Stirista

Stirista is a data-driven marketing technology company that integrates data, execution, and analytics into a single, unified structure. Founded in 2009 by Ajay Gupta and his wife, Candice, the San Antonio-based firm originated from their apartment with the mission to provide clients with real-time, comprehensive data profiles to enhance marketing effectiveness across all media channels. Ajay Gupta's background, a unique combination of financial economics and creative writing, along with early experiences in digital engagement and political campaign messaging, shaped the company's data-centric approach.

The company operates on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, serving a diverse client base that includes Fortune 500 companies, mid-market brands, and advertising agencies. Clients like Oracle and Verizon leverage Stirista's platform for customer acquisition and retention. Stirista's business proposition rests on its vertically integrated marketing stack. It is one of the few companies that owns its own Email Service Provider (ESP) and Demand-Side Platform (DSP), which allows it to manage and execute omnichannel campaigns internally. This structure provides clients with a transparent, cost-effective solution for running campaigns across digital, email, social, and Connected TV (CTV) channels from a single point of contact.

Stirista's core offering is its OMNA Identity Graph, a proprietary system that provides real-time identity resolution for privacy-compliant data collection, matching, and hygiene. This graph powers the company's suite of products, including its DSP+, which facilitates media buying across channels like CTV and display with transparent pricing, and its ESP+ for executing large-scale email campaigns. Another key product is the AdStir platform, a self-service media buying tool with access to premium inventory. In late 2024, the company launched its API Marketing Suite, offering on-demand integrations for real-time insights to improve decision-making and campaign performance. A significant milestone in Stirista's journey was a $13 million growth equity funding round in June 2020, led by Wavecrest Growth Partners, which has fueled its expansion and a series of strategic acquisitions. These acquisitions include location-data platform Nikaza, data marketplace Venture Development Center (VDC), lifecycle marketing provider Customer Portfolios, and, in 2025, Magnetik and Andrews Wharton, enhancing its data, creative, and strategic execution capabilities.

Keywords: identity resolution, omnichannel marketing, demand-side platform, email service provider, customer data platform, data-driven marketing, adtech, martech, CTV advertising, media buying, audience segmentation, customer acquisition, customer retention, lead generation, marketing analytics, B2B data, consumer data, real-time data, marketing API, data onboarding, lifecycle marketing, campaign optimization