This is a creative benchmark contest focused on real DTC brands. Create speculative short-form ads for real brands to demonstrate your ad-making skill. Ads are not affiliated with or commissioned by the listed brands. **IMPORTANT: Before submitting, you must claim exactly one brand from the shared Google Sheet:** https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qYG0dE3UdPGpnb05FylFEI5gGlupzdE7U1v6A-VTvCM/edit?usp=sharing How Brand Claiming Works: • Open the Google Sheet and choose one brand from the list • Enter your name or handle in the "Claimed By" column • The first name entered locks the brand — each brand can only be claimed once • Once claimed, you cannot switch brands • Each creator may claim only one brand This contest has one single track. All submissions are judged together in one global pool — no sub-tracks, categories, or separate leaderboards. Winning ads will be featured as part of Anthum's benchmark library and used as reference examples for future brand campaigns. This contest is designed to surface real ad-making skill, not polish or brand familiarity.
Submission Requirements: • One short-form video ad per creator • Video length: 30 - 45 seconds • Format: 16:9 or 4:3 • Create the ad as if pitching your claimed brand • Brand accuracy is not judged — creative quality and persuasion are the focus Judging Criteria: • Hook strength in the first seconds • Clarity of value communication • Creative taste • Whether the ad feels like something a real brand would run Prize Distribution ($3,000 total, 6 winners): • 1st Place: $800 • 2nd Place: $600 • 3rd Place: $550 • 4th Place: $350 • 5th Place: $350 • 6th Place: $350