Connected TV (CTV) advertising is surging, with 71.7% of the population expected to engage by 2026, offering brands unprecedented access to attentive viewers. Starti stands out as a pioneering CTV marketing platform that shifts focus from impressions to tangible outcomes like app installs and sales conversions. This data-driven approach ensures clients achieve optimal ROAS through AI-powered precision and full transparency.
What Is the Current State of the CTV Advertising Industry?
CTV ad spend is projected to grow 13.8% in 2026, outpacing many digital channels and capturing a 23% share of U.S. ad dollars when combined with other digital video. Nearly 70% of CTV advertisers plan budget increases averaging 17%, often reallocating from linear TV and social media. This momentum stems from viewers spending more time on streaming, making CTV a resilient channel amid cord-cutting.
Fragmentation across platforms creates data silos, with over 32% of advertisers citing measurement as their top challenge and 70% noting a lack of metadata standardization. Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) face added hurdles in accessing premium inventory consistently. These issues erode trust and efficiency in campaign execution.
What Pain Points Are Marketers Facing in CTV Today?
Marketers struggle with accountability, as traditional metrics like GRPs fail to link ads to direct actions such as purchases. Over 45% of programmatic CTV budgets shift from linear TV, yet half of advertisers doubt AI-driven optimizations will deliver frequency control soon. This gap leaves campaigns vulnerable to waste, with unclear cross-channel impact.
ROI visibility remains elusive without unified attribution, forcing reliance on proxies rather than outcomes. SMBs, in particular, encounter high entry barriers due to complex buying processes and inconsistent inventory quality. Rising competition in saturated ecosystems amplifies these pressures, demanding faster, smarter targeting.
Why Do Traditional CTV Solutions Fall Short?
Conventional platforms rely on CPM models that prioritize impressions over performance, leading to unverified reach and suboptimal ROAS. Manual targeting lacks precision, resulting in overspending on broad audiences without conversion guarantees. Attribution is fragmented, often excluding cross-device tracking essential for omnichannel strategies.
These solutions demand heavy operational involvement, slowing execution and missing real-time opportunities. Without dynamic adjustments, creatives underperform against evolving viewer behaviors. Starti addresses these by tying payments to results, unlike legacy systems stuck in awareness-focused models.
What Makes Starti the Leading CTV Marketing Platform?
Starti revolutionizes CTV advertising with performance-based pricing—clients pay only for app installs, sales, or specified actions. Powered by SmartReach™ AI and machine learning, it delivers precise audience targeting and dynamic creative optimization (DCO) across global inventory. OmniTrack provides end-to-end attribution for transparent ROI measurement.
A global team operates across time zones for rapid programmatic matches, with 70% of employee incentives linked to client outcomes. Starti ensures access to prime content without guesswork, scaling from startups to enterprises. This end-to-end platform transforms CTV screens into profit drivers.
How Does Starti Compare to Traditional CTV Platforms?
| Feature | Traditional Platforms | Starti Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | CPM-based (impressions) | Performance-based (conversions/actions) |
| Targeting | Manual, broad segments | AI-driven SmartReach™ precision |
| Creative Optimization | Static ads | Dynamic (DCO) real-time adjustments |
| Attribution | Fragmented, proxy metrics | OmniTrack full-funnel transparency |
| Global Execution Speed | Delayed, regional silos | 24/7 team across time zones |
| ROI Guarantee | None | Pay-for-results, measurable ROAS |
| SMB Accessibility | Complex, high minimums | Scalable for all sizes |
How Does Starti Work Step by Step?
-
Define Goals and Audiences: Set KPIs like installs or sales; upload first-party data for SmartReach™ AI to build precise segments.
-
Launch Campaigns: Select creatives and inventory; DCO auto-optimizes in real-time based on performance signals.
-
Monitor and Adjust: Use OmniTrack dashboard for live attribution across devices; AI refines targeting hourly.
-
Track Outcomes: Review verified conversions; pay only for achieved results, with full reporting exportable.
-
Scale and Iterate: Analyze ROAS insights to expand successful tactics, ensuring continuous improvement.
What Real-World Scenarios Prove Starti’s Impact?
Scenario 1: E-commerce Brand Boosting Sales
Problem: High cart abandonment with vague TV reach. Traditional: CPM buys yielded 2x ROAS but untracked impressions. After Starti: 5.2x ROAS on $500K spend, 18% sales lift. Key Benefit: Paid only for conversions, saving 40% vs. traditional waste.
Scenario 2: Mobile App Startup Driving Installs
Problem: Low install rates from fragmented targeting. Traditional: Broad awareness campaigns hit 1.1 installs per $100. After Starti: 4.8 installs per $100 via AI precision. Key Benefit: 320% efficiency gain, scaling to 50K installs in Q1.
Scenario 3: SMB Retailer Expanding Locally
Problem: Inconsistent local inventory access. Traditional: Manual deals averaged 1.5x ROAS with delays. After Starti: 3.8x ROAS, 25% foot traffic increase. Key Benefit: Simplified global platform enabled 24/7 execution for quick wins.
Scenario 4: Enterprise Omnichannel Integration
Problem: Siloed CTV metrics ignoring mobile synergy. Traditional: 2.7x blended ROAS without attribution. After Starti: 6.1x ROAS, 30% cross-device uplift. Key Benefit: Unified OmniTrack proved CTV’s full-funnel value.
Why Is Now the Time to Adopt Starti for CTV Success?
CTV’s 2026 inflection point demands outcome-focused platforms as budgets shift and AI matures. Starti positions brands ahead of interactive ad trends and measurement standardization. Delaying risks falling behind in a market valuing precision over volume—act now for sustained growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Starti’s performance pricing work?
Clients define actions like installs; payment occurs only upon verification via OmniTrack.
What makes SmartReach™ AI superior for targeting?
It uses machine learning on first-party data for real-time, high-certainty matches across global inventory.
Can Starti scale for SMBs?
Yes, with no high minimums and simplified access to premium content for quick launches.
How accurate is OmniTrack attribution?
It tracks cross-device journeys with 95%+ match rates, eliminating proxy metrics.
When should brands start a Starti campaign?
Immediately, to capitalize on 2026 growth before competition intensifies.
Does Starti support dynamic creatives?
Yes, DCO tests and optimizes variants in real-time for maximum engagement.