Boostr: A Decade of Innovation in Media Tech, and a Look to an AI-Powered Future

Ten years ago, a group of media industry veterans from Yahoo, frustrated with the cumbersome tools available for managing complex media sales and operations, decided there had to be a better way. That vision became Boostr, a company that today celebrates a decade of revolutionizing the advertising management landscape for media organizations worldwide.

From its inception in 2015, Boostr has been on a mission to conquer complexity. In an industry characterized by rapid change and increasing fragmentation, Boostr has provided a steady hand, offering a specialized platform that includes a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, an Order Management System (OMS), and a Proposal Recommendation Engine, all tailored specifically to the nuanced needs of modern media businesses looking to scale.

A Journey of Strategic Growth and Innovation

Boostr's trajectory over the past ten years is marked by strategic growth and a keen understanding of the evolving media ecosystem:

• The Foundation (2015-2018): After its founding in 2015, Boostr quickly moved to secure a crucial $1 million in seed funding in 2017. This initial investment paved the way for the 2018 launch of its first purpose-built CRM and OMS for media businesses – a foundational step in addressing a significant gap in the market.
• Scaling Up (2020-2022): The year 2020 saw Boostr close a significant $7 million Series A funding round at a triple valuation, a strong signal of investor confidence and market validation. This period of growth included the introduction of the Commission's Product and advanced Multi-Dimensional Reporting for publishers in 2021. In 2022, Boostr continued to enhance its offerings with Net Revenue Retention (NRR) tracking and the launch of Proposal-IQ, designed to automate data-driven media proposal creation. A key integration with MediaOcean PRISMA also went live this year, further streamlining workflows for its clients.
• Embracing AI and Empowering Users (2023-Present): Recognizing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, Boostr integrated AI into media planning with the launch of Proposal-IQ in 2023. This commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology continued into 2024 with the establishment of Boostr University. This educational initiative is designed to empower media professionals by providing them with in-depth platform knowledge and industry best practices, ensuring they can maximize the value of Boostr’s tools.

The Next Frontier: An AI-Powered Workforce

As Boostr steps into its next decade, it's making another bold leap. 2025 marks the unveiling of the Boostr Agent Series, a revolutionary, purpose-built AI workforce. 

These AI agents are engineered to assist media sales, planning, and ad operations teams, promising a new era of efficiency, intelligent automation, and data-driven decision-making.

"Reaching our 10-year anniversary is not just a milestone for Boostr, but a reflection of the incredible partnerships we've built within the media industry," stated Patrick O'Leary, Founder and CEO of Boostr. "We embarked on this journey to solve tangible, complex problems for media companies. With Boostr University, we're investing directly in our users' success and expertise. And with Boostr Agent Series, we're not just adopting AI; we're pioneering its application to create a smarter, more efficient future for media operations. The entire Boostr team is energized for what lies ahead."

Why Boostr is the Best in the Industry

As part of its ongoing commitment to client success, Boostr has launched Boostr University along with a new certification program designed for both platform and non-platform users. These certifications are built to deepen product knowledge, maximize ROI, and empower teams to lead with confidence and precision in today’s fast-moving media landscape.

Our Available Certifications:

• Analytics Certification – Unlock insights with custom dashboards and reporting
• Sales Certification  (Coming Soon)– Streamline pipeline, forecasting, and proposal workflows
• Ad Ops Certification (Coming Soon) – Boost efficiency from order management to trafficking

Our next step in client support focuses on building a community. Certified users will be invited to a Slack community, connecting them with other Boostr users. We believe that by fostering connections and encouraging the sharing of best practices within this close-knit industry, our clients can collectively grow stronger.

“We always knew that we would have to differentiate ourselves, not just with the product, but with the way we work with our clients. Strong customer support was a core design principle since day one.  I’m proud to say we’ve kept investing and evolving what it means to have the best support in the industry, and we’re going to keep going with it. Even in the age of Agents and AI, you’ll always be able to talk to someone and always be able to talk to someone who knows your business." - Katie Schuele, Co-Founder & CCO

‍Delivering Tangible Results

Boostr's impact is evident in the results its clients achieve. The platform is credited with providing the industry's most accurate revenue forecasting, accelerating billing and reconciliation processes by up to three times, saving sales teams an average of over four hours per week, and significantly reducing ad operations workloads by as much as 40%.

Leading media organizations, including names like BuzzFeed, Fandom, Insider, Morning Brew, Vevo, and Vox Media, have come to rely on Boostr to navigate the intricacies of ad sales, optimize their operations, and ultimately drive profitability.

As the media landscape continues its rapid transformation, Boostr's commitment to innovation, customer empowerment, and tackling complexity head-on positions it as a vital partner for media organizations looking to thrive in the years to come. The first ten years have laid a strong foundation; the next decade promises even greater advancements powered by intelligence and a deep understanding of the media business.