illumin

The business operates as an advertising technology provider centred on a programmatic demand-side platform combined with a digital media marketplace. It creates value by enabling advertisers and agencies to plan and buy omnichannel digital media, sequence campaigns along consumer journeys, and apply AI-based optimisation and attribution from a single system. On the supply side, its marketplace connects buyers with media owners and supports real-time trading across formats and screens.

Revenue is generated through a mix of media trading margin (buying programmatic inventory and reselling it to clients), managed service fees for campaign planning, execution and optimisation, and fees associated with self-serve platform usage and marketplace transactions. The model is volume-driven: higher media spend and greater use of the platform and marketplace increase revenue, while AI and automation reduce delivery costs and increase campaign performance for clients.

AcuityAds (doing business as illumin) is a Canadian advertising technology company that provides a programmatic demand-side platform and associated marketplace for digital media buying across display, video, mobile, social, connected TV and other channels. Its core platform enables advertisers and agencies to plan, execute and optimise omnichannel campaigns, including consumer journey sequencing, with AI-driven bidding and attribution.

The company generates revenue primarily by running media campaigns on behalf of brand and agency clients via both managed (full-serve) and self-serve access to its platform, and by operating a digital ad inventory marketplace that connects buyers and media owners. Customers are brand advertisers, media agencies and other professional media buyers; the firm does not sell directly to consumers.