Castiron

High-Level Overview

Cast Iron Media is a technology-driven sports media and marketing company specializing in precise, targeted advertising for live sports streaming via its proprietary ad-tech platform, The Foundry. It serves advertisers, sports leagues (including MLB, NBA, NHL, and NCAA), teams, and virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs) by solving the challenge of delivering localized, real-time ads to maximize reach and engagement in the fragmented OTT (over-the-top) streaming market.[1]

The company has demonstrated strong growth momentum through key partnerships like MLB media rights extensions, new equity investments from Orkila Capital and Bolt Ventures, and leadership transitions to scale operations amid rising demand for live sports content.[1]

Origin Story

Cast Iron Media emerged in the evolving live sports streaming landscape, with founding partner Kent Heyman playing a pivotal role in its early phase. Heyman guided initial growth by securing strategic partnerships, investments, and developing The Foundry platform, establishing a foothold in OTT advertising for major leagues.[1]

A recent leadership transition announced in late 2025 saw Dave Clark appointed as CEO, with Heyman moving to Chairman of the Board to focus on long-term strategy. This shift, supported by MLB and new investors, ensures continuity with the senior team intact, positioning the company for expanded operations.[1]

Core Differentiators

• Proprietary Ad-Tech Platform (The Foundry): Enables precise, real-time local ad delivery across live sports content, optimizing targeting and engagement for advertisers.[1]
• Established Partnerships: Manages commercial inventory for MLB, NBA, NHL, and NCAA via collaborations with leagues, teams, and vMVPDs, providing scalable access to premium live content.[1]
• Innovation Focus: Cutting-edge technology for localized advertising in OTT, backed by investments to enhance platform capabilities and advertiser value.[1]
• Leadership and Stability: Recent transition maintains experienced team, with investor support from Orkila Capital and Bolt Ventures for strategic scaling.[1]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Cast Iron Media rides the surge in live sports streaming and OTT platforms, where fragmented audiences demand hyper-localized ads amid cord-cutting trends. Timing is ideal as sports leagues expand digital rights (e.g., MLB extensions), fueling demand for tech that monetizes live content effectively.[1]

Market forces like rising vMVPD adoption and advertiser shift to targeted, measurable TV-like ads favor its model. The company influences the ecosystem by pioneering ad-tech for sports, enabling leagues and teams to capture value in streaming while setting standards for precision in a $20B+ U.S. sports ad market.[1]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Cast Iron Media is poised to dominate OTT sports advertising through The Foundry's expansion, targeting deeper integrations with more leagues and advanced AI-driven targeting. Trends like live sports' streaming dominance (projected 50%+ growth by 2030) and privacy-safe ad tech will propel it, potentially evolving into a full-suite platform for global sports media.

As a nimble player backed by MLB and venture capital, its influence could reshape how streamers compete with traditional TV, delivering outsized returns for partners in the high-stakes live content wars—echoing its founding momentum under new leadership.[1]