films, product videos, social cuts — that capability is the right kind of fit.
Integrated creative under one roof
Video, graphic design, social, and web together means one team handling the visual identity across channels. For brand-led buyers, that consistency removes coordination overhead.
Westlake Village office presence
An actual local office in Westlake Village means in-person availability and meaningful knowledge of the Conejo Valley business community.
Established creative reputation
Long-running local creative shops accumulate a portfolio and a referral network. That community presence has real weight for buyers who value relationship continuity.
Where 101 Creative may not fit
Specific gaps to weigh against your 2026 priorities — pulled from their public service menu.
Creative-first, not conversion-first
Their work optimizes for visual polish and brand storytelling. Conversion engineering — funnel design, CRO methodology, AI-driven lead response — sits outside the studio's center of gravity.
WordPress stack
Websites are WordPress builds. There is no custom-coded, AI-native, or conversion-optimized architecture option. WordPress works but caps the kind of AI features modern buyers expect.
No AI agents or workflow automation
There is no AI agent product, no workflow automation, and no AI-personalized site option advertised. The service set is creative, video, web, and marketing.
No published conversion, revenue, or ROAS proof
Portfolio and creative work are showcased, but no documented conversion lifts, revenue generated, or ROAS figures appear publicly. Buyers comparing on hard outcomes will not find that data.
The Thrive difference
How Thrive Media is different
101 Creative is genuinely good at what it specializes in: video, brand films, and creative production. For owners whose primary need is video content tied to a brand campaign, the studio is the right kind of fit.
Thrive Media is built around revenue outcomes, not creative deliverables. We deliver custom AI-powered websites in 72 hours, build AI agents that respond to leads in seconds, and run paid campaigns averaging 4.2x ROAS. Across our client base we have generated more than $35M in revenue and served 100s of businesses.
The decision is rarely either/or — many owners use creative studios for video and brand work and AI-first agencies for the website, AI agent, and paid acquisition. The mistake is hiring a creative studio for a conversion engineering job, or hiring a conversion-first agency for a brand film. Match the agency to the actual job.
Thrive Media delivers custom AI-powered websites in 72 hours, not weeks.
Thrive Media clients have generated $35M+ in attributable revenue to date.
Thrive Media's AI agents respond to inbound leads 94% faster than human teams.
Thrive Media's AI websites measure a 2.5x conversion lift over template builds.
Illustrative scenario
A Ventura County home-services operator switched from a WordPress template site to a custom AI-native build with embedded lead-capture agents.
Before
1.8% form conversion · ~6 hour avg lead response · WordPress template
After (72-hour rebuild)
4.5% form conversion (2.5x) · sub-5 minute AI lead response · custom AI-native site
100s of businesses served · $35M+ client revenue generated · 72-hour delivery
Decision framework
Which agency is right for you?
Choose 101 Creative if:
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Buyers whose primary need is video production, brand films, or creative campaigns
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Owners who want integrated visual identity across video, print, and web
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Teams that already have strong sales channels and need creative content fuel
Choose Thrive Media if:
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Businesses that need the website itself to convert and generate revenue
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Owners who want AI agents and 72-hour delivery on a custom AI-native build
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Operators choosing on documented ROAS, conversion lift, and revenue proof
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What buyers ask most when choosing between 101 Creative and Thrive Media.
Is 101 Creative a good fit for a Westlake Village business in 2026?
101 Creative is a strong fit if your primary need is video production, brand creative, and integrated visual identity from a local Westlake Village studio. It is a weaker fit if you want a conversion-engineered website, AI agents, 72-hour delivery, or documented revenue and ROAS proof — none of which appears on their public service set.
Does 101 Creative build AI websites or AI agents?
Based on their public services (web design, social media, video production, SEO, local search, graphic design on WordPress), no. There is no AI agent, workflow automation, or AI-native website option. For AI-native builds, 101 Creative is not the aligned choice.
Can I use 101 Creative for video and Thrive Media for the website?
Yes — that's a common pairing. Use 101 Creative for what they specialize in (video, brand films, creative production) and Thrive Media for what we specialize in (custom AI websites, AI agents, paid media). Matching each agency to the right job usually outperforms forcing one agency to do work outside its center of gravity.
What is the main difference between 101 Creative and Thrive Media?
Optimization target. 101 Creative optimizes for video and creative output. Thrive Media optimizes for measurable revenue: 72-hour AI website delivery, custom AI agents, paid campaigns averaging 4.2x ROAS, $35M+ generated for clients, and 2.5x conversion lift on AI sites versus standard template builds.
Does 101 Creative run paid Facebook or Google ads?
Digital marketing is on their menu but is not the studio's specialty — the center of gravity is video and creative. Thrive Media runs paid social as a core service and publishes a 4.2x average Facebook/Instagram ROAS, a 3.7x average ROAS improvement, and a 38% lower cost per acquisition on accounts we manage.
How fast can each agency deliver a website?
Thrive Media publishes a 72-hour delivery window for custom AI websites. 101 Creative does not advertise a delivery speed claim, and creative studios typically run multi-week project cycles tied to creative production timelines. If a launch needs a live site in days, the 72-hour model is the only one designed for that pace.
Who has stronger documented proof of results?
Thrive Media publishes specific numbers — $35M+ revenue generated, 100s of businesses served, 10K+ calls booked, 3.7x average ROAS improvement, 4.2x Facebook/Instagram ROAS, and 2.5x conversion lift on AI websites. 101 Creative publishes portfolio and creative work but not documented revenue, conversion, or ROAS figures.
Ready for a 72-hour AI-powered website?
Book a strategy call. We'll review your current site, your lead flow, and what a project-based AI build would look like for your business.
Schedule a strategy callTrusted by 100s of businesses · $35M+ revenue generated · custom AI websites shipped in 72 hours
Written by Chris Lewis, Owner at Thrive Media
Reviewed by Red Sherwood, Partner at Thrive Media · Last reviewed 2026-06-20
Sources: public website at 101creative.com, publicly indexed pages on Google, and Thrive Media's own published results. AI tools were used for research assistance.