Kokai
AI-powered programmatic media buying across the open internet that simplifies campaign management while maximizing performance through embedded machine learning and premium inventory access.
Last updated May 11, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment
- Industry
- Demand-Side Platform (DSP) / Programmatic Advertising
- Business Model
- Platform/SaaS with usage-based fees (percentage of media spend)
- Target Market
- Enterprise
- Employee Count
- 1001-5000
- Revenue Range
- Part of The Trade Desk (TTD) — ~$1.9B+ annual revenue (2023)
- Stock Symbol
- TTD
- Parent Company
- The Trade Desk
- API Available
- Yes
The flagship platform of the leading independent DSP, positioned as the premier alternative to walled garden media-buying platforms for agencies and brands
Kokai is The Trade Desk's next-generation demand-side platform (DSP) interface, launched in June 2023 as the successor to the Solimar platform. Named after a beach in Santa Barbara near The Trade Desk's founding location, Kokai represents a comprehensive reimagining of how media buyers interact with programmatic advertising technology. It integrates AI-driven decision-making throughout the campaign workflow, enabling advertisers and agencies to plan, activate, and optimize campaigns across display, video, connected TV (CTV), audio, and digital out-of-home (DOOH) channels from a unified interface. At the core of Kokai is Koa, The Trade Desk's AI engine, which is deeply embedded into the platform to surface actionable insights, automate bidding decisions, and guide media buyers toward higher-performing inventory. Kokai introduces a redesigned user experience with simplified campaign setup, AI-assisted forecasting, and enhanced measurement capabilities. The platform is built around the concept of making the full power of The Trade Desk's data and inventory access more accessible, reducing complexity while improving campaign outcomes for both experienced traders and newer users. In the AdTech ecosystem, Kokai reinforces The Trade Desk's position as the leading independent DSP, competing directly with Google's DV360, Amazon DSP, and other programmatic platforms. Its emphasis on the open internet, cookieless identity solutions like Unified ID 2.0, and premium CTV inventory makes it a critical tool for brands and agencies seeking alternatives to walled garden advertising environments. Kokai is widely regarded as a significant technological leap that deepens The Trade Desk's competitive moat in the enterprise programmatic advertising space.
Kokai Platform Interface
Redesigned next-gen UI for programmatic campaign planning, activation, and optimization across all digital channels
Koa AI Engine
Embedded artificial intelligence that powers bidding recommendations, audience insights, forecasting, and campaign optimization
AI-Assisted Campaign Setup
Streamlined campaign creation workflow guided by AI recommendations to reduce setup complexity and improve outcomes
Cross-Channel Activation
Unified buying interface for display, video, CTV, audio, native, and DOOH inventory
Kokai Measurement Suite
Enhanced reporting and attribution tools providing real-time performance insights and cross-channel measurement
Inventory Discovery
AI-powered tools to surface high-quality, relevant inventory across the open internet and premium publishers
Unified ID 2.0 Integration
Native support for UID2 as a cookieless identity solution for audience targeting and measurement
Forecasting Tools
Predictive reach and performance forecasting to inform media planning decisions before campaign launch
- 2023Founded