Agentio Raises $12M to Revolutionize YouTube Ad Marketplace
Agentio, a creator marketplace startup, has secured $12 million in Series A funding led by Benchmark, with participation from Craft Ventures and AlleyCorp. The platform automates the process of connecting YouTubers with brands, offering creators a way to monetize their content through competitive ad slot bidding. The new funding will help Agentio scale its marketplace and enhance its AI technology to assess creators’ brand safety.
Founded in 2023 by ex-Cameo president Arthur Leopold and former Spotify Automated Content Marketing lead Jonathan Meyers, Agentio has raised over $16 million in total funding. Its platform is currently invite-only for both brands and creators, ensuring quality and fostering long-term partnerships. Agentio works with major brands like DoorDash, Mint Mobile, and HelloFresh, alongside renowned creators such as Rhett & Link and Nick DiGiovanni.
Optimizing Ad Placements with AI
Agentio employs AI to evaluate creators’ content for brand safety, generating detailed risk profiles to help brands make informed decisions. The platform allows brands to customize safety criteria using large language models, matching them with creators who align with their needs. This automation significantly reduces the time required for manual vetting, enabling marketing teams to focus on campaign strategy.
AI-Powered Brand Safety and Insights
The platform also provides robust analytics to measure campaign performance. Metrics such as impressions, clicks, and conversions—integrated with Shopify—help brands assess the impact of their campaigns and inform decisions for renewals or long-term collaborations. On the creator side, Agentio’s insights models offer feedback on how to optimize content for better ad performance, creating a mutually beneficial ecosystem for both parties.
Scaling and Expanding
Agentio plans to expand its offerings to other platforms, but its primary focus remains on YouTube for now. The company reported a 2.35x increase in brand spending on the platform from Q3 to Q4 2024 and has already achieved profitability. With its scalable model and emphasis on automation, Agentio aims to address the inefficiencies of traditional agency-driven creator partnerships.
By building a marketplace that eliminates intermediaries, Agentio is transforming the creator economy. Its approach unlocks opportunities for creators of all sizes while providing brands with streamlined access to high-performing ad placements.
For the latest updates on business software and digital transformation, subscribe to Staq Insider
Need expert help to select and purchase the right software stack, check Staq42