Amid global debates over the rise—and possible overvaluation—of artificial intelligence, two UK entrepreneurs are doubling down on a people-first philosophy to redefine business growth.
Unusual Group, co-founded by Luke Tobin and Ali Newton-Temperley, enters the market as a forward-thinking “super-structure” built to support founder-led agencies through every phase of their journey—from scaling up to strategic exit. It unites consultancy, capital access, M&A guidance, and back-office systems, offering founders the benefits of scale without losing their autonomy.
The initiative was inspired by the idea that growth and exit planning are inseparable. Tobin, who successfully guided Digital Ethos to an eight-figure exit, collaborated with Newton-Temperley, an international strategist and the author of Agency Exits, after discovering they shared the same mission from differing angles.
“Growth without exit planning leaves value on the table, and exit planning without growth will fail,” Ali Newton-Temperley said.
Together with Daniel Rose and Paul Allen, they’ve built a “super-structure” model that combines consultancy, investment, M&A support and operational infrastructure, giving independent founders access to the same advantages as major holding groups, without losing control.
The launch of Unusual Group comes amid a 34% year-on-year drop in agency M&A activity (Trading View) in the first half of 2025, even as AI valuations soared to unprecedented heights – OpenAI at $500 billion and Anthropic at $170 billion. Some investors, like veteran fund manager James Anderson, have compared today’s AI frenzy to the dot-com bubble.
Luke Tobin, CEO and serial exit specialist said: “AI can supercharge tactical execution, but strategic thinking, cultural intuition, and relationship capital remain irreplaceable.”
Unusual Group’s strategy focuses on acquiring minority stakes in standout founder-led agencies and supporting them with capital, infrastructure, and expertise, helping them scale and prepare for higher value future exits.
Positioning itself as a new category in the agency landscape, Unusual Group is a modern holding company built for the age of AI. Members gain access to institutional-grade finance, legal, HR, and operations support, along with proven scale-to-sale playbooks and peer collaboration. Agencies can pursue three exit paths, trade sale, private equity roll-up, or IPO, all designed to maximise founder outcomes.
“Growth is harder, capital is tighter, and founders need more support than ever,” Tobin added. “Our model gives them leverage without losing independence.”
As AI transforms the industry, Unusual Group stands for a more balanced approach, one that blends technology with human ingenuity.
For agencies not yet ready to join the group, Agency Growth Pad by Unusual Group offers tailored consultancy to support early-stage scaling with whether or not they have the intention to sell one day.