{{Infobox company | name = EX.CO | logo = File:Ex Co website logo.jpg | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | trade_name = | native_name = | native_name_lang = <!-- Use ISO 639-1 code, e.g. "fr" for French. For multiple names in different languages, use {{Lang|[code]|[name]}} in native_name = and leave native_name_lang = empty. --> | romanized_name = | former_name = Playbuzz | type = | traded_as = | ISIN = | industry = | genre = | fate = | predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = --> | successor = <!-- or: | successors = --> | founded = 2012 | founders = Tom Pachys, Shachar Orren | defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | hq_location = | hq_location_city = New York City | hq_location_country = | num_locations = | num_locations_year = <!-- Year of num_locations data (if known) --> | area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = --> | key_people = Tom Pachys, CEO<ref name=ref1>{{cite web|url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3771724,00.html|title=Playbuzz CEO Shaul Olmert to Step Down |work= Calcalist|date=10 October 2019 |accessdate=31 December 2019}}</ref><br>Shachar Orren, CMO/CRO<br>Yaniv Lubinski, CFO<br>Oren Regev, COO | products = | brands = | production = | production_year = <!-- Year of production data (if known) --> | services = | revenue = | revenue_year = <!-- Year of revenue data (if known) --> | operating_income = | income_year = <!-- Year of operating_income data (if known) --> | net_income = <!-- or: | profit = --> | net_income_year = <!-- or: | profit_year = --><!-- Year of net_income/profit data (if known) --> | aum = <!-- Only for financial-service companies --> | assets = | assets_year = <!-- Year of assets data (if known) --> | equity = | equity_year = <!-- Year of equity data (if known) --> | owner = <!-- or: | owners = --> | members = | members_year = <!-- Year of members data (if known) --> | num_employees = | num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) --> | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | module = <!-- Used to embed other templates --> | ratio = <!-- Basel III ratio; used for banks only --> | rating = <!-- Credit rating; used for banks only --> | website = {{URL|https://ex.co/}} | footnotes = }} '''EX.CO''' is a Disney-backed,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blount |first1=Leslie |title=How Personalization Helped Alex and Ani Boost Conversions 65% |url=https://www.adweek.com/commerce/personalization-alex-and-ani-boost-conversions/ |website=Adweek |date=25 March 2022 |access-date=29 April 2022}}</ref> machine learning-driven video platform that helps media companies grow revenue across multiple media platforms.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andrews |first1=Robert |title=For CTV Publishers, the Future Is Predictive, Not Reactive |url=https://www.beet.tv/2025/11/for-ctv-publishers-the-future-is-predictive-not-reactive.html/ |website=Beet.TV |date= November 2025 |access-date=17 January 2026}}</ref> It is used by publishers and media owners such as Advance Local<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schiff |first1=Allison |title=How A Group Of Local News Sites Went From Zero Video Revenue To Seven Figures ‘Overnight’ |url=https://www.adexchanger.com/online-video/how-a-group-of-local-news-sites-went-from-zero-video-revenue-to-seven-figures-overnight/ |website=AdExchanger |date= 19 August 2024 |access-date=17 January 2026}}</ref>, Hearst Newspapers, The Arena Group, PlayWorks, and Ziff Davis to monetize video content across screens.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=David |title=EX.CO’s Shachar Orren: Video Is Publishers’ Best Defense Against AI ‘Zero-Click’ Era Because Summaries Can’t Replace Watching|url=https://www.beet.tv/2025/12/ex-cos-shachar-orren-video-is-publishers-best-defense-against-ai-zero-click-era-because-summaries-cant-replace-watching.html|website=Beet.TV |date= December 2025 |access-date=17 January 2026}}</ref>
==History== EX.CO was originally founded as Playbuzz in 2012 by Shaul Olmert and Tom Pachys. Pachys is a graduate of IDC as well as the co-founder of Whimado.
In its early years, Playbuzz raised several funding rounds, including a $3 million Series A from Carmel Ventures and a $35 million Series C in 2017 led by Viola Group with participation from existing investors including the Walt Disney Company and Saban Ventures.<ref name="BInsiderSeriesC">{{cite news|last1=Shead|first1=Sam|title=Playbuzz raised $35 million for its platform that aims to help publishers engage with the 'Snapchat generation'|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/playbuzz-raises-35-million-from-disney-and-a-bunch-of-other-investors-2017-9|accessdate=27 November 2017|publisher=The Business Insider|date=27 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="MarketWatchSeriesC">{{cite news|last1=Marshall|first1=Jack|title=Disney-backed Playbuzz raises $35 million to grow content creation platform|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/disney-backed-playbuzz-raises-35-million-to-grow-content-creation-platform-2017-09-27|accessdate=27 November 2017|publisher=MarketWatch|date=27 September 2017}}</ref>
In 2019, Shaul Olmert stepped down as CEO, with co-founder Tom Pachys assuming the role. Olmert eventually departed the company entirely.<ref name="Shaul Olmert steps down">{{cite news |last1=Kahan |first1=Raphael |title= Playbuzz CEO Shaul Olmert to Step Down |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3771724,00.html|accessdate=15 April 2025 |publisher=Calcalist |date=10 October 2019}}</ref> Playbuzz then changed its name to EX.CO<ref name="Platform">{{cite news |last1=Ha |first1=Anthony |title=Playbuzz becomes Ex.co and expands its content marketing platform |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/11/18/playbuzz-becomes-ex-co-and-expands-its-content-marketing-platform/|accessdate=27 February 2020 |publisher=Tech Crunch |date=18 November 2019}}</ref> and Shachar Orren was later named a co-founder of the company in 2021.<ref name="Cofounder">{{cite news |last1=Spiro |first1=James |title=EX․CO appoints Shachar Orren as Co-Founder|url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3919653,00.html/|accessdate=25 July 2024 |publisher=CTECH |date=13 October 2021}}</ref>
==Acquisitions== In 2021, EX.CO acquired video monetization technology company Cedato.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ha |first1=Anthony |title=EX.CO acquires video adtech company Cedato |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/22/ex-co-acquires-cedato/ |website=TechCrunch |date=22 April 2021 |access-date=29 April 2022}}</ref>
In 2022, the company announced the acquisition of the machine-learning company Bibblio.{{cn|date=January 2026}}
==Awards== *2022 Business Insider: Hottest Marketing Tech Companies of 2022<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Lauren |title=The hottest marketing tech companies of 2022|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-hottest-marketing-tech-companies-of-2022-2022-7//// |website=Business Insider |date=28 November 2022 |access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref> *2023 Digiday Video & TV Awards: Best Digital Video Monetization Program <ref>{{cite web|title=PlayStation and MOCEAN, PinkNews, TheSoul Publishing and INNOCEAN USA are 2023 Digiday Video and TV Award winners|url=https://digiday.com/announcement/awards/playstation-and-mocean-pinknews-thesoul-publishing-and-innocean-usa-are-2023-digiday-video-and-tv-award-winners//// |website=Digiday |date=7 March 2023 |access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref> *2024 Digiday Media Awards: Best Video Platform <ref>{{cite web |title=Salesforce, TIME and Fortune Media are among this year's Digiday Media Awards winners|url=https://digiday.com/announcement/awards/salesforce-time-and-fortune-media-are-among-this-years-digiday-media-awards-winners/// |website=Digiday |date=14 May 2024 |access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref> *2024 Digiday Technology Awards: Best Sell-Side Programmatic Platform <ref>{{cite web |title=Adobe, Soundcloud, Disney and Spectrum are 2024 Digiday Technology Awards winners |url=https://digiday.com/announcement/awards/adobe-soundcloud-disney-and-spectrum-are-2024-digiday-technology-awards-winners//// |website=Digiday |date=10 September 2024 |access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref> *2025 Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces List, recognizing culture and employee engagement<ref>{{cite web |title=Best Workplaces 2025 Meet the 514 Companies That Prioritize Their People|url=https://www.inc.com/best-workplaces/2025 |website=Inc.com |date= 2025 |access-date=17 January 2026}}</ref> *2025 Digiday Technology Awards: Best Sell-Side Programmatic Platform<ref>{{cite web |title=The Walt Disney Company, Grammarly and Intuit Mailchimp are 2025 Digiday Technology Awards winners|url=https://digiday.com/announcement/awards/the-walt-disney-company-grammarly-and-intuit-mailchimp-are-2025-digiday-technology-awards-winners/ |website=Digiday |date=12 August 2025 |access-date=17 January 2026}}</ref> *2026 Convergent TV Awards: Ad Tech Innovation of the Year <ref>{{cite web |title=Cynopsis Reveals Winners of the Inaugural Convergent TV Awards|url=https://www.cynopsis.com/cynopsis-reveals-winners-of-the-inaugural-convergent-tv-awards/ |website=Cynopsis |date=6 March 2026 |access-date=7 April 2026}}</ref> *2026 The Webby Awards: AI Features & Innovation - Best Product or Service Honoree <ref>{{cite web |title=AI Features & Innovation|url=https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/ai/ai-features-innovation/best-product-or-service/ |website=The Webby Awards |access-date=7 April 2026}}</ref>
==See also== {{div col}} * Website monetization * Content monetization * Online advertising * Online video * Web performance * Audience measurement * Customer engagement * Vertical video * Machine learning {{div col end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://ex.co/ Official site]
Category:American companies established in 2012 Category:Companies based in New York City Category:Companies based in Tel Aviv Category:Online advertising Category:Digital marketing companies of the United States Category:Marketing companies established in 2012