CPMStar

What CPMStar does

CPMStar is a Santa Monica-headquartered advertising technology company that operates a real-time bidding (RTB) platform purpose-built for the gaming and youth-oriented entertainment vertical, founded in the mid-2000s by Josh Goldstein. The company runs three interconnected modules: an SSP for Publishers (header bidding, direct campaigns, proprietary bidding technology, Prebid Adapter integration, In-Game API for intermission and rewarded video ads, and adblock-bypass technology), a Managed DSP for advertisers (end-to-end campaign management with real-time auto-optimization), and Integrated Marketing Services (fully managed media planning including programmatic guaranteed and direct IO for brands and agencies). Underlying technology includes proprietary bidding logic tuned for gaming inventory yield, machine-learning-based ad serving and rate optimization built over 15+ years of R&D, and connections to 45+ SSPs/DSPs including Verizon Media and IndexExchange.

CPMStar monetizes through three revenue streams: (1) publisher advertising fees via its SSP, taking a cut on impressions sold across ~2,000 publisher websites; (2) managed DSP services with hands-on campaign management for advertisers; and (3) integrated marketing services for brands and agencies. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with custom multi-year contracts at the enterprise tier. The go-to-market combines a direct enterprise sales team (targeting top game studios, agencies, and brands) with a self-serve publisher dashboard at dash.cpmstar.com. CPMStar reports scale metrics of 700+ partners, 4.7B annual page views, 1B unique visitors, and 24B+ annual impressions.

The company is privately held and was acquired by Aditude Inc. in 2024, following prior ownership by GSN (Game Show Network) from 2010 to 2018 and a buyback by founder Josh Goldstein in 2018. It currently operates as a subsidiary of Aditude, with headcount in the 11-50 range and offices across the United States and Europe. Named enterprise customers include Tencent, Wargaming, Amazon Games, NetEase, NCSOFT, Pearl Abyss, Wizards of the Coast, Nexon, and developers such as Stunlock Studios and Nexters; publisher partners include Armor Games, Ninja Kiwi, MMOBomb, CrazyGames, Chess.com, HLTV, and Valnet.

Name

CPMStar

Legal name

CPMStar

Website

https://cpmstar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CPMStar operates an RTB-based ad tech platform serving the gaming and youth-entertainment vertical, combining a publisher SSP, managed DSP, and integrated marketing services with proprietary bidding optimization and header bidding integrations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gaming Ad Tech / Programmatic Advertising Platform

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (54181), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Advertising Agencies (541810)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Demand-Side Platforms (DSP) (BPAMALAB)

Keywords

• Programmatic advertising platform
• Gaming ad network
• Header bidding SSP
• Managed demand-side platform
• Integrated marketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Publisher Advertising Fees: Revenue from publishers through SSP services, taking a cut from ad impressions sold on their inventory. Publishers receive highest possible ad revenues through CPMStar's technology and direct sales team.
2. Managed DSP Services: Expert-driven campaign management for advertisers including comprehensive campaign management, data-driven optimization, and customized creative services
3. Integrated Marketing Services: Fully managed media planning service for brands and agencies including programmatic guaranteed placements, direct media buying, and high-impact ad formats
4. Programmatic Advertising: Access to inventory programmatically with dynamic pricing models (CPM or CPC) for maximum reach and control

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CPMStar is a gaming-focused advertising technology company that operates a real-time bidding (RTB) platform connecting game publishers and developers with advertisers. Its offering comprises an SSP for Publishers (header bidding, direct sales, and programmatic demand), a Managed DSP for advertisers, and Integrated Marketing Services for brands and agencies, all powered by proprietary bidding technology, machine learning yield optimization, and direct relationships with top game studios and ad agencies.

Product overview

CPMStar operates as a comprehensive advertising technology platform centered on its core RTB (real-time bidding) platform, which it has built and refined since 2005 as the first gaming ad tech platform. The platform consists of three interconnected modules: the SSP for Publishers (monetization solution for publishers), the Managed DSP (campaign management for advertisers), and Integrated Marketing Services (full-service media planning). These are powered by proprietary features including the In-Game API, Adblocker Defeat Technology, and Prebid Adapter for header bidding integration. The platform leverages machine learning optimization algorithms and proprietary bidding technology to connect advertisers with gaming audiences across 700+ partners globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CPMStar Platform Foundational real-time bidding (RTB) advertising platform and monetization solution for game publishers and developers, leveraging proprietary bidding technology and machine learning optimization algorithms to connect advertisers with gaming audiences through direct sales and programmatic channels.
• Managed DSP Expert-driven demand-side platform service providing end-to-end campaign management, advanced targeting, data-driven optimization, and customized creative services for advertisers seeking performance results in gaming audiences.
• Integrated Marketing Services Fully managed media planning and buying service for brands and agencies encompassing programmatic guaranteed placements, direct media buying, high-impact ad formats, KPI reporting, and custom creative development.
• SSP for Publishers Supply-side platform service enabling publishers to monetize inventory through direct campaigns, header bidding, programmatic demand, and proprietary bidding technology that increases competition and yield.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% increase in impressions with Managed DSP solution
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• AditudemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Aditude acquired CPMStar in 2024. Merging CPMStar's demand with Aditude's superior wrapper technology has proven to boost results for advertisers and publishers.
• GSN (Game Show Network)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010GSN acquired CPMStar in 2010 to offer advertising partners access to large but highly targeted gaming audience. CPMStar was later bought back in 2018.
• Armor GamescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2008Game portal website based in Irvine, California founded in 2004. Partnered with CPMStar since 2008 for monetization across genres including arcade, puzzle, and MMO games.
• Verizon MediacoreTechnology or IntegrationProgrammatic demand partner working with world's top programmatic exchanges to bring publishers highest CPMs from programmatic demand and direct game industry demand.
• IndexExchangecoreTechnology or IntegrationProgrammatic demand partner connected through CPMStar servers to bring publishers highest CPMs from programmatic demand.
• ValnetcoreTechnology or IntegrationValnet operates over 27 brands including TheGamer and GameRant reaching 3B+ monthly impressions. CPMStar extends partnership beyond header bidding to include direct IO campaigns with high-impact and video units.
• Wand (formerly WeMod)coreTechnology or IntegrationWand's highly engaged PC gaming community aligned with Nexters' target profile for Hero Wars campaigns. CPMStar identified Wand as ideal match for performance marketing.
• Ninja KiwicoreTechnology or IntegrationMobile and online video game developer founded in Auckland, New Zealand in 2006. 12-year collaboration with CPMStar for monetization across their game portfolio.
• MMOBomb.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndependent platform for free-to-play online games with CPMStar partnership for 12 years. Fast growing gaming journalism platform.
• Wizards of the CoastcoreTechnology or IntegrationUses CPMStar technology to drive user acquisitions for Magic The Gathering: Arena combining gaming advertiser demand with programmatic ads.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Trade Desk: Independent omnichannel DSP competing for gaming advertisers' programmatic budgets. Comparable on the advertiser demand side, especially for managed DSP advertisers buying CPMStar inventory.
• Google AdMob: Google's mobile ad network spanning SDK mediation, SSP and demand. Overlaps with CPMStar on gaming publisher monetization but as part of a much broader Google ad tech portfolio.

Direct peers

• ironSource: Mobile game monetization platform offering an in-app bidding and SSP. Highly comparable as a gaming-focused programmatic ad network serving publishers with rewarded video, interstitials and direct demand.
• Unity Ads: Unity's in-game and mobile ad monetization network operating an SDK-based demand and supply platform. Directly comparable as a vertically-specialized programmatic ad network for game publishers with header bidding, SSP and programmatic direct offerings.
• AppLovin: Operating the AppLovin Exchange (ALX) and SparkLabs-driven mediation stack, AppLovin is a scaled gaming-first DSP/SSP. Comparable as both a competitor for CPMStar's publisher supply and a benchmark for gaming-vertical ad tech scale.
• AdColony (Digital Turbine): Mobile video ad marketplace with gaming vertical focus and SDK-based demand mediation. Comparable as an in-app programmatic competitor serving publishers with high-impact video inventory.
• Playwire: Game publisher monetization platform running header bidding, direct demand and an SSP similar to CPMStar's offering. Closely comparable in operating model and gaming-specialist positioning.
• Vungle (Liftoff): Performance-focused in-app ad network (now part of Liftoff Mobile) specializing in rewarded video and creatives for game publishers. Compares on gaming vertical specialization and demand mediation.
• Chartboost: Direct competitor in in-app programmatic and direct deals for gaming publishers, with comparable in-game ad placements and header bidding support. Highly relevant due to shared gaming-specialist ad tech positioning.

Emerging players

• Anzu.io: In-game advertising provider focused on intrinsic, non-disruptive ad placements in PC and mobile games. Comparable where CPMStar's in-game API intersects with emerging intrinsic in-game formats.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cpmstar-172241836230584
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cpmstar

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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 CPMStar