Placements.io lands Inc. 5000 status (again)

A Q&A on growth, strategy & culture

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For the second year in a row, Placements.io earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list, achieving 76% growth, a testament to the team’s drive, product innovation, and workplace culture. 

According to Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. “These businesses have thrived amid rising costs, shifting global dynamics, and constant change. They didn’t just weather the storm, they grew through it, and their stories are a powerful reminder that the entrepreneurial spirit is the engine of the U.S. economy.” 

Check out the full list of winners here: https://www.inc.com/inc5000/2025 

We sat down with our Chief Business Officer, Evan Bowen, for a rapid-fire Q&A to talk about the milestones behind the growth, what it means for our customers and team, and where we’re headed next. Check out what he had to say. 

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Q: Congratulations on making the Inc. 5000 list for the second year in a row! What does this recognition mean to you and the team?

Making the Inc. 5000 list once is a milestone. Earning a spot two years in a row, with sustained, double-digit growth, signals something deeper: momentum, customer trust, and a team built for the long game. This recognition validates our mission to transform digital advertising through our AI-powered operating systems, AdSalesOS and MarketerOS, which unify data, automation, and workflows so publishers, retailers, brands, and agencies can manage and monetize ad campaigns more effectively.

It’s also a testament to our people and culture. We’ve built a workplace focused on values like honesty, curiosity, and focus. These principles drive innovation and exceptional client outcomes. This honor is as much about the dedication of our team as it is about market success. 

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Q: 76% growth is no small feat. What key factors drove this acceleration?

Our growth is rooted in several key factors: a fast-expanding retail media market and the momentum we’re seeing from brands and agencies on the buy side with MarketerOS. Together, AdSalesOS and MarketerOS create an ecosystem that serves both sellers and buyers. This enables publishers, retailers, marketplaces, brands, and agencies to streamline operations, optimize spend, and unlock new revenue opportunities. 

Over the past year, we’ve expanded into new customer segments, deepened relationships with existing clients, and continued to evolve both platforms to deliver greater impact – from helping sellers monetize inventory at scale to giving buyers the tools to plan, execute, and measure campaigns more effectively.

Behind our technology is a team committed to operational excellence. We’ve invested heavily in product, customer support, and onboarding to ensure clients see value quickly, regardless of whether they’re on the sell side or buy side. That combination of market momentum, platform capabilities, and team expertise has been the catalyst for achieving (and sustaining) 76% growth over the past three years.

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Q: How has Placements.io’s strategy evolved over the past year to enable this kind of scale?

Over the past year, we’ve sharpened our focus on the verticals where we can deliver the most impact and expand our capabilities on both the sell and buy sides of digital advertising. 

On the sell side, we’ve continued to enhance AdSalesOS with AI-powered features, streamlined onboarding, simplified workflows, and deeper integrations to help clients realize value faster and operate more efficiently. 

On the buy side, MarketerOS has been an exciting area of growth, maturing rapidly with input from key brand and agency partners to give buyers the tools they need to plan, execute, and measure retail media campaigns more effectively. 

This dual strategy of market focus and continuous product innovation has allowed us to scale while maintaining the agility and customer-centric approach that define Placements.io.

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Q: You’ve also received other awards this year across business and product innovation. How does culture factor into growth?

Our culture is at the heart of every achievement, from being named “Best Startup to Work For” to earning finalist recognition for “Best Ad-Tech Platform”. We’ve built a workplace that values flexibility, balance, and inclusivity. This environment not only attracts and retains top talent, it helps our people deliver exceptional products and experiences for our customers, which in turn drives the growth and industry recognition we’re proud to celebrate.

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Q: For those who aren’t familiar, how does Placements.io’s platform create impact for customers?

Placements.io streamlines the complex world of ad sales and ad buying by replacing manual, spreadsheet-heavy processes with a unified, automated platform. Our end-to-end solutions give publishers, retailers, brands & agencies a single source of truth for managing inventory, planning, ad execution, and financial management. This bolsters efficiency, reduces errors, and accelerates time to value. By simplifying operations and enabling more intelligent decision-making, we help customers monetize more effectively, optimize spend, and scale their businesses with confidence.

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‍Q: What’s next for Placements.io?

We’re focused on accelerating innovation and expanding our global reach, with upcoming product enhancements designed to deliver even deeper automation, intelligence, and integration across the media ecosystem. Our roadmap includes strengthening partnerships, broadening our presence in key international markets, and growing our team to meet the needs of an expanding customer base. 

And lastly, we’re hiring across engineering, professional services, and sales. Be sure to check out our careers page for current opportunities! 

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