Deals & Moves

Snowflake launched its Advertising Data Cloud, a purpose-built solution for the advertising industry to enable data collaboration and measurement. The platform allows advertisers, publishers, and data providers to securely share and activate data while maintaining privacy compliance.

InfoSum, a data collaboration platform for advertising, raised $15M in Series B funding to expand its privacy-first data connectivity infrastructure. The funding supports growth in helping brands and publishers connect first-party data without sharing raw data.

Albertsons terminated its planned $24.6 billion merger with Kroger after federal and state courts blocked the deal on antitrust grounds. The cancellation has major implications for retail media, as the combined entity would have created the second-largest retail media network in the U.S.

LiveRamp launched its Clean Room as a Service offering, enabling brands, publishers, and platforms to create custom data clean rooms for privacy-safe collaboration. The solution addresses the industry's need for secure data matching and measurement in the post-cookie era.

Scibids, an AI-powered advertising optimization platform, raised $14M in Series A funding. The platform uses custom AI algorithms to optimize programmatic bidding strategies, helping advertisers improve campaign performance across DSPs.

Paramount Global and Walmart announced a strategic partnership to integrate Walmart's shopper data with Paramount's streaming advertising on Paramount+. The partnership enables closed-loop measurement from ad exposure to in-store and online purchases at Walmart.

Mediaocean acquired Innovid, a leading independent connected TV ad platform, for approximately $500 million. The acquisition combines Mediaocean's advertising infrastructure with Innovid's CTV measurement and analytics capabilities, creating an end-to-end solution for converged TV advertising.

Dstillery, an AI-powered advertising technology company, appointed Michael Beebe as CEO to lead the company's growth in cookieless targeting solutions. Beebe previously served as President and brings extensive experience in data-driven marketing technology.

Wunderkind (formerly BounceX) raised $76 million in Series D funding to expand its performance marketing platform focused on identity resolution and triggered messaging. The funding supports growth in its autonomous marketing solutions for e-commerce brands.

Snap acquired Th3rd, a 3D and AR creation platform, to enhance its AR advertising capabilities and make it easier for brands to create immersive ad experiences. The acquisition strengthens Snap's position in AR commerce and advertising technology.

Taboola acquired Connexity, a performance-based e-commerce advertising platform, for approximately $800 million. The acquisition expands Taboola's presence in e-commerce advertising and product recommendation technology, adding shopping-specific ad inventory and capabilities.

Innovid acquired TVSquared, a TV attribution and measurement platform, for $160 million to create a comprehensive CTV and linear TV advertising measurement solution. The combined platform provides cross-screen measurement and attribution for converged TV advertising.

Epsilon, Publicis Groupe's data and technology division, appointed Shawn Higa as CEO, succeeding Bryan Kennedy. Higa previously led Epsilon's technology and innovation efforts and the transition focuses on accelerating the company's identity and data platform strategy.

Horizon Media acquired Chalice Custom Algorithms, a data science and AI-powered optimization platform for media buying. The acquisition enhances Horizon's programmatic capabilities with custom algorithmic bidding and campaign optimization technology.

Scibids, an AI-powered programmatic optimization platform, raised $22 million in Series B funding to expand its custom bidding algorithms and campaign optimization technology. The platform uses machine learning to optimize programmatic advertising across DSPs.

Walmart's advertising business, Walmart Connect, reached $3.4 billion in annual revenue, marking significant growth in the retail media space. This milestone positions Walmart as the third-largest retail media network in the US behind Amazon and Instacart. The growth was driven by expanded advertiser adoption and new ad products including sponsored search and display.

Snap acquired Th3rd, an AR shopping platform, to enhance its augmented reality advertising capabilities for e-commerce. The acquisition enables brands to create immersive AR shopping experiences within Snapchat and supports Snap's AR Enterprise Services division. This move strengthens Snap's position in AR-powered advertising as brands seek more interactive ad formats.

Instacart launched its Ads API, enabling programmatic access to its retail media network for advertisers and agencies. The API allows automated campaign management, real-time bidding, and integration with third-party advertising platforms. This launch makes Instacart's $740M+ advertising business more accessible to enterprise advertisers and demand-side platforms.

Roku launched Roku Ads Manager, a self-serve advertising platform that enables small and medium-sized businesses to create and manage connected TV campaigns. The platform provides access to Roku's 70+ million active accounts with simplified campaign setup and measurement tools. This democratizes access to CTV advertising previously available only to larger advertisers.

DoorDash officially launched DoorDash Advertising, a self-serve ad platform enabling restaurants and CPG brands to promote products through sponsored listings. The platform leverages DoorDash's first-party transaction data across 32 million users. Initial products include sponsored search placements and display ads within the DoorDash marketplace.

Target rebranded its advertising business from Roundel to Target Media Network and announced major expansion of its retail media capabilities. The rebrand includes new off-site advertising products, enhanced measurement tools, and programmatic access through partnerships with major DSPs. Target Media Network serves over 2,000 advertisers with access to Target's 100+ million guests.

The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit to block the proposed $24.6 billion merger between Albertsons and Kroger, citing antitrust concerns. The merger would have created the largest retail media network combining Albertsons Media Collective and Kroger Precision Marketing with nearly $3 billion in combined advertising revenue. The FTC raised concerns about reduced competition in both grocery retail and advertising markets.

Spotify launched Spotify Advertising Marketplace, a programmatic platform enabling real-time bidding for audio ad inventory across its 500+ million users. The platform integrates with major DSPs and provides advanced targeting using Spotify's first-party listening data. This launch represents Spotify's major push into programmatic audio advertising beyond its self-serve Spotify Ad Studio.

CVS Health launched CVS Media Exchange, a retail media network leveraging its pharmacy and healthcare data across 100 million customers. The platform offers sponsored product ads, display advertising, and healthcare-specific targeting capabilities. This marks the expansion of retail media into the healthcare vertical with unique compliance and privacy considerations.