Influential
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLas Vegas, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
Influential firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Influential
- Legal name
- The Influential Network, Inc.
- Website
- https://influential.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Influential industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Influencer Marketing Platform
- NAICS
- Advertising Agencies (541810), Other Services Related to Advertising (541890)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Influencer Marketing Platforms (Discovery/Search/CRM) (MPACAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Influencer Measurement, Attribution & Analytics (BPAFAHAI), Influencer Strategy & Campaign Management (MPAAAHAA), Influencer Campaign Operations & Managed Services (BPAFAHAF)
Keywords
Where Influential is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Las Vegas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Influential business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Influencer Marketing Campaigns: Full-service influencer campaign management connecting brands with creators through the Captiv8 platform. Revenue generated from campaign fees based on measurable business outcomes including sales, brand awareness, and engagement metrics. The company has generated $2.5B+ in measured sales for brand and agency partners.
- Platform Access and SaaS: AI-powered platform access for creator discovery, campaign execution, and performance intelligence with enterprise-grade measurement capabilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Influential product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Influential operates an enterprise influencer marketing platform (Captiv8) that uses AI built on IBM Watson to match brands with creators from a network of 15+ million. The platform unifies creator discovery, campaign execution, and performance intelligence with deep API integrations across all major social media platforms, providing end-to-end campaign management for Fortune 500 brands and major advertising agencies. The offering combines always-on SaaS platform access with managed campaign services, measuring outcomes including online and offline sales lift, brand awareness, and engagement through preferred partnerships with Circana, Advantage Solutions, Amazon, and LiveRamp.
Product overview
Influential is an enterprise influencer marketing platform (powered by Captiv8) offering a unified solution that combines AI-powered creator discovery, campaign execution, and performance intelligence. The core platform integrates with all major social media platforms via deep API connections and provides access to 15+ million searchable creators. Key product components include CoreCreator (audience-first influencer solution), Influential Sports (sports-oriented creator marketing), and comprehensive measurement solutions through partnerships with Circana, Advantage Solutions, Amazon, and LiveRamp. The platform is powered by IBM Watson AI and OpenAI, utilizing computer vision, natural language processing, and machine learning to match brands with optimal creators. Additional offerings include NIL department services for college athlete partnerships, Influential360 for screen-agnostic advertising, celebrity and talent partnerships through WME/MLBPA/CAA/UTA, and original content including Forbes Top Creators rankings and monthly social media trend reports.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Captiv8 Platform The enterprise influencer marketing platform that unifies creator discovery, campaign execution, and performance intelligence. Captiv8 combines AI-powered technology with deep API integrations to provide access to 15+ million creators and insights for Fortune 500 brands and agencies to build authentic partnerships and drive measurable results. Consistently ranked #1 enterprise influencer marketing platform by G2 for 14 consecutive quarters.
- CoreCreator Audience-first influencer solution that enables brands to reach specific target audiences through data-driven creator selection rather than relying solely on follower counts or traditional audience demographics. Designed to unlock audience-first influencer marketing.
- Influential Sports Sports-oriented influencer unit combining creator marketing with sports marketing capabilities, connecting brands with sports-oriented creators across major leagues, collegiate athletics, and emerging sports with measurement capabilities.
- NIL Department Dedicated Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) department providing access to 150,000+ NCAA athletes via Teamworks partnership for college sports influencer marketing campaigns.
- Influencer Marketing Campaign Services Full-service influencer campaign management connecting brands with creators through the Captiv8 platform. Revenue generated from campaign fees based on measurable business outcomes including sales, brand awareness, and engagement metrics. The company has generated $2.5B+ in measured sales for brand and agency partners.
- Celebrity & Talent Partnerships Service Access to elite celebrity and talent through preferred partnerships including WME for celebrity talent, MLB Players Association for 1,200+ active MLBPA players, and CAA and UTA talent agencies.
Quantifiable outcome
- $2.5B+ in measurable sales generated for brand partners
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Influential
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Influential technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability10 records
Feature8 records
Influential partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
29 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- Publicis GroupecorePublicis Groupe acquired Influential in July 2024 for approximately $500 million, integrating Influential into its data and technology ecosystem. This strategic acquisition enhanced Publicis' influencer marketing capabilities and creator economy presence, combining Influential's platform with Publicis Sports and Epsilon data agency to launch Influential Sports in 2026.
- IBM WatsoncoreAI platform powered by IBM Watson technology, enabling natural language processing, machine learning, and AI-driven creator matching capabilities. First influencer marketing company built with IBM Watson (2015).
- YouTubecorePremier platform partner with API integrations. Partnership includes co-launch of Clio Creators awards in 2026 with YouTube as the presenting platform partner. Submissions sourced from YouTube along with Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and TikTok.
- Meta (Facebook/Instagram)corePremier partner status with Meta platforms including Instagram, providing platform-first access and integrations for creator campaigns.
- TikTokcorePreferred partner for TikTok Shop and major platform partner. Partnership includes co-creation of first-ever TikTok Influential Awards at Cannes Lions 2024 hosted by Josh Richards.
- SnapchatcorePremier platform partner with API integrations enabling creator campaign execution and performance tracking.
- OpenAIstrategicCreator Discovery technology integration using OpenAI capabilities for enhanced AI modeling and natural language processing for creator profile analysis.
- CircanastrategicPreferred partnership for conversion tracking and offline measurement, enabling brands to track sales lift and in-store attribution from influencer campaigns.
- LiveRampstrategicPreferred partnership for identity resolution and cross-platform measurement, enabling enhanced targeting and attribution for influencer campaigns.
- AmazonstrategicPreferred partnership for e-commerce and affiliate tracking, enabling measurement of online sales from influencer content and Amazon attribution.
- Advantage SolutionsstrategicPreferred partnership for retail and in-store measurement, enabling offline sales attribution for influencer campaigns.
- WME (William Morris Endeavor)strategicExclusive partnership providing access to elite celebrity talent at preferred rates. WME invested in Influential in 2018, demonstrating strategic alignment.
- MLBPAstrategicExclusive partnership with all 1,200 active MLBPA players enabling sports influencer campaigns with professional baseball athletes.
- Teamworks (NCAA)strategicDedicated in-house NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) desk via Teamworks partnership, providing access to 150K NCAA athletes for collegiate influencer campaigns.
- CAAstrategicTalent partnership providing access to CAA-represented celebrities and influencers for brand campaigns.
- UTAstrategicTalent partnership providing access to UTA-represented celebrities and influencers for brand campaigns.
- Group BlackstrategicPreferred partner accelerating discovery and monetization of Black creators, supporting Influential's commitment to diversity with $100M+ directed to diverse creators.
- ESSENCEstrategicPreferred partnership supporting diverse creator representation and multicultural brand partnerships.
- UMG (Universal Music Group)strategicPreferred partnership for music and entertainment creator collaborations and brand integrations.
- Black MenswearstrategicPreferred partner for Black fashion and lifestyle creator initiatives.
- LA ProductionsminorPartnership with Liverpool-based LA Productions for the 'Stop For Good' quit smoking campaign, combining Influential's creator network with LA's production capabilities.
- Clio AwardsstrategicPartnership with the Clio Awards to launch 'Clio Creators' in 2026, a new awards ceremony honoring outstanding sponsored creator content across major platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Snapchat.
- Creators 4 Mental HealthstrategicMental health awareness partnership raising visibility about creator burnout through Times Square billboard campaign on World Mental Health Day 2025, involving prominent creators and future city activations.
- OUTFRONT MediastrategicPartnership for mental health awareness campaign featuring Times Square billboards, leveraging OUTFRONT's outdoor advertising network.
- Epsilon (Publicis)coreData partnership within Publicis Groupe ecosystem, combining Influential's creator data with Epsilon's identity resolution and audience targeting capabilities for enhanced campaign measurement.
- Liverpool City CouncilminorPartnership for recycling awareness campaign in Liverpool, creating talking bins and a recycled Liver Bird sculpture.
- Publicis SportscoreIntegration with Publicis Sports within Publicis Groupe to launch Influential Sports unit combining creator marketing, sports marketing, and Epsilon data capabilities.
- Genius SportsstrategicSports data and marketing partnership as part of Publicis Groupe's expanded sports marketing presence.
- Magic Johnson EnterprisesstrategicSports marketing partnership as part of Publicis Groupe's broader sports strategy expansion.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Influential competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CreatorIQ: Enterprise influencer marketing platform offering creator discovery, campaign management, and analytics for Fortune 500 brands. Closest direct competitor to Influential's Captiv8 platform, with overlapping Fortune 500 customer base and similar AI-driven matching capabilities.
- IZEA: Publicly traded influencer marketing technology and services company offering managed campaigns and a creator marketplace. Direct competitor providing both software and managed services to enterprise brands, comparable to Influential's dual model.
- Tagger by Sprout Social: Influencer marketing platform acquired by Sprout Social, providing social listening, creator discovery, and campaign analytics. Directly comparable to Influential's platform offering for mid-market and enterprise brands.
- Open Influence: Global influencer marketing platform with end-to-end campaign management, creator discovery, and measurement. Comparable to Influential in serving Fortune 500 brands with a managed-services-plus-tech model.
- Grin: Creator management platform focused on ecommerce and DTC brands, offering discovery, CRM, and ROI measurement. Direct competitor in the influencer marketing platform space with overlap in creator marketplace and analytics capabilities.
- Traackr: Influencer marketing platform specializing in creator discovery, brand safety, and performance measurement for global enterprises. Directly comparable to Influential in the enterprise tier with similar focus on data-driven creator selection.
- Klear (Meltwater): Influencer marketing platform acquired by Meltwater, offering creator discovery, campaign management, and analytics. Direct competitor with similar enterprise focus and AI-driven matching capabilities.
- Aspire (formerly AspireIQ): Enterprise influencer marketing platform serving brands and agencies with creator discovery, workflow, and measurement. Direct competitor in the same enterprise tier as Influential, with comparable customer profile and GTM motion.
Emerging players
- Whalar Group: Creator economy company offering influencer marketing services and the Lighthouse platform for brand-creator partnerships. Comparable to Influential in serving major brands with creator campaigns, with a slightly earlier-stage technology stack.
Others
- Captiv8: Influencer marketing platform now consolidated into Influential following the Publicis Groupe acquisition. Included as a peer because it was a significant independent competitor prior to integration and the combined platform reflects both lineages.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Influential social profiles
Digital presenceInfluential financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Influential leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Influential subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Influential funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Influential M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Influential
What does Influential do?
Influential operates an enterprise influencer marketing platform (Captiv8) that uses AI built on IBM Watson to match brands with creators from a network of 15+ million. The platform unifies creator discovery, campaign execution, and performance intelligence with deep API integrations across all major social media platforms, providing end-to-end campaign management for Fortune 500 brands and major advertising agencies. The offering combines always-on SaaS platform access with managed campaign services, measuring outcomes including online and offline sales lift, brand awareness, and engagement through preferred partnerships with Circana, Advantage Solutions, Amazon, and LiveRamp.
Is Influential a public or private company?
Influential is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Influential founded?
Influential was founded in 2013. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Influential based?
Influential is headquartered in Las Vegas, United States, in the North America region.
How does Influential make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Influencer Marketing Campaigns are the primary driver. The others are platform Access and SaaS.
Who are Influential's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CreatorIQ, IZEA, Tagger by Sprout Social, Open Influence, Grin, Traackr, Klear (Meltwater) and Aspire (formerly AspireIQ). Whalar Group is listed as an emerging player. Captiv8 is listed as an others.
Does Influential have an API?
Yes. Influential operates a platform API at platform.influential.co that integrates with all major social media platforms. The platform unifies creator discovery, campaign execution, and performance intelligence through deep API integrations providing access to 15+ million creators. Additionally, Influential utilizes YouTube API Services to collect YouTube channel names, channel IDs, and video post data including published time, title, description, thumbnails, tags, category ID, and post statistics for verifying sponsored content performance and recommending YouTube users to potential sponsors. Developer documentation is at platform.influential.co.
What industry is Influential in?
Influential's product category is Influencer Marketing Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAGAA, Influencer Marketing Platforms (Discovery/Search/CRM), with a secondary code of BPAFAHAI, Influencer Measurement, Attribution & Analytics. Its NAICS code is 541810 and its SIC code is 7311.