Upfront V

Upfront Ventures, established in 1996, is a Santa Monica-based venture capital firm focusing on early-stage technology investments. It primarily invests in companies across North America, with a significant portion of its capital allocated to the Southern California ecosystem, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. The firm also considers opportunities in Europe and occasionally in other continents. Upfront Ventures invests in a broad range of technology sectors, including digital content, Ad-Tech, retail innovation, financial services, mobile, big data, software, and consumer goods, among others. It typically invests between $0.5 million and $15 million in seed rounds and between $2 million and $5 million in Series A rounds, reserving follow-on capital for future financing needs. The firm takes a board seat in its portfolio companies and has backed notable startups such as Ring, TrueCar, and Maker Studios.

Greg Bettinelli

Board Partner

Julien Etaix

Investment Manager

Kobie Fuller

General Partner

Nick Kim

Partner

Stuart Lander

General Partner

Aditi Maliwal

Partner

Pierre Morin

General Partner

Jacques Sisteron

Partner

Kesar Varma

Partner

Peter Zakin

Partner

Kevin Zhang

Partner

Past deals in Advertising

Adway

Seed Round in 2021
Adway International, Inc., established in 2018 and based in Beverly Hills, California, specializes in out-of-home advertising services. It offers a digital advertising platform enabling advertisers to launch and monitor their campaigns, and provides vehicle-based advertisement display services using projection technology to show static images and full HD video. This innovative approach allows for flexible and targeted geo-fencing, making Adway a unique player in the advertising industry.

GumGum

Series E in 2021
GumGum, Inc. is a technology company based in Santa Monica, California, that specializes in artificial intelligence, particularly in computer vision and natural language processing. Founded in 2006, the company focuses on unlocking the value of visual content generated across various platforms, including the web and broadcast television. GumGum provides a range of services, such as in-image advertising, influencer marketing, targeted media buying, and site monetization. Its flagship products include GumGum Visual Intelligence, a platform for real-time visual listening that assists brands in identifying and activating online imagery, and AdBuilder, which allows brands to create and manage in-image and in-screen advertisements. By using advanced machine learning and deep learning technologies, GumGum enhances contextual advertising and aids marketers in maximizing the media value of their investments. The company maintains a presence with additional offices in major cities across the United States, as well as locations in London and Sydney.

InfoSum

Series A in 2020
InfoSum is a company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire, that has developed a decentralized data platform aimed at enhancing customer experiences while safeguarding privacy. The platform facilitates collaboration among advertisers, media owners, data providers, and advertising technology firms by enabling them to connect multiple data sources without the need to transfer or pool the underlying data. This innovative approach minimizes trust barriers and mitigates the risk of data exposure or misuse. InfoSum's patented non-movement data technology creates a secure and accessible network for data collaboration, allowing organizations to unlock the full potential of their customer data while maintaining a strong focus on privacy.

GumGum

Series D in 2020
GumGum, Inc. is a technology company based in Santa Monica, California, that specializes in artificial intelligence, particularly in computer vision and natural language processing. Founded in 2006, the company focuses on unlocking the value of visual content generated across various platforms, including the web and broadcast television. GumGum provides a range of services, such as in-image advertising, influencer marketing, targeted media buying, and site monetization. Its flagship products include GumGum Visual Intelligence, a platform for real-time visual listening that assists brands in identifying and activating online imagery, and AdBuilder, which allows brands to create and manage in-image and in-screen advertisements. By using advanced machine learning and deep learning technologies, GumGum enhances contextual advertising and aids marketers in maximizing the media value of their investments. The company maintains a presence with additional offices in major cities across the United States, as well as locations in London and Sydney.

Adway

Seed Round in 2019
Adway International, Inc., established in 2018 and based in Beverly Hills, California, specializes in out-of-home advertising services. It offers a digital advertising platform enabling advertisers to launch and monitor their campaigns, and provides vehicle-based advertisement display services using projection technology to show static images and full HD video. This innovative approach allows for flexible and targeted geo-fencing, making Adway a unique player in the advertising industry.

Pathmatics

Corporate Round in 2018
Pathmatics, Inc., established in 2011 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California, specializes in providing a comprehensive digital advertising intelligence platform. This platform offers insights into the performance of brands, competitors, and industries across various advertising channels such as display, social, video, mobile, and native. By utilizing Pathmatics' technology, clients can optimize their media spending, strategically position their marketing efforts, and anticipate competitor moves. The company's data powers offerings by Nielsen and Kantar Media, and is used by prominent agencies like Mindshare, Mediacom, and Possible.

Vemba

Series A in 2017
Vemba is a digital publishing technology platform that specializes in video distribution. It offers a player-agnostic solution that enables publishers to seamlessly integrate third-party video content and advertising into their existing editorial processes and workflows. This approach allows media companies to maintain better control over their content while featuring original and complementary videos without the complications associated with third-party players or advertising restrictions. By positioning itself at the center of content transactions, Vemba provides both content owners and publishers with real-time analytics on the performance of their videos and advertisements, irrespective of the underlying video player, ad server, or content delivery network. This functionality aims to enhance audience engagement and maximize revenue potential for media companies.

InfoSum

Seed Round in 2017
InfoSum is a company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire, that has developed a decentralized data platform aimed at enhancing customer experiences while safeguarding privacy. The platform facilitates collaboration among advertisers, media owners, data providers, and advertising technology firms by enabling them to connect multiple data sources without the need to transfer or pool the underlying data. This innovative approach minimizes trust barriers and mitigates the risk of data exposure or misuse. InfoSum's patented non-movement data technology creates a secure and accessible network for data collaboration, allowing organizations to unlock the full potential of their customer data while maintaining a strong focus on privacy.

Vemba

Series A in 2016
Vemba is a digital publishing technology platform that specializes in video distribution. It offers a player-agnostic solution that enables publishers to seamlessly integrate third-party video content and advertising into their existing editorial processes and workflows. This approach allows media companies to maintain better control over their content while featuring original and complementary videos without the complications associated with third-party players or advertising restrictions. By positioning itself at the center of content transactions, Vemba provides both content owners and publishers with real-time analytics on the performance of their videos and advertisements, irrespective of the underlying video player, ad server, or content delivery network. This functionality aims to enhance audience engagement and maximize revenue potential for media companies.

InfoSum

Seed Round in 2016
InfoSum is a company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire, that has developed a decentralized data platform aimed at enhancing customer experiences while safeguarding privacy. The platform facilitates collaboration among advertisers, media owners, data providers, and advertising technology firms by enabling them to connect multiple data sources without the need to transfer or pool the underlying data. This innovative approach minimizes trust barriers and mitigates the risk of data exposure or misuse. InfoSum's patented non-movement data technology creates a secure and accessible network for data collaboration, allowing organizations to unlock the full potential of their customer data while maintaining a strong focus on privacy.

Unified

Series B in 2015
Unified Enterprises, Corp. is a marketing and analytics technology company that specializes in connecting marketing data sets to optimize advertising investments. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in New York City, with additional offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta, Unified offers a range of services, including advertising strategy and execution, professional data solutions, and campaign automation. The company's proprietary business intelligence platform is designed specifically for social advertising, enabling marketers to make informed decisions by providing insights into their data and strategies. Unified has a proven track record of managing over one billion dollars in social investment data, serving Fortune 2000 brands and advertising agencies to enhance transparency and optimize marketing performance.

GumGum

Series C in 2015
GumGum, Inc. is a technology company based in Santa Monica, California, that specializes in artificial intelligence, particularly in computer vision and natural language processing. Founded in 2006, the company focuses on unlocking the value of visual content generated across various platforms, including the web and broadcast television. GumGum provides a range of services, such as in-image advertising, influencer marketing, targeted media buying, and site monetization. Its flagship products include GumGum Visual Intelligence, a platform for real-time visual listening that assists brands in identifying and activating online imagery, and AdBuilder, which allows brands to create and manage in-image and in-screen advertisements. By using advanced machine learning and deep learning technologies, GumGum enhances contextual advertising and aids marketers in maximizing the media value of their investments. The company maintains a presence with additional offices in major cities across the United States, as well as locations in London and Sydney.

Redef

Seed Round in 2014
Redef is a company that operates a live media feed platform designed to deliver curated information streams tailored for various industry communities, alongside elements of pop culture. Its focus encompasses a diverse range of topics, including media, technology, sports, music, movies, education, fashion, design, and health. Through its platform, Redef provides newsletters and creates remixes, fostering communities around these verticals. The company aims to enable users to personalize their content experience by allowing them to select and share their favorite topics and insights, thereby facilitating a deeper understanding of the subjects they are passionate about.

Media Redefined

Convertible Note in 2014
Media Redefined was a Social Media Agency that started in January, 2009. It closed down its operations on 18th July, 2012 and sold the domain and digital assets to an undisclosed individual. Some of the brands with which Media Redefined worked extensively include - Samsung, Maruti, Aircel, Micromax, NIIT, NASSCOM, etc. The founders can be contacted at: catchme@praval.com gauravtechie@gmail.com honeytech@gmail.com

Adly

Venture Round in 2013
Adly Inc. is a digital marketing software and services company that specializes in connecting brands and agencies with influencers and celebrities to enhance audience engagement and drive sales. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, Adly offers a suite of tools focused on data-driven audience targeting, in-stream social advertising, and real-time event strategies that generate actionable insights and earned media. The company supports over 150 major brands, including Visa, Toyota, and Microsoft, by providing services such as strategic planning, campaign execution, and performance monitoring. Its offerings include AudienceIQ, which optimizes audience matching for sponsored posts, and Campaign Builder, a program designed to surpass traditional advertising methods. Adly has successfully facilitated more than 25,000 celebrity-driven campaigns, making it a prominent player in the digital marketing landscape.

Pathmatics

Seed Round in 2013
Pathmatics, Inc., established in 2011 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California, specializes in providing a comprehensive digital advertising intelligence platform. This platform offers insights into the performance of brands, competitors, and industries across various advertising channels such as display, social, video, mobile, and native. By utilizing Pathmatics' technology, clients can optimize their media spending, strategically position their marketing efforts, and anticipate competitor moves. The company's data powers offerings by Nielsen and Kantar Media, and is used by prominent agencies like Mindshare, Mediacom, and Possible.

Gradient X

Seed Round in 2012
Gradient X is a programmatic marketing platform specifically designed for mobile advertising, leveraging advanced technologies to enable advertisers to maximize the potential of mobile media. Built from the ground up by seasoned professionals in the ad tech industry, Gradient X addresses the unique challenges faced by marketers in mobile environments, providing feature parity with more established advertising channels. The company's cloud-based infrastructure supports on-demand solutions, integrating emerging technologies to enhance advertising strategies. The founding team comprises experts who have previously held significant roles in successful companies, accumulating extensive experience across various advertising formats, including social, display, and video. Gradient X has secured substantial investment from a range of institutional firms and angel investors, affirming its position as a leader in mobile advertising innovation.

Burstly

Venture Round in 2011
Burstly is a company that provides a comprehensive suite of tools designed to support the entire lifecycle of mobile applications. Its offerings include TestFlight, a leading platform for beta testing apps; FlightPath, an intuitive analytics solution for mobile developers; and SkyRocket, a monetization tool that facilitates collaboration with various advertising partners. By equipping developers with essential resources, Burstly aims to simplify the complexities of navigating the crowded app ecosystem, enhancing both app performance and revenue generation. Additionally, Burstly features an Application Marketplace that allows applications to purchase placements on a Pay Per Install basis, further streamlining the mobile advertising process.

GumGum

Series B in 2011
GumGum, Inc. is a technology company based in Santa Monica, California, that specializes in artificial intelligence, particularly in computer vision and natural language processing. Founded in 2006, the company focuses on unlocking the value of visual content generated across various platforms, including the web and broadcast television. GumGum provides a range of services, such as in-image advertising, influencer marketing, targeted media buying, and site monetization. Its flagship products include GumGum Visual Intelligence, a platform for real-time visual listening that assists brands in identifying and activating online imagery, and AdBuilder, which allows brands to create and manage in-image and in-screen advertisements. By using advanced machine learning and deep learning technologies, GumGum enhances contextual advertising and aids marketers in maximizing the media value of their investments. The company maintains a presence with additional offices in major cities across the United States, as well as locations in London and Sydney.

Adly

Series B in 2010
Adly Inc. is a digital marketing software and services company that specializes in connecting brands and agencies with influencers and celebrities to enhance audience engagement and drive sales. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, Adly offers a suite of tools focused on data-driven audience targeting, in-stream social advertising, and real-time event strategies that generate actionable insights and earned media. The company supports over 150 major brands, including Visa, Toyota, and Microsoft, by providing services such as strategic planning, campaign execution, and performance monitoring. Its offerings include AudienceIQ, which optimizes audience matching for sponsored posts, and Campaign Builder, a program designed to surpass traditional advertising methods. Adly has successfully facilitated more than 25,000 celebrity-driven campaigns, making it a prominent player in the digital marketing landscape.

Adly

Seed Round in 2009
Adly Inc. is a digital marketing software and services company that specializes in connecting brands and agencies with influencers and celebrities to enhance audience engagement and drive sales. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, Adly offers a suite of tools focused on data-driven audience targeting, in-stream social advertising, and real-time event strategies that generate actionable insights and earned media. The company supports over 150 major brands, including Visa, Toyota, and Microsoft, by providing services such as strategic planning, campaign execution, and performance monitoring. Its offerings include AudienceIQ, which optimizes audience matching for sponsored posts, and Campaign Builder, a program designed to surpass traditional advertising methods. Adly has successfully facilitated more than 25,000 celebrity-driven campaigns, making it a prominent player in the digital marketing landscape.

GumGum

Series A in 2009
GumGum, Inc. is a technology company based in Santa Monica, California, that specializes in artificial intelligence, particularly in computer vision and natural language processing. Founded in 2006, the company focuses on unlocking the value of visual content generated across various platforms, including the web and broadcast television. GumGum provides a range of services, such as in-image advertising, influencer marketing, targeted media buying, and site monetization. Its flagship products include GumGum Visual Intelligence, a platform for real-time visual listening that assists brands in identifying and activating online imagery, and AdBuilder, which allows brands to create and manage in-image and in-screen advertisements. By using advanced machine learning and deep learning technologies, GumGum enhances contextual advertising and aids marketers in maximizing the media value of their investments. The company maintains a presence with additional offices in major cities across the United States, as well as locations in London and Sydney.

UGO Entertainment

Series E in 2000
UGO Networks, a division of Hearst Corporation, specializes in creating engaging lifestyle content tailored for the 18-34 male demographic. Its primary platforms, UGO.com and 1UP.com, feature comprehensive daily coverage of gaming and entertainment, including game reviews, pop culture news, and lifestyle articles. Complemented by a network of affiliated properties, UGO provides additional resources such as game cheats, interactive content, and celebrity news. The company attracts a global audience of 42 million visitors, positioning itself as a trusted source for influential trendsetters who are keen on the latest developments in gaming and entertainment. UGO Networks also offers advertisers targeted opportunities to connect with this engaged audience through customized online advertising solutions. Headquartered in New York City, UGO maintains offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and Santa Monica.

Yahoo! Search Marketing Solutions

Venture Round in 1999
Yahoo Search Marketing provides a keyword-based "Pay per click" or "Sponsored search" Internet advertising service. Yahoo began to offer this service after it acquired GoTo that became Overture Services. GoTo was an Idealab spin off and was the first company to provide successfully a pay-for-placement search service following previous attempts that users did not receive well..

Yahoo! Search Marketing Solutions

Venture Round in 1998
Yahoo Search Marketing provides a keyword-based "Pay per click" or "Sponsored search" Internet advertising service. Yahoo began to offer this service after it acquired GoTo that became Overture Services. GoTo was an Idealab spin off and was the first company to provide successfully a pay-for-placement search service following previous attempts that users did not receive well..

UGO Entertainment

Venture Round in 1998
UGO Networks, a division of Hearst Corporation, specializes in creating engaging lifestyle content tailored for the 18-34 male demographic. Its primary platforms, UGO.com and 1UP.com, feature comprehensive daily coverage of gaming and entertainment, including game reviews, pop culture news, and lifestyle articles. Complemented by a network of affiliated properties, UGO provides additional resources such as game cheats, interactive content, and celebrity news. The company attracts a global audience of 42 million visitors, positioning itself as a trusted source for influential trendsetters who are keen on the latest developments in gaming and entertainment. UGO Networks also offers advertisers targeted opportunities to connect with this engaged audience through customized online advertising solutions. Headquartered in New York City, UGO maintains offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and Santa Monica.
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