Verve
Verve Group SE is an AI-driven omnichannel ad-tech platform connecting brands, agencies, and publishers across mobile, CTV, web, and retail media in 150+ countries. It serves Fortune 100 advertisers, major agency holding companies, and 65,000+ publisher app integrations through its Performance+ and Brand+ marketplaces, Dataseat DSP, HyBid SDK, ATOM on-device cohorts, and LLM conversational intent signals.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Verve does
Verve Group SE is an AI-driven omnichannel advertising technology platform that connects brands, agencies, and publishers across mobile, CTV, web, and emerging retail media channels in 150+ countries. The company operates two integrated marketplaces — Performance+ Marketplace (formerly PubNative) for mobile performance and Brand+ Marketplace (formerly Smaato) for omnichannel brand buying — supported by Dataseat (a privacy-first contextual DSP), HyBid SDK (an open-source mobile SDK among the largest in-app SDKs globally), ATOM (AI-powered on-device cohorts with 800+ segments that recapture eCPM lost in the post-ID era), Moments.AI contextual targeting (Digiday Best Contextual Targeting Offering 2023), Managed+ content amplification, and a newly launched cross-retailer Retail Media network in Germany that delivers a validated closed-loop between mobile impressions and POS purchases.
The company was established in 2019 as part of Media Games Invest, evolving from a gaming business into an advertising technology platform over approximately six years, and was listed on Nasdaq Stockholm in 2025 with plans to relocate its domicile to Ireland for a future direct U.S. listing. Revenue is generated through five streams: demand-side DSP fees (Dataseat, ~30% of 2025 revenue), supply-side marketplace commissions, retail media, brand and agency media campaigns, and platform/SaaS revenue — with 851 software customers spending $100,000+ on the platform as of Q2 2024. Verve serves enterprise brands including Microsoft, Toyota, P&G, L'Oréal, Walmart, Target, LinkedIn, Warner Bros., Paramount, McDonald's, GSK, and Eli Lilly, alongside major agency holding companies (Publicis, Havas, Omnicom) and 65,000+ publisher app integrations.
The unified intelligence layer combines zero-party data, search intent from 3 million+ publishers, and LLM conversational intent signals (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity) to power AI-driven targeting across 2 billion+ users, processing over 1 billion daily events. The company is headquartered in Stockholm with offices in New York, London, São Paulo, Beijing, Bangalore, and Pune, employs 750–1,000+ professionals globally, and has executed acquisitions of Beemray (2021), Dataseat (2022), Jun Group (2024, $185M), Captify (2025), Acardo Group AG (2025, EUR 24.5M), and Viewento (2025).
Verve firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Verve
- Legal name
- Verve Group SE
- Website
- https://verve.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Verve Group SE is an AI-driven omnichannel ad-tech platform connecting brands, agencies, and publishers across mobile, CTV, web, and retail media in 150+ countries. It serves Fortune 100 advertisers, major agency holding companies, and 65,000+ publisher app integrations through its Performance+ and Brand+ marketplaces, Dataseat DSP, HyBid SDK, ATOM on-device cohorts, and LLM conversational intent signals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Verve industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Programmatic Advertising Technology
- NAICS
- Media Buying Agencies (541830), Advertising Agencies (541810)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Programmatic Display & Retargeting (DSP) (MPAAACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Advertising, Marketing & Customer Personalization (HDAAAGAC)
Keywords
Where Verve is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Verve business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Demand-side Platform Fees: Revenue from DSP services (Dataseat) providing mobile and CTV user acquisition, app growth, and retargeting capabilities. 30% of total company revenue as of 2025
- Supply-side Platform/Marketplace: Revenue from Performance+ Marketplace (PubNative) and Brand+ Marketplace (Smaato) connecting publishers to DSPs with SDK-powered ad experiences
- Retail Media: Cross-retailer retail media network generating revenue from mobile ads to physical retail through screens, checkout couponing, and in-store touchpoints. Germany launch with US expansion planned
- Brand & Agency Media: Omnichannel advertising campaigns across premium inventory through direct integrations with mobile, web, and CTV publishers with AI-driven targeting
- Platform/SaaS Revenue: Revenue from 851 software customers spending $100,000+ on platform, with Q4 2025 showing 6.8% software client growth and 5.3% large client growth quarter-on-quarter
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Verve product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Verve Group SE operates an AI-driven omnichannel advertising technology platform that connects advertisers, agencies, brands, and publishers across mobile, CTV, web, and emerging retail media channels. Its two flagship marketplaces—Performance+ (formerly PubNative) for performance marketers and Brand+ (formerly Smaato) for omnichannel brand buyers—are supported by Dataseat (a privacy-first contextual DSP), the HyBid SDK (open-source mobile monetization SDK), ATOM (ID-less on-device cohorts), Moments.AI contextual targeting, Managed+ content amplification, and a newly launched Germany-based Retail Media network delivering the first validated closed-loop between mobile ads and retail purchases.
Product overview
Verve is an advertising technology company providing AI-driven omnichannel platforms that connect brands and publishers across mobile, web, CTV, and emerging retail media channels. The company's product portfolio centers on two integrated marketplaces—Performance+ Marketplace (formerly PubNative) for mobile-focused performance marketers and Brand+ Marketplace (formerly Smaato) for omnichannel brand buyers—supported by specialized solutions including Dataseat (privacy-first mobile DSP), HyBid SDK (open-source mobile monetization SDK), ATOM (AI-powered ID-less on-device cohorts), Moments.AI (contextual targeting), Managed+ (content amplification), and a newly launched Retail Media network. The unified intelligence layer combines zero-party data, search intent signals from 3M+ publishers, and emerging LLM conversational intent signals to power AI-driven targeting across 2.5 billion users and 150+ countries. Key differentiators include privacy-first ID-less advertising solutions, 30%+ demand-side revenue growth (2024), and direct integrations with 100+ DSPs including top Fortune 100 brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dataseat: A contextual performance DSP built to supercharge app growth, optimizing for installs, subscriptions, purchases, and high-LTV users without relying on device IDs.
- Performance+ Marketplace
- Brand+ Marketplace
- ATOM
- HyBid SDK
- Managed+
Products and services
- Performance+ Marketplace (formerly PubNative) Mobile app monetization marketplace that connects publishers directly to competitive DSPs globally via SDK-powered ad experiences, immersive buffer-free formats, deterministic and contextual bid stream signals, and smart supply matching with adaptive demand shaping. Targets performance marketers and mobile publishers.
- Brand+ Marketplace (formerly Smaato) Omnichannel marketplace providing AI-powered deal curation across mobile, web, and CTV inventory, reaching 2B+ users across gaming, non-gaming, streaming apps and MFA-free web. Designed for brand buyers and DSPs seeking curated, high-quality supply with precise ID and ID-less audience signals.
- Dataseat Privacy-first contextual performance DSP for ROAS-driven app growth, optimizing for installs, subscriptions, purchases, and high-LTV users without relying on device IDs. Built for Apple's SKAN with full postback ingestion, mapping, and value-based outcome modeling, supporting SKAN, MMPs, and CTV-to-install measurement.
- HyBid SDK Open-source mobile SDK for app monetization that facilitates demand from 100+ DSPs and 90 Fortune 100 brands. Features modular and fully customizable ad formats, pre-cached buffer-free ads, AI-powered on-device cohorts (ATOM), and integration with leading mediation platforms.
- Moments.AI Contextual targeting solution that uses AI to analyze content context for privacy-first ad targeting without relying on personal identifiers. Recognized by Digiday as Best Contextual Targeting Offering.
- Managed+ Content amplification platform for publishers designed to drive qualified visitors to digital content and address organic traffic decline from LLMs by connecting publishers with engaged audiences across premium, brand-safe apps globally with 90%+ viewability and 100% share of voice.
- Retail Media Germany's largest independent cross-retailer retail media network connecting mobile advertising to in-store purchases. Reaches 85%+ of German households across 8,000 grocery/drugstore locations, 9,000 pharmacies, and 830 German cinemas, delivering the first validated closed-loop between mobile ads and retail purchases using POS transaction data and Add2Wallet coupon technology.
- Brand and Agency Media Omnichannel advertising solution for brands and agencies seeking to reach audiences across mobile, CTV, and web with AI-driven targeting and privacy-first ID-less solutions. Enables brand awareness campaigns, omnichannel media activation, and search/conversational intent targeting.
- CPG and Shopper Marketing Commerce-powered media solution for consumer packaged goods brands targeting shoppers across channels and retailers, delivering shoppable moments with measurement partners Circana, ABCS, Pathformance, and Engine for attribution and retail analytics.
- Performance Marketing Performance marketing offering for app user acquisition in privacy-first world, enabling SKAN optimization, CTV-to-install campaigns, retargeting, and ROAS optimization across mobile, CTV, and emerging channels.
Quantifiable outcome
- 244% ROAS for OTTO on iOS with Dataseat SKAN strategy
- +12 more outcomes
Companies that use Verve
Customer profileNamed customers30 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Verve technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration25 records
AI capability7 records
Feature7 records
Verve partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ExperiancoreIntegration of Experian's digital graph and audiences with Verve's proprietary ATOM ID-less on-device contextual platform, enabling advertisers to access Experian's audience segments across 12 categories while leveraging ID-less technology across 2.5 billion global users on CTV, DOOH, in-app, and audio channels
- IAB EuropeminorParticipated in IAB Europe's Great Debate on AI in Digital Advertising, presenting alongside Microsoft Advertising, GroupM Nexus, Google, IAS, and Nxt Statista
- CircanacoreMeasurement partner for CPG and shopper marketing, providing attribution and analytics for retail campaign measurement
- ABCScoreMeasurement partner providing attribution capabilities for shopper marketing campaigns and retail measurement
- PathformancecoreMeasurement and analytics partner for retail media attribution and campaign optimization
- EnginecoreMeasurement partner for shopper marketing and retail analytics capabilities
- GooglecoreMediation and bidding platform integration for publishers; testing Android Privacy Sandbox for post-ID era
- Amazon TAMcoreTransparent Ad Marketplace integration for publishers and demand partners
- AppLovin MAXcoreMediation platform integration enabling publishers to access Verve's demand through AppLovin MAX
- Digital TurbinecoreIntegration with Digital Turbine for mobile advertising and user acquisition
- PrebidcoreOpen-source header bidding solution for publishers to access Verve's demand
- NimbuscoreMediation platform integration for CTV and mobile app monetization
- EDEKAcoreMajor retail partner in Germany's largest independent cross-retailer retail media network, reaching 85% of German households
- REWEcoreRetail partner in Germany's retail media network covering grocery and drugstore locations
- KauflandcoreRetail partner in German retail media network with extensive store footprint
- Müller DrogeriecoreDrugstore retailer partner in German retail media network with 9,000+ pharmacy locations
Scale indicators18 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Verve competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Trade Desk: The leading independent omnichannel DSP competing directly with Verve's Dataseat and Brand+ Marketplace. Both serve advertisers and agencies with programmatic buying across CTV, mobile, and web; TTD sets the benchmark for independent DSP economics and scale.
- AppLovin: Mobile ad mediation and demand-side platform with AXON-powered AI bidding, comparable to Verve's mobile DSP and HyBid SDK business. Both focus on app install/UA economics, SKAN optimization, and AI-driven performance at scale.
- Magnite: Largest independent CTV-focused SSP, directly comparable to Verve's Brand+ Marketplace (formerly Smaato). Both operate omnichannel programmatic supply infrastructure across CTV, mobile, and web, serving publishers and DSPs globally.
- PubMatic: Independent SSP and programmatic monetization platform overlapping with Verve's marketplace business. Both serve publishers with header bidding, OpenRTB integrations, and AI-powered audience curation across mobile, CTV, and digital video.
- Criteo: Performance-focused DSP and retail media player, highly comparable to Verve's Dataseat performance DSP and German retail media network. Both compete in performance retargeting, CPG commerce media, and post-ID targeting solutions.
- Perion Network: Multi-channel digital advertising platform spanning search, display, CTV, and social, comparable to Verve's omnichannel Brand+ Marketplace. Both pursue AI-driven performance advertising across premium publisher inventory with privacy-first approaches.
Emerging players
- Moloco: AI-driven programmatic DSP focused on mobile and CTV performance, with comparable SKAN optimization and machine learning bidding to Dataseat. While smaller and more specialized, Moloco represents a credible AI-native challenger in Verve's core market.
- Taboola: Native advertising and content recommendation platform with growing performance and CTV capabilities. Less directly competitive than DSPs, but overlapping on the supply-side publisher monetization and advertiser targeting dimensions.
- Affle: Mobile ad-tech and audience intelligence company with comparable focus on mobile programmatic, retargeting, and CTV-to-app measurement. Newly staffed by Verve's former CEO Sameer Sondhi, indicating tight competitive overlap in mobile advertising.
Others
- DoubleVerify: Media measurement and ad verification platform serving many of the same enterprise advertisers and agencies as Verve. While not a direct ad-buying competitor, DoubleVerify is an ecosystem enabler in the programmatic supply chain that complements and overlaps with Verve's measurement capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Verve social profiles
Digital presenceVerve compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Verve financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Verve leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Verve subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Verve funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Verve M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A14 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Verve
What does Verve do?
Verve Group SE operates an AI-driven omnichannel advertising technology platform that connects advertisers, agencies, brands, and publishers across mobile, CTV, web, and emerging retail media channels. Its two flagship marketplaces—Performance+ (formerly PubNative) for performance marketers and Brand+ (formerly Smaato) for omnichannel brand buyers—are supported by Dataseat (a privacy-first contextual DSP), the HyBid SDK (open-source mobile monetization SDK), ATOM (ID-less on-device cohorts), Moments.AI contextual targeting, Managed+ content amplification, and a newly launched Germany-based Retail Media network delivering the first validated closed-loop between mobile ads and retail purchases.
Is Verve a public or private company?
Verve is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Verve founded?
Verve was founded in 2019. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Verve based?
Verve is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Verve make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Demand-side Platform Fees are the primary driver. The others are supply-side Platform/Marketplace, retail Media, brand & Agency Media and platform/SaaS Revenue.
Who are Verve's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Trade Desk, AppLovin, Magnite, PubMatic, Criteo and Perion Network. Emerging players are Moloco, Taboola and Affle. DoubleVerify is listed as an others.
Does Verve have an API?
Yes. Verve offers OpenRTB-compliant APIs for programmatic integration across its Performance+ Marketplace (formerly PubNative) and Brand+ Marketplace (formerly Smaato). Both marketplaces support OpenRTB 2.5+ with custom bid stream signaling for demand partners. Integration methods include SDK-powered mobile ads, OpenRTB connections, and flexible tag-based integration for CTV. For Performance+, the OpenRTB specification enables connection to chart-topping mobile gaming and non-gaming apps with exclusive cohort-based intelligence and granular bid stream signals supporting iOS SKAN and AdAttributionKit. For Brand+, the OpenRTB specification enables engagement with high-quality ads across Mobile and CTV using oRTB signals for precise ID and ID-less audience enrichment. SDKs are available for iOS and Android platforms. Developer documentation is at developers.verve.com/docs/verve-openrtb-specifications.
What industry is Verve in?
Verve's product category is Programmatic Advertising Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAACAE, Programmatic Display & Retargeting (DSP), with a secondary code of HDAAAGAC, Advertising, Marketing & Customer Personalization. Its NAICS code is 541830 and its SIC code is 7310.