The creator economy has emerged as a powerful force in digital advertising, yet brands have long struggled with the complex and time-consuming process of executing creator-led advertising campaigns at scale. While traditional digital advertising platforms like Google and Meta offer streamlined buying processes, the creator space has remained fragmented and inefficient, often requiring weeks of back-and-forth to close a single deal. Agentio is an AI-powered programmatic ad platform that transforms how brands and creators connect. Operating in the $300B global digital advertising market, Agentio’s platform automates everything from creator matching to pricing and campaign execution, enabling brands to achieve 4-10x better ROAS as compared to other social video channels while creators can secure deals in seconds. Through its marketplace model, Agentio is bringing efficiency to creator partnerships, with rapidly growing adoption from both leading brands and creators including HelloFresh, DoorDash, Mint Mobile, MasterClass, Nick DiGiovanni, Matty Matheson, Rhett & Link, and Chad Chad.
AlleyWatch caught up with Agentio Cofounder and CEO Arthur Leopold to learn more about the inspiration for the business, the company’s strategic plans, latest round of funding, which brings the company’s total funding raised to $16.3M, and much, much more…
Who were your investors and how much did you raise?
We recently closed a $12M Series A round led by Benchmark, with participation from Craft and AlleyCorp. This is Benchmark’s first investment in both adtech and the creator economy, which speaks volumes about the potential they see in Agentio and the wider landscape.
Tell us about the product or service that Agentio offers.
Agentio is the first programmatic ad platform that allows brands to buy creator-led ads as easily as traditional digital ads through Google or Meta. By leveraging AI-powered matching and auto-bidding, we’ve streamlined a process that once took weeks into mere minutes, connecting brands and creators with unparalleled efficiency.
What inspired the start of Agentio?
The inefficiency of working with creators in a meaningful, scalable way was glaring. The potential for creator-led advertising is massive, but the process was fragmented and unscalable – something we knew could be transformed with the right technology.
How is Agentio different?
Agentio eliminates the friction in creator partnerships by automating everything from creator matching to pricing and campaign execution. Brands see up to 10x ROAS with our platform, while creators close six-figure deals in seconds – a win-win for both sides.
What market does Agentio target and how big is it?
We’re focused on the $300B global digital ad market, particularly the growing share moving into the creator economy. This is a massive opportunity as more brands shift budgets toward authentic, creator-driven content in order to reach consumers.
What’s your business model?
We operate as a transparent marketplace, taking a platform fee on brand spend while ensuring creators net 80% of the deal value. This approach keeps everyone’s goals aligned while ensuring all parties are properly incentivized.
How are you preparing for a potential economic slowdown?
Economic challenges tend to accelerate the shift to measurable, high-ROI channels, which positions Agentio well. We focus on delivering tangible performance metrics and cost-efficient solutions that resonate with brands in any market environment.
What was the funding process like?
Raising capital is always about balancing storytelling, data, and vision. Benchmark shared our belief in the transformative potential of the creator economy, making the process both validating and collaborative.
What are the biggest challenges that you faced while raising capital?
Educating investors on the inefficiencies of the creator economy and how we’re solving them was key. Once they saw the ROI potential and scalability of our platform, those challenges quickly turned into opportunities.
What factors about your business led your investors to write the check?
It came down to our technology’s ability to deliver measurable results, the rapidly growing demand for creator-led advertising, and the market’s lack of scalable solutions. They also valued the experience our team brings from major companies like Cameo and Spotify.
What are the milestones you plan to achieve in the next six months?
We’re focused on growing our creator & brand network, launching new ad units, and expanding our team to help achieve these goals.
What advice can you offer companies in New York that do not have a fresh injection of capital in the bank?
Focus on efficiency and delivering undeniable value to your customers. Investors are cautious right now, but they’ll always make room for businesses that show clear ROI and a scalable model.
Where do you see the company going in the near term?
In the near term, we’re solidifying our position as the go-to platform for creator-led advertising while expanding into new channels and markets. The goal is to make Agentio indispensable for brands and creators alike.
What’s your favorite fall destination in and around the city?
There’s something special about walking through Prospect Park in the fall – the colors, the energy, and the sense of possibility are inspiring and rejuvenating.
