Agentio Raises $40M to Scale AI-Driven Creator Marketplace Beyond YouTube

Key Points

  • Agentio raised $40 million in a Series B round led by Forerunner.
  • Existing investors include Benchmark, Craft Ventures, AlleyCorp, Antler, and Starting Line.
  • Founder Arthur Leopold previously led Cameo; CTO Jonathan Meyers is an ex‑Spotify engineer.
  • Brands like Bombas saw a 5.3× better return on ad spend and a 90% net new customer rate.
  • Creator earnings doubled within six months, and bid times dropped to under a day.
  • AI tools now include a campaign manager and automated content review for brand safety.
  • The platform is expanding from YouTube to Meta, with plans for TikTok and Snap.
  • Team grew from 12 to 35 employees, targeting over 100 staff in the next year.

Agentio secures $40M from Forerunner as it scales its creator marketplace beyond YouTube
Content image from Agentio secures $40M from Forerunner as it scales its creator marketplace beyond YouTube
Content image from Agentio secures $40M from Forerunner as it scales its creator marketplace beyond YouTube

Funding Round and Valuation

Agentio secured a $40 million Series B round, led by consumer‑focused venture firm Forerunner, with participation from existing investors Benchmark, Craft Ventures, AlleyCorp, Antler, and Starting Line. The financing brings the company’s total fundraising to $56 million and values the startup at $340 million. Founder and CEO Arthur Leopold, formerly president at Cameo, and co‑founder and CTO Jonathan Meyers, a former Spotify engineer, highlighted the capital’s role in accelerating growth beyond the YouTube ecosystem.

Growth and Performance Metrics

Since its last funding event, Agentio has experienced a five‑fold growth trajectory. Brands using the platform have reported significant improvements in campaign outcomes. For example, apparel brand Bombas achieved a 5.3× better return on ad spend and a 90% net new customer rate compared with traditional video ad channels. Additionally, advertisers that previously required six months to spend budgets on Meta and Google were able to complete spending within a few months through Agentio’s platform, while achieving superior returns.

Creator earnings have also risen sharply. Over the past year, creators joining Agentio doubled their brand partnership earnings within six months, and the time from bid to first offer fell from 45‑50 days to less than a day. The company noted that it has already paid tens of millions of dollars to creators.

AI‑Powered Product Enhancements

Agentio has integrated advanced AI reasoning models and multimodal understanding into its suite of tools. The platform now offers an AI‑driven campaign manager that assists marketers in crafting campaigns, as well as an AI‑powered content review system that checks drafts for brief compliance and brand safety. These features reduce the need for manual oversight and enable rapid scaling of campaigns.

The AI matching engine also expands the pool of potential creator partners. By analyzing creator profiles beyond traditional categories, the system can suggest unconventional matches—for instance, pairing a health supplement brand with outdoor‑focused creators rather than only fitness influencers.

Expansion to New Platforms

After two years focused primarily on YouTube, Agentio is beta‑testing its solutions on Meta platforms, emphasizing video formats like Reels. The company plans to support additional channels such as TikTok and Snap in 2026, leveraging creators’ existing presences on Instagram and other networks to streamline cross‑platform campaigns.

Leadership Outlook and Team Growth

Arthur Leopold emphasized the belief that AI can automate ad buying while preserving the trust creators have with their audiences. Co‑founder Jonathan Meyers highlighted the efficiency gains from AI‑based content checks. Forrester partner Eurie Kim, managing partner at Forerunner, noted that the startup’s ability to unlock multiple channels signals its potential as a future AI‑powered media planning platform.

Agentio’s headcount has expanded from 12 to 35 employees since the previous round, with plans to exceed 100 staff members within the next year to support its broader platform ambitions.

Source: techcrunch.com