Firsthand | About

Firsthand is using AI to transform how advertisers and publishers attract, inspire, and engage consumers, anywhere online.

The current online landscape presents a stark reality: publishers and brands have limited control over how they engage audiences, monetize content, and represent themselves online. Algorithms and tech platforms dictate how information is surfaced and monetized, often at the expense of genuine connections and brand value.

AI presents an unprecedented opportunity to transform how companies connect with consumers.

This is more than technology; it's about fundamentally transforming how companies engage consumers while maintaining control of their brand, voice, and customer relationships.

Firsthand enables companies to harness AI's transformative power while staying in control. Our platform combines Lakebed™, an AI-first data rights management solution, with custom Brand Agents that deliver dynamic, personalized experiences that respond to consumers' real-time needs - anywhere online.
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Our company name represents what's now possible in the AI era — direct connections between publishers, advertisers, and consumers without filters or intermediaries. Consumers receive authentic information directly from the right sources, while publishers and advertisers gain unprecedented insights into consumer needs and preferences.
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Founded by digital advertising pioneers and funded by AI visionaries, we're building the platform that empowers publishers and brands to thrive in the AI era while maintaining control of their destiny.

Leadership Team

Firsthand is founded and led by a team at the forefront of some of the most transformative platforms in digital advertising over the last three decades.

We helped create today's online advertising landscape by building pioneering companies like DoubleClick (now Google), AppNexus (now Microsoft), and Freewheel (now Comcast). These companies introduced groundbreaking technologies in programmatic and streaming TV advertising.
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We have a proven track record of creating large-scale platforms that empower advertisers and publishers to manage their data and intellectual property while fostering strong relationships with customers.

With Firsthand, we’re driven to make AI solutions safe, sustainable, and scalable for brands, agencies, and publishers.
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