What Freeosk Inc does

Freeosk Inc is a Chicago-based private company that operates a national network of in-store sampling kiosks at major US retailers, enabling consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands to deliver free product samples directly to shoppers. Founded in 2010 as what the company describes as 'the original in-store discovery destination,' Freeosk partners with retail chains including Sam's Club, Shop Rite, and Fresh Grocer to place physical kiosks that dispense complimentary samples, with a distinctive 'ding' sound notifying consumers when samples are available. The company has also launched a companion mobile app on iOS and Android that enables consumers to scan at kiosks, locate nearby locations, and track their sampling history.

Freeosk's core technology is a hybrid physical-digital platform: the in-store kiosk hardware handles product dispensing and consumer engagement, while the mobile app extends the experience into a digital channel for location discovery and personalized sample tracking. The system is positioned as a two-sided retail media network, with physical distribution at retail as the primary consumer touchpoint and a digital layer for ongoing engagement and data capture.

Freeosk generates revenue primarily through advertising and brand partnership fees from CPG advertisers who pay for sampling campaigns and omni-channel marketing activations at Freeosk retail locations. The company sells directly to brand and advertising clients via its corporate website (freeoskinc.com) and serves three core constituencies: retail shoppers seeking free product discovery, CPG brands seeking in-store trial and consumer engagement, and retail partners seeking differentiated in-store experiences. Pricing details for brand partnerships are not publicly disclosed. To date, Freeosk has raised $6M in a 2013 funding round led by Beringea, with participation from First Analysis and InvestMichigan.

Name

Freeosk Inc

Legal name

Freeosk Inc.

Website

https://thefreeosk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Freeosk Inc operates a US network of in-store product sampling kiosks at major retailers (Sam's Club, Shop Rite, Fresh Grocer), enabling CPG brands to run free-sampling campaigns reaching retail shoppers. Founded in 2010 in Chicago, the company also offers a companion mobile app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Brand/CPG Advertising: Freeosk generates revenue by partnering with CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) brands who pay to have their products featured at Freeosk kiosks for sampling. Brands gain omni-channel marketing campaigns that build direct connections with receptive consumers in retail environments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Freeosk operates a nationwide network of in-store sampling kiosks placed at major retailers (Sam's Club, Shop Rite, Fresh Grocer) that dispense free product samples to shoppers. The company pairs the physical kiosks with a companion mobile app (iOS and Android) for scan-to-sample activation, location finding, and sampling history tracking, and monetizes the platform by selling omni-channel sampling and brand activation campaigns to CPG advertisers.

Product overview

Freeosk Inc operates a dual-product portfolio centered on in-store product discovery. The core offering is the Freeosk kiosk network—an interactive sampling terminal that dispenses free product samples at major retail locations, creating a 'ding' moment of joyful discovery for shoppers. Complementing the physical kiosks is the Freeosk App, a mobile application that extends the experience by enabling QR code scanning at kiosks to claim samples, GPS-based kiosk locator functionality, and a personal sample history tracker for sharing and re-purchasing discovered favorites. Together, these products form an omni-channel sampling platform connecting consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands with receptive shoppers in brick-and-mortar retail environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Freeosk In-Store Sampling Kiosks
• Freeosk Mobile App
• Omni-Channel Brand Activation Campaigns

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sam's ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor retail partner hosting Freeosk sampling kiosks at Sam's Club warehouse locations, enabling members to discover new products through free sampling experiences.
• Shop RitecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional grocery chain partner hosting Freeosk sampling kiosks, providing shoppers with in-store product discovery opportunities.
• Fresh GrocercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrocery chain partner hosting Freeosk sampling kiosks, enabling shoppers to discover new products through the free sampling experience.
• TideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCPG brand that has conducted product sampling campaigns through Freeosk kiosks, as evidenced by the Tide Pods sample displayed on the website.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sampler: Sampler is a direct-to-consumer product sampling platform that ships samples to opted-in consumers; highly comparable to Freeosk because both monetize CPG sampling campaigns and target trial-driven product discovery, though Sampler is digital/online versus Freeosk's physical in-store kiosk.
• SoPost: SoPost is a sampling technology platform that helps brands deliver product samples through multiple channels including in-store, online, and at-home; directly comparable to Freeosk as both operate product-trial programs for CPG brands as their core business.
• Social Nature: Social Nature is a social sampling platform connecting brands with consumers willing to try products in exchange for reviews; comparable to Freeosk because both serve CPG advertisers seeking trial-driving campaigns, although Social Nature emphasizes online social sharing versus Freeosk's physical kiosk experience.
• TryIt Sampling: TryIt Sampling is a product sampling company that distributes samples via retail partnerships, sweepstakes, and direct mail; directly comparable to Freeosk because both monetize CPG brand demand for trial events delivered to consumers.
• Influenster: Influenster is a product discovery and sampling platform where members receive products to review and share; comparable to Freeosk as both target trial-driven product discovery for CPG brands with engaged consumer communities.
• BzzAgent: BzzAgent is a word-of-mouth marketing network that recruits consumers to sample products and share reviews; comparable to Freeosk because both operate CPG-funded sampling campaigns aimed at driving organic consumer advocacy and trial.
• Ibotta: Ibotta is a digital cash-back and offer platform that connects CPG brands to retailer shoppers via rebates and sampling; comparable to Freeosk because both operate CPG-funded shopper engagement programs at major grocery retailers, though Ibotta is digital-only.

Broad incumbents

• Catalina Marketing: Catalina Marketing is a long-established shopper intelligence and personalized media company serving CPG brands at major retailers; comparable to Freeosk as a broader incumbent in CPG-driven retail shopper marketing, though Catalina focuses on digital and print coupons rather than physical sampling.
• Neptune Retail Solutions: Neptune Retail Solutions (formerly Quotient Technology) is a digital media and promotions company operating at retail for CPG brands; comparable to Freeosk because both monetize CPG advertising budgets at grocery retailers, though Neptune focuses on digital coupons and offers rather than physical sample distribution.
• Cooler Screens: Cooler Screens operates in-store digital screens at grocery retailers, providing CPG brands with interactive media and sampling opportunities at the point of decision; comparable to Freeosk as an in-store retail media technology vendor targeting CPG advertisers, though Cooler Screens focuses on screens rather than physical sampling kiosks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Freeosk
• Instagraminstagram.com/freeosk
• Xx.com/thefreeosk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freeosk-marketing-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Freeosk Inc