---
title: 'No-name iPhone agency starts with two big names: Raven Zachary and James Keller'
date: '2009-02-05T13:35:27-08:00'
type: post
word_count: 552
char_count: 3587
tokens: 718
categories:
  - iPhone
  - JamesKeller
  - Oregon
  - Portland
  - RavenZachary
  - Startups
tags:
  - iPhone
  - 'james keller'
  - 'raven zachary'
  - raven.me
---

# No-name iPhone agency starts with two big names: Raven Zachary and James Keller

Why is the Brady Bunch theme song running through my head?

Maybe it’s because I’ve just heard the story of a man named Raven and a woman named James who’ve decided to combine their incredible talents.

[Raven Zachary](http://raven.me "Raven Zachary") started his own [iPhone consultancy](http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/18/raven-zacharys-apple-iphone-obsession-now-his-full-time-gig/ "Raven Zachary iPhone consultancy") last year. And he’s been overwhelmingly successful. Being involved in the [Obama iPhone app](http://siliconflorist.com/2008/10/02/obama-for-iphone-portland-plays-a-huge-role-in-mobile-app-development/ "Obama iPhone app") can do that to you. And helping with something like [iPhorest](http://siliconflorist.com/2009/02/04/iphorest-new-iphone-app-launching-at-ted-has-portland-connection/ "iPhorest") only continues the momentum.

So, he decided it was time to do something more.

“Since the Obama app, I’ve encountered some amazing brands and amazing opportunities,” said Raven. “And they were affecting my ability to remain an independent advisor in the iPhone community. It became very clear to me that there was the opportunity to build an iPhone agency.”

Enter [James “@semaphoria” Keller](http://twitter.com/semaphoria "James semaphoria Keller"), a wizard at Interaction Design, Information Architecture, and User Experience with a rich agency history. Her most recent gig? Serving as Interactive Strategist at [Wieden + Kennedy](http://wk.com "Wieden + Kennedy").

“I love technology and how companies communicate with their community,” said James. “Getting to really dig deep and find a place for that within such a new—and gorgeous—platform is really a dream come true. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime, follow-your-heart pursuit.”

Now, they’re joining forces to form a strategic iPhone agency.

[![James Keller on the new gig](https://i0.wp.com/siliconflorist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/jameskeller.jpg?w=925)](http://twitter.com/semaphoria/status/1178927373 "James Keller on the new gig")

Why an agency model instead of pure app development? Raven and James are both interested in helping people develop and interact with their communities. The iPhone platform is a means to that end—albeit an incredibly creative platform for doing so.

The agency will also likely build apps of their own—[Andrew Pouliot](http://twitter.com/andpoul "Andrew Pouliot") and [Jonathan Wight](http://twitter.com/schwa "Jonathan Wight"), the lead dev on the Obama app, help round out the team—but it’s the strategy on which they will focus the majority of their time and effort.

Not only is this big for all of them, it’s big for Portland and its continued place in the mobile space.

“I think it’s a great fit for Portland because of the long history of creative services and technology,” said Raven. “We’re focusing on both. It’s really more of an agency than a development shop. But it’s really a small, small boutique agency.”

“I think you can be creative and strategic and develop well,” James said. “It’s a uniquely Portland thing.”

So what’s it called? Well, they don’t know yet. But you can find them at [Raven.me](http://raven.me "Raven.me").

“Maybe instead of Raven.me \[Raven’s current consultancy\], we can call it Raven.us?” said James.

At the very least, Todd gets his wish.

[![TiEsQue on Raven and James](https://i0.wp.com/siliconflorist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/tiesqueravenjames.jpg?w=925)](http://twitter.com/TiEsQue/status/785386666 "TiEsQue on Raven and James")