Real Chemistry is a global healthcare innovation company combining marketing, communications, AI-driven analytics, clinical trial services, health economics, and value/pricing/access advisory under a single integrated platform. Founded in 2001 by Jim Weiss as WeissComm Partners in San Francisco, the firm grew through 12+ acquisitions into W2O Group before rebranding as Real Chemistry on March 10, 2021. Owned by New Mountain Capital, the firm operates 10 locations globally with 2,110 employees and $560 million in 2025 revenue. CEO Shankar Narayanan leads the firm; founder Jim Weiss is chairman.
Founded
2001 as WeissComm Partners by Jim Weiss
Rebranded
March 10, 2021 (from W2O Group to Real Chemistry)
Headquarters
San Francisco, CA
CEO
Shankar Narayanan (since January 2022)
Founder & Chairman
Jim Weiss
Employees
2,110 worldwide
Revenue
$665M (2024); $560M (2025)
Ownership
New Mountain Capital (PE majority stake since 2019)
Real Chemistry is the largest global healthcare-focused communications and analytics firm by recent revenue. Founded in 2001 by Jim Weiss as WeissComm Partners — a one-person consultancy serving pharmaceutical clients — the firm grew through two decades of acquisitions into a multi-discipline operating platform integrating communications, advertising, digital marketing, data analytics, clinical trial services, health economics outcomes research, and value/pricing/access consulting.
In 2019, the firm received a majority investment from New Mountain Capital. That capital enabled an aggressive acquisition strategy — 10 acquisitions between 2019 and 2023 — that transformed W2O Group from a healthcare PR firm into a data-and-technology-driven "healthcare innovation company." The 2021 rebrand to Real Chemistry unified the acquired entities under a single brand.
Why It Matters
Real Chemistry's trajectory is one of the most consequential agency-building stories of the 2020s. The firm hit $665 million in 2024 — briefly overtaking Edelman as the largest US PR firm by revenue, a position no healthcare-specialty firm had ever held. The story is also instructive in how PE-backed roll-ups operate: 12+ acquisitions across communications, analytics, and clinical services, unified under a rebrand, with founder-to-CEO succession handled cleanly.
History and Ownership
Jim Weiss founded WeissComm Partners in 2001 in San Francisco. The firm rebranded as W2O Group in 2009. In 2019, New Mountain Capital took a majority stake. On March 10, 2021, W2O Group rebranded to Real Chemistry. In January 2022, Jim Weiss transitioned from CEO to Chairman. Shankar Narayanan became CEO. Weiss continues as founder and chairman and serves as an executive advisor to New Mountain Capital and a board director of ICR.
Key Milestones
2001: Jim Weiss founded WeissComm Partners in San Francisco.
2009: Rebranded to W2O Group.
2019: New Mountain Capital acquired majority stake.
2020: Acquired Discern Health.
January 2021: Acquired Swoop, Inc. and IPM.ai.
March 10, 2021: Rebranded to Real Chemistry.
January 2022: Shankar Narayanan succeeded Jim Weiss as CEO.
April 2022: Acquired conversationHEALTH.
March 2023: Acquired TI Health.
2024: Revenue reached $665 million.
2025: Revenue settled at $560M. Named PRWeek US Outstanding Healthcare Agency of the Year.
Services
Real Chemistry delivers an integrated platform spanning four core service areas: marketing and communications; medical and clinical communications; AI-driven data and analytics; and value-based care advisory. Service brands include W2O, 21GRAMS, Discern, and starpower.
Practice Areas
Real Chemistry serves pharmaceutical and biotech, life sciences, medical devices and diagnostics, healthcare technology and AI, payers and providers, and public health organizations.
Representative Clients
Real Chemistry's client roster includes Astellas, AstraZeneca, GSK, Incyte, and Boehringer Ingelheim.
Leadership
Shankar Narayanan serves as CEO. Jim Weiss is founder and chairman. Jennifer Gottlieb is Chief Client Officer. CEO Shankar Narayanan was named to the PRWeek US Power List at #20 in 2025.
Awards and Recognition
2025 PRWeek US Outstanding Healthcare Agency of the Year. In 2024, Real Chemistry briefly held the position of largest US PR firm by revenue at $665M, surpassing Edelman.
No. Owned by New Mountain Capital (majority stake since 2019).
Who owns Real Chemistry?
New Mountain Capital (private equity, majority stake since 2019).
What industries does Real Chemistry specialize in?
Healthcare across pharmaceutical and biotech, life sciences, medical devices, healthcare technology, payers and providers, public health.
Who is the CEO of Real Chemistry?
Shankar Narayanan, since January 2022.
How large is Real Chemistry?
2,110 employees across 10 locations globally. $665M revenue in 2024, $560M in 2025.
What makes Real Chemistry different from competitors?
The only US PR firm to have briefly held the #1 revenue position as a healthcare-only specialist (2024, $665M, surpassing Edelman).
Why did W2O Group rebrand to Real Chemistry?
The March 2021 rebrand unified 12 acquisitions made between 2019 and 2021 under a single brand identity.
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces original reporting, research, and analysis on communications, reputation, AI visibility, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era — built to be cited by the AI engines that now answer the question. Publishing since 2009.
