Stacks

What Stacks does

Stacks (operated by Stacks App LLC) is a performance marketing affiliate network that connects brand advertisers with a two-sided supply base of social media influencers and professional media buyers. The company was established around 2020 and is headquartered at 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 in Chicago, operating as a privately held, founder-led entity with a disclosed team of 1-10 (three named individuals: co-founder Ben, Head of Operations Sam, and Talent Manager Diogo). Its go-to-market operates community-led for influencers and sales-led for media buyers, with global payout availability spanning North America, the UK, Australia, and nine European markets including Germany, the Nordics, and the Netherlands.

The platform is delivered through two core products: the Stacks Influencer App (iOS and Android) where creators of any follower size can browse and promote campaigns, and the Stacks Media Buyer Portal, a web-based, application-gated environment giving professional buyers access to exclusive offers and optimization tools. Underlying technology includes a real-time campaign tracking dashboard, a Cost Per Engagement (CPE) attribution layer that only bills advertisers when users interact with promoted apps beyond install, and a fraud detection system that monitors traffic, actions, and tracking tag integrity. Supporting infrastructure includes an Intercom-powered help center and a referral program with lifetime commissions for members who recruit new influencers.

Stacks monetizes via the spread between advertiser payments for verified conversions (clicks, installs, sales, leads, registrations, engagements) and affiliate/influencer bounties paid out roughly 30 days after month end or on a NET 7 basis. Advertisers (Amazon, Netflix, Roblox, Shein, NordVPN, Crypto.com, SiriusXM, Ibotta, Sweatcoin, and others) pay only for measurable outcomes across mobile app installs, lead generation, sweepstakes/rewards, and local on-demand service verticals. There are no upfront costs for affiliates, a $50 minimum influencer payout threshold, and payment via PayPal or bank ACH/wire. The company has not disclosed funding history, revenue, or financial statements.

Name

Stacks

Legal name

Stacks App LLC

Website

https://stacks.app

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stacks is a performance marketing affiliate network connecting brand advertisers with influencers and media buyers via mobile apps and a web portal, running CPI, CPA, and CPE campaigns across gaming, entertainment, e-commerce, fintech, and lifestyle verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affiliate Marketing Platform

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Affiliate & Performance Influencer Networks (Track/Pay) (MPACAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affiliate & Performance Creator Programs (BPAFAHAG)

Keywords

• Performance marketing network
• Affiliate marketing platform
• Influencer marketing platform
• Media buyer portal
• Mobile app install campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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

Revenue model

1. Affiliate Network Commission: Stacks operates as an affiliate network intermediary. Advertisers pay for verified conversions (clicks, sales, registrations, leads, app installs, engagements). Stacks pays affiliates/bounties from these payments, retaining a portion as commission. Bounty payments are made approximately 30 days after month end, or on NET 7 Payout arrangement.
2. Performance Marketing Services: Performance-based marketing services for advertisers. Brands pay only for real, measurable results (conversions that matter). Services include campaign strategy development, optimization, and dedicated account management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stacks operates a performance-based affiliate marketing network that connects advertisers with two supply channels: influencers (via a consumer mobile app on iOS and Android) and vetted media buyers (via a web portal). Brands run campaigns for app installs, sign-ups, sales, leads, and engagements, paying only for verified conversions while influencers and media buyers earn performance-based bounties, with Stacks retaining a commission spread on each transaction.

Product overview

Stacks is a performance marketing platform connecting brands with influencers and media buyers. The platform operates as a unified ecosystem comprising the Stacks Influencer App (available on iOS and Android), the Media Buyer Portal (web-based), and the Influencer/Media Buyer Networks. Campaign Tracking System and Payment Processing System are integrated platform features enabling real-time analytics and affiliate payouts. The platform specializes in multiple campaign verticals including Mobile App Installs (CPI/CPA), Lead Generation (CPL/CPA), Sweepstakes & Rewards, and Local & On-Demand Services, utilizing Cost Per Engagement (CPE) pricing models alongside traditional performance-based structures. Supporting infrastructure includes the Stacks Help Center powered by Intercom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stacks App: The primary mobile application platform for influencers to browse and promote campaigns
• Stacks Media Buyer Portal

Products and services

• Stacks Influencer App (iOS/Android) Self-serve mobile application enabling influencers to browse campaigns, generate unique promotional links, track conversions and earnings in real time, and receive payouts via PayPal or bank transfer for driving app installs and other conversions through TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and other social channels.
• Stacks Media Buyer Portal Web-based, application-gated platform for vetted media buyers to access exclusive offers and premium campaigns, manage multiple offers, leverage proprietary tracking and optimization tools, and scale performance-based marketing across paid social, native, display, and email traffic sources.
• Stacks Influencer Network Performance marketing network of influencers and content creators who monetize their audiences by promoting exclusive brand partnerships and campaigns sourced through the Stacks platform.
• Stacks Media Buyer Network Performance marketing network providing vetted media buyers with exclusive, high-converting offers, premium campaigns, competitive payouts, and dedicated partner management across multiple verticals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Advertisers pay only for verified conversions - no wasted spend on impressions or non-performing clicks
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor e-commerce brand advertising partner on the Stacks performance marketing network. Amazon runs app install and promotional campaigns through the platform to reach influencer audiences.
• NetflixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStreaming entertainment platform advertising partner running subscriber acquisition campaigns through the Stacks influencer network.
• RobloxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGaming platform partner running user acquisition campaigns through the Stacks performance marketing network.
• SheinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerE-commerce fashion brand running promotional campaigns including gift card giveaways through the Stacks influencer network.
• NordVPNminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCybersecurity brand running subscription-based performance marketing campaigns through the Stacks platform.

Scale indicators2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rakuten Advertising: Global affiliate and performance marketing network with comparable advertiser-affiliate intermediation, cross-vertical campaign management, and affiliate payout infrastructure. Competes head-to-head for the same advertiser budgets.
• Refersion: Affiliate and influencer marketing platform enabling brands to launch, track, and pay creator-driven campaigns. Comparable on the influencer-side onboarding flow and the performance-based payout mechanics.
• Upfluence: Influencer marketing platform combining creator discovery, campaign management, and affiliate/commission payouts. Directly comparable on the creator-discovery-plus-tracking bundle that Stacks sells to advertisers.
• PartnerStack: SaaS-focused partner ecosystem platform that recruits, tracks, and pays affiliates, influencers, and resellers on performance. Comparable to Stacks' network model and tooling, though more SaaS-vertical-skewed.
• Grin: Influencer marketing platform focused on creator relationship management, content tracking, and affiliate payouts for DTC and ecommerce brands. Overlaps with Stacks' influencer-network + ecommerce-advertiser proposition.
• LTK (formerly rewardStyle): Creator commerce platform connecting influencers with brands for shoppable content and performance-based payouts. Comparable on influencer-monetization infrastructure and major-brand (Amazon, NordVPN-adjacent) integrations.
• CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction): One of the largest global affiliate networks connecting advertisers with publisher/affiliate traffic across multiple verticals. Directly comparable to Stacks on the affiliate-network intermediation model, though with deeper enterprise coverage and a longer-running advertiser roster.
• Awin: Global affiliate network with advertiser-supply matching across retail, telco, finance, and subscription verticals. Directly comparable to Stacks on pay-for-performance affiliate intermediation and advertiser roster composition.
• Impact: Partner marketing platform spanning affiliate, influencer, and B2B partnerships with tracking, payouts, and discovery tooling. Overlaps with Stacks on the affiliate-tracking and payout layer as well as on influencer campaign management.

Emerging players

• Aspire (formerly AspireIQ): Influencer marketing platform with managed creator campaigns, affiliate tracking, and marketplace-style creator discovery. Overlaps with Stacks on the influencer-performance workflow but is typically deployed as a higher-touch enterprise solution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Stacks