STEP Network
STEP Network is a privately held Danish media network connecting enterprise advertisers with premium Danish publishers through programmatic display, native, and video ad formats, including the proprietary RE-AD format and SNVS video syndication platform, monetizing primarily via revenue-share take rates.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersOdense, Denmark
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What STEP Network does
STEP Network (legally STEP A/S, CVR 25506227) operates as a privately held Danish media network headquartered in Odense, with additional offices in Copenhagen and Stockholm. The company positions itself as Denmark's largest media network, connecting enterprise advertisers with a curated base of Danish publishers through display, native, and video advertising formats. Its customer base is concentrated in large Danish and Scandinavian brands spanning retail, banking, insurance, telecom, and energy, including COOP Danmark, Danske Bank, Elgiganten, Matas, Nordea, and Tryg.
The platform's core technology includes a proprietary programmatic advertising layer, the RE-AD (Responsible Advertising) exclusive ad format launched in 2024, and SNVS (STEP Network Video Syndicate) — a three-sided video distribution platform with live streaming and OTT capabilities. A Power BI-based dashboard provides publishers with performance reporting, while integrations with Adnami, Seenthis, and Target Videos (CDN) support campaign execution and video delivery. The technology stack is conventional ad-tech rather than AI-native, with optimization and targeting described at a feature level rather than as proprietary ML systems.
STEP Network monetizes primarily via take-rate economics: a 70/30 revenue split with publishers on display and native advertising (CPC/CPR-based), a 30/35/35 split across STEP/content providers/publishers on syndicated video, and usage-based fees for live streaming (DKK 25/hour) and OTT Universe access (DKK 5,000/month). Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales to advertisers, a dedicated VP-led publisher onboarding program, and an annual Publisher Summit for network members. The business operates with 1-10 disclosed employees, suggesting high operational leverage through technology and partner integration.
STEP Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- STEP Network
- Legal name
- STEP A/S
- Website
- https://stepnetwork.dk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- STEP Network is a privately held Danish media network connecting enterprise advertisers with premium Danish publishers through programmatic display, native, and video ad formats, including the proprietary RE-AD format and SNVS video syndication platform, monetizing primarily via revenue-share take rates.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
STEP Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Advertising Network
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Media Buying Agencies (541830), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Affiliate Marketing & Partner Networks (BPAMALAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Affiliate & Partner Lead Generation Networks (BPAFAKAL)
Keywords
Where STEP Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Odense
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
STEP Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Display Advertising: STEP Network sells advertising space on publisher websites through their Display Service. Revenue is split 70/30 with publishers (70% to publisher, 30% to STEP Network) from gross advertising revenue after deducting platform and sales promotion costs. Publishers can also sell ads to third parties using STEP Network's booking system for a fee of DKK 400 plus VAT.
- Native Advertising: Native or sponsored advertising placed on publisher media platforms. Revenue from native advertising is split 70/30 (70% to Publisher, 30% to STEP) based on CPC (Cost Per Click) or CPR (Cost Per Read). If publishers book and insert native ads themselves, STEP Network charges a handling fee based on actual native provider prices.
- Video Syndicate Service: Content syndication revenue shared between STEP Network (30%), Content Provider (35%), and Publisher (35%). Platform costs of DKK 0.5 per GB (excl. VAT) are borne by the publisher using the content and deducted from their payout. If content provider and publisher are the same entity, 70% of revenue goes to the publisher.
- Live Streaming: Live streaming via VideoSyndicate billed at DKK 25 ex VAT per hour. Double Source (multi-signal) costs DKK 25 per source per hour. OTT universe access costs DKK 5,000 per month ex VAT plus data consumption.
- OTT Universe Subscription: Monthly subscription for access to STEP Network's OTT video universe at DKK 5,000 ex VAT per month, plus live streaming and data consumption charges.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Display advertising revenue split: 70% to publisher, 30% to STEP Network |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Native advertising revenue split: 70% to publisher, 30% to STEP Network |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Video Syndicate revenue split: 30% STEP, 35% Content Provider, 35% Publisher |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Live streaming: DKK 25 per hour; Double Source: DKK 25 per source per hour |
| Subscription | Monthly | OTT Universe: DKK 5,000 per month + data consumption |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
STEP Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
STEP Network operates Denmark's largest media network, connecting premium Danish publishers with enterprise advertisers through programmatic display, native, and video advertising solutions. The company provides proprietary ad formats such as RE-AD and a video syndication platform (SNVS), generating revenue through revenue-sharing arrangements with publishers, subscription access to its OTT Universe, and usage-based fees for live streaming. Its portfolio spans display, native, instream video, high-impact formats, and OTT/CTV distribution to over 90% of Danish internet users.
Product overview
STEP Network is Denmark's largest media network — a programmatic advertising platform combining a publisher network with multiple proprietary and standard ad formats. The core platform (STEP Network) connects publishers with advertisers through display advertising (Displayservice) and native ads. Key proprietary products include RE-AD (Responsible Advertising), a finance-approved exclusive ad format delivering superior performance, and SNVS (STEP Network Video Syndicate), a video content syndication platform with in-stream advertising, live streaming, and OTT access. Additional offerings include instream video advertising and a Power BI-based analytics dashboard. Revenue is shared between publishers (70%) and STEP (30%) across display and native formats, with a three-way split (30% STEP / 35% Content Provider / 35% Publisher) for video syndication. The network serves major Danish advertisers including COOP Danmark, Danske Bank, Elgiganten, Matas, Nordea, and Salling Group.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RE-AD (Responsible Advertising): STEP Network's proprietary ad format designed to deliver better performance, improved user experience, and greater exclusivity for advertisers. RE-AD creates exclusive time with the user in a clean, undisturbed environment.
Quantifiable outcome
- +360% CTR (Skin) for RE-AD format vs. standard format (1.15% vs. 0.25%)
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use STEP Network
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
STEP Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature5 records
STEP Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Target Videos (CDN)coreCDN provider for video hosting. Target Videos' CDN ensures automatic backup of videos on their servers, supporting STEP Network's SNVS video syndication service with reliable delivery.
- Boligsiden.dkcoreDenmark's most visited real estate platform. STEP Network facilitates homepage ownership (forsideejerskab) sponsorships on Boligsiden.dk, providing high-visibility ad placements for advertisers targeting homeowners and property buyers.
- Mediebureauer (Media Agencies)coreSTEP Network collaborates with major media agencies for campaign execution, including testing and benchmarking of advertising formats like instream video against market competitors.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
STEP Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Schibsted: Schibsted is a major Nordic media group operating leading news brands and marketplaces with substantial advertising operations. Comparable as a Nordic publisher network with both display and video ad inventory, though at much larger scale.
- Aller Media: Aller Media is a Nordic media company operating magazines, digital publications, and influencer/advertising businesses. Comparable as a Nordic media house with significant advertiser relationships and digital ad inventory.
- Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group): NENT Group is a major Nordic streaming and TV broadcaster with significant advertising-funded operations. Comparable as a Nordic video/advertising ecosystem participant, particularly relevant given STEP's SNVS and OTT Universe offerings.
- JP/Politikens Hus: JP/Politikens Hus is Denmark's largest media group, operating major newspapers and digital properties with significant advertising sales. Comparable as a Danish publisher with bundled advertising offerings, though broader than a pure-play media network.
Direct peers
- Strossle: Strossle is a Nordic content-recommendation and ad-network platform connecting publishers with advertisers across the region. Directly comparable as a Nordic two-sided content/ad network serving publishers and brands.
- Taboola: Taboola is a global content-discovery and partner-network platform connecting publishers with advertisers via native placements. Highly comparable business model to STEP's publisher-advertiser network, though at much larger scale and geographic reach.
- Amedia: Amedia is a Norwegian publisher network and local media operator with significant advertising solutions. Highly comparable two-sided network model connecting local publishers with national advertisers in the Nordic region.
- Adform: Adform is a Copenhagen-based ad-tech platform providing programmatic advertising, DSP/SSP, and creative tools to advertisers and publishers. Highly comparable as a Danish/Nordic ad-tech intermediary with a similar two-sided network model.
Regional players
- Berlingske Media: Berlingske Media is a leading Danish news publisher operating Berlingske and BT with associated digital advertising operations. Comparable as a major Danish publisher with its own ad sales, overlapping with STEP's advertiser base.
Emerging players
- Adnami: Adnami is a Danish/Nordic high-impact ad-format platform for video and interactive advertising. Comparable as a Danish ad-tech player in the same ecosystem (already a STEP Network partner for campaign hosting), with overlapping advertiser and publisher relationships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
STEP Network social profiles
Digital presenceSTEP Network compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
STEP Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
STEP Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
STEP Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
STEP Network 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 STEP Network
What does STEP Network do?
STEP Network operates Denmark's largest media network, connecting premium Danish publishers with enterprise advertisers through programmatic display, native, and video advertising solutions. The company provides proprietary ad formats such as RE-AD and a video syndication platform (SNVS), generating revenue through revenue-sharing arrangements with publishers, subscription access to its OTT Universe, and usage-based fees for live streaming. Its portfolio spans display, native, instream video, high-impact formats, and OTT/CTV distribution to over 90% of Danish internet users.
Is STEP Network a public or private company?
STEP Network is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was STEP Network founded?
STEP Network was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is STEP Network based?
STEP Network is headquartered in Odense, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does STEP Network make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Display Advertising is the primary driver. The others are native Advertising, video Syndicate Service, live Streaming and OTT Universe Subscription.
Who are STEP Network's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Schibsted, Aller Media, Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) and JP/Politikens Hus. Direct peers are Strossle, Taboola, Amedia and Adform. Berlingske Media is listed as a regional player. Adnami is listed as an emerging player.
Does STEP Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for STEP Network.
What industry is STEP Network in?
STEP Network's product category is Digital Advertising Network. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMALAI, Affiliate Marketing & Partner Networks, with a secondary code of BPAFAKAL, Affiliate & Partner Lead Generation Networks. Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 7311.