Anzu.io is a technology company.
Anzu.io has raised $64.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Anzu.io has raised $64.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Anzu.io has raised $64.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Anzu.io's investors include Alumni Ventures, Bascom Ventures, BITKRAFT Ventures, Prosperity7 Ventures, Howard Cox, Hoxton Ventures.
Anzu.io is a leading intrinsic in-game advertising platform that enables advertisers to deliver non-disruptive, programmatic ads within video games across mobile, PC, console, and metaverses, while allowing game developers to monetize without compromising player experience.[1][2][6] It serves advertisers seeking engaged gaming audiences, game developers needing revenue streams, and publishers in esports and streaming, solving the challenge of scalable, measurable in-game ads that prioritize brand safety, viewability, and privacy compliance amid rising gaming consumption.[4][5] With $37M raised in funding, 110 employees, and partnerships like Oracle Moat, Nielsen, and major DSPs, Anzu has demonstrated strong growth, including 131% revenue uplift for partners and 23% higher viewability than traditional digital ads.[1][2]
Founded in 2017 by Itamar Benedy (CEO), Ben Fenster (CPO), and Michael Badichi, Anzu emerged from the AdTech and gaming sectors to address the untapped potential of in-game advertising.[1] The idea stemmed from recognizing gaming's massive audience—now dominating consumer media time—but the lack of native, non-intrusive ad solutions that could scale programmatically across platforms.[5][6] Early traction came via advanced SDK technology supporting mobile, PC, consoles, and esports, bolstered by integrations with fraud prevention (Forensiq) and measurement tools (Nielsen), leading to pilots with brands like Pepsi and Warner Media.[2] Key milestones include a Series A round raising $37M from investors like WPP, Sony Innovation Fund, NBCUniversal, Samsung Next, HTC, and Bitkraft, and participation in events like the 2023 Israel-Japan Conference.[1]
Anzu rides the explosive growth of gaming as a core media channel, where global playtime surpasses traditional TV and social platforms, fueled by esports, metaverses, and cross-platform accessibility.[2][5][6] Timing is ideal amid privacy regulations (e.g., cookie deprecation) and advertiser demand for diverse, measurable channels—Anzu's intrinsic model captures this by bringing AdTech standards (viewability, fraud prevention) to a $200B+ gaming market previously reliant on disruptive interstitials.[4][5] Market forces like rising advertiser interest (e.g., holding groups like dentsu) and developer monetization needs favor Anzu, influencing the ecosystem by setting industry benchmarks for brand-safe in-game ads, enabling sustainable revenue, and integrating gaming into omnichannel strategies.[2][5][7]
Anzu is poised to dominate intrinsic in-game advertising as gaming evolves into immersive, metaverse-driven experiences, with expansions in privacy-safe targeting and AI-driven personalization unlocking further ROI for brands.[5][6] Upcoming trends like cross-reality platforms and global audience segmentation will amplify its platform, potentially doubling revenue as advertisers allocate more budget to high-engagement gaming. Its influence may grow through deeper OEM partnerships (e.g., console makers) and data-driven personas, solidifying Anzu as the go-to for non-disruptive monetization in a player-first ecosystem—echoing its founding mission to redefine AdTech in gaming.[1][5]
Anzu.io has raised $64.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $28.0M Series B in June 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2023 | $28.0M Series B | Alumni Ventures, Bascom Ventures, BITKRAFT Ventures, Prosperity7 Ventures, Howard Cox | |
| Feb 1, 2022 | $20.0M Series B | ||
| Feb 1, 2021 | $9.0M Series A | BITKRAFT Ventures, Hoxton Ventures | |
| Aug 1, 2019 | $7.0M Series A | BITKRAFT Ventures |