Agentio secures $40 million from Forerunner as it scales its creator marketplace beyond YouTube

In a remarkable surge of growth, Agentio has successfully raised $40 million in its latest funding round, driven by rising trends in sponsored content on YouTube. According to Tubefilter, the platform has seen a 28% year-over-year increase in views for sponsored videos, alongside a staggering 54% rise in the number of such videos during the first half of 2025. This Series B funding round, led by Forerunner, marks the third consecutive year of investment for the startup, which facilitates connections between brands and YouTube creators for sponsored content. With involvement from previous investors like Benchmark, Craft Ventures, AlleyCorp, Antler, and Starting Line, Agentio's total funding now reaches $56 million, contributing to a valuation of $340 million. Founded in 2023 by CEO Arthur Leopold, a former president at Cameo, and CTO Jonathan Meyers, a former engineer at Spotify, Agentio has experienced exponential growth, increasing its operations fivefold since its last funding round in November 2024. The company has reported impressive results for brands utilizing its services, with Bombas, for instance, achieving a 5.3 times higher return on ad spend compared to traditional video advertisements. Leopold emphasized the importance of leveraging AI to streamline the ad-buying process, allowing for scalable partnerships between brands and creators. “Our belief since we founded the company has been to use AI to automate the ad buying process for brands to get the best outcomes,” he explained during a recent call. The company has paid out tens of millions to creators, with new participants seeing their brand partnership earnings double within just six months. Agentio's innovative technology includes a campaign manager that utilizes AI for crafting marketing strategies and an advanced content review feature that ensures compliance with brand standards. This development has significantly reduced the time required for brands to assess creator content, enhancing campaign rollout efficiency. The startup is not only expanding its offerings on YouTube but is also entering beta testing for Meta platforms, focusing on video formats like Reels. With plans for future expansion to platforms such as TikTok and Snap, Agentio is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for creator-driven marketing. Eurie Kim, managing partner at Forerunner, highlighted the VC firm's long-term interest in Agentio, noting their successful collaborations with major brands. As Agentio grows, the team has expanded from 12 to 35 employees, with ambitions to exceed 100 in the coming year, solidifying its position as a key player in the AI-powered media planning landscape.