We didn't plan
for this
Echt Social is an independent creative and digital marketing agency in Colombo, founded by Dhanushka and Sachini in 2019. We make films, campaigns, social content and performance work for brands with something to say.
See the timeline
Two people met at a travel agency. Several questionable decisions later, they had a marketing agency.
HANDLE WITH HUMOUR ↗A timeline of questionable decisions
Our origin story is real. It has a travel agency, a pandemic and one pot that was far too small to be a hat.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 01
MISTAKES WERE MADE
Dhanushka, one of the co-founders at Echt is born.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 02
HEY, IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE…
He gets his head stuck in a pot. His future doesn’t seem too bright
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 03
SRI LANKA’S FIRST NATURALLY CONCEIVED HOBBIT IS BORN
Sachini, the other Co-founder of Echt Social is born and speaks almost immediately the phrase “I’m hungry”. Little does her parents know that 35 years later she will never stop saying it.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 04
SACHINI STOPS GROWING
Sachini is 9 years old. Little does she know she will remain this height for the rest of her life.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 05
SACHINI GETS HER FIRST JOB!
After carefully fabricating her academic qualifications Sachini manages to land her first job at a travel agency and is assigned to the same department as Dhanushka. Dhanushka was confused to see Sachini at first as he didn’t know it was ‘Bring your child to work day’ at the office.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 06
AN ILL-FATED REUNION
Dhanushka works as a part-time consultant for a leading travel agency and works with Sachini once more, who once again had cleverly falsified her work experience to get the job and move up the ranks.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 07
A PANDEMIC. A STRATEGY MEETING. A BAD BACKUP PLAN.
Covid is here and businesses crash. Fearing the worst, Sachini considers changing Echt’s strategy to help clients promote essentials during Covid-19. Dhanushka considers starting an OnlyFans.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 08
ECHT SOCIAL TRICKS / HIRES ITS FIRST TEAM MEMBER!
Rushith joins the company as a graphic designer. He signs the contract agreement failing to read the text in small print, which clearly states that he and his future generations are subsequently bound in servitude to Echt Social.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 09
OUR FIRST CONTENT WRITER, ARNITA JOINS ECHT.
Our first content writer, Arnita joins Echt. Her eagerness quickly dissipates when she finds out that she would also be placed into Operations and HR. Once again our trick contract clauses work in our favour and prevent her from making a hasty exit. She realises resistance is futile and she embraces her fate.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 10
MISERY LOVES COMPANY
Vinushki joins a month later and is quickly guided into the open arms of Arnita and Rushith, who epitomise the saying ‘Misery loves company’.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 11
RECESSION KICKS IN. SACHINI BUILDS A PLAN. DHANUSHKA BUILDS A PAYWALL.
When times get tough, some build strategies. Others build subscription tiers. Different approaches. Same goal: keep Echt afloat.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 12
FOR SAFE MEASURE, WE CONSIDER GEO-TAGGING OUR TEAM MEMBERS’ HOMES.
In the guise of “dropping them home”, Sachini and Dhanushka plan to stalk in person for project updates. Productivity? No. Paranoia? Absolutely.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 13
SACHINI LEAVES FOR DUBAI. THE TEAM CELEBRATES.
However, they quickly realise that “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” doesn’t quite apply here as Sachini develops a more intense micro-management plan.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 14
WE ASKED FOR THEIR HOUSE KEY. THEY SAID NO
We tried convincing our team for a copy of their house key so that we could drop-in to check their temperature when they call-in sick. Surprisingly, the team unanimously disapproves this idea. Sachini and Dhanushka are left baffled.
- ECHT ARCHIVES / 15
STILL HERE. STILL MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.
Seven years later, the chaos is still going strong. Thanks for trusting the work, surviving the group chat, and enabling all the good decisions. See you in Year 8.
The jokes are real
So is the work
We bring strategy, design, production, media and reporting into the same conversation. One brief, one team, and fewer opportunities for the good idea to get lost between departments.
Our clients span automotive, hospitality, property, insurance and more. The timeline tells you how we got here. The work shows you what we do now.
See the work