The Problem

Performance marketing used to be simple—brands could depend on ad platforms like Meta, Google, and TikTok to find and engage the right customers. However, Apple’s 2020 privacy changes have upended this approach. Consumer brands now face a major challenge: walled gardens can no longer track user behavior off-platform, making it difficult to optimize ad spend effectively.

With over 70% of users opting out of tracking, these platforms are starved for data, resulting in weaker ad auction performance and unpredictable paid media outcomes. Existing marketing tools such as customer data platforms (CDPs), reverse ETL solutions, traditional Conversion APIs, and basic pixels don’t offer the sophisticated data loops needed to navigate this new privacy landscape.

The Solution

Angler AI introduces the world’s first Predictive Conversion API, specifically engineered to address the challenges of today’s privacy-first digital landscape. Our solution is designed to optimize the performance of walled garden platforms like Meta, Google Ads, and TikTok, with Angler’s Predictive CAPI and Predictive Audience tools enhancing ad auction training. This technology enables brands to achieve, on average, a 32% improvement in paid marketing performance, even within a privacy-focused environment.

Angler AI combines zero-party and first-party data from brands with our proprietary dataset, featuring over 4000 purchase, demographic, and interest attributes. Using a flexible deep neural network, we construct comprehensive predicted profiles for each visitor and customer. This enriched data, sent to walled gardens through a server-side integration, enhances ad auction performance and empowers marketers to scale beyond just targeting in-market buyers.

Understanding that every business is unique with diverse marketing goals, Angler’s Predictive CAPI is fully configurable. Our solution allows auctions to be trained differently depending on the specific outcomes brands want to achieve, ensuring personalized and effective results tailored to each campaign objective.

Meet the Team

Angler’s technical team is a diverse group of experts with deep experience in marketing science, data science, machine learning, data engineering, and software engineering. Our core science team, which includes award-winning professionals and holders of multiple patents, is classically trained with advanced degrees (Ph.D. and M.S.) in fields such as computer science & engineering, operations research, applied mathematics, signal processing & control theory and econometrics. We’ve built and scaled predictive AI systems across various industries and, as Ad Tech veterans, developed robust identity services. Our data and software engineers have designed and maintained scalable SaaS platforms, all while being united by a common mission: optimizing ad auctions within walled garden ecosystems. We create configurable solutions that are tailored to each customer’s unique campaign and business objectives, delivering measurable and impactful results.

Why Choose Angler AI's Predictive CAPI?

When comparing server-side (CAPI) solutions, there are three primary types available:

1. Basic CAPI:
These solutions are typically free and often come built into your e-commerce platform or offered by CDPs and reverse ETL providers. While simple and functional, they transmit raw data directly to destinations without further optimization.

2. Advanced CAPI:
Paid solutions in this category provide enhanced capabilities by recognizing returning customers and linking multiple sessions, improving your data quality. If you're using an advanced CAPI solution, you're already ahead in optimizing your signal quality compared to basic CAPI.

3. Predictive CAPI by Angler AI:
Angler AI's Predictive CAPI goes beyond advanced options by integrating AI models that supercharge your data loop. Our solution enhances auction training within walled gardens, providing an unparalleled advantage in improving conversion accuracy and performance.

To learn more about how Angler AI's Predictive CAPI outperforms other solutions, check out our detailed blog post.

How Does it work?

Let’s explore three examples that show how the AI model enhances and optimizes your data loop.

Use Case #1: A beauty Brand wants to Convert Its Moveable Middle

For instance, if a beauty brand aims to lower customer acquisition costs by targeting the "moveable middle," Angler AI’s technology can identify those potential customers in real-time. These are users who didn't convert during their current session but are more likely to return and make a purchase within the next 7 days.

We enhance ad auction performance by sending only high-value actions—both from these moveable middle users and from in-session purchasers—via server-side interactions. This ensures the auction focuses on finding more of these high-potential customers while minimizing wasted impressions on users unlikely to convert. As a result, advertisers win auctions from moveable middle audience segment they previously wouldn’t have, while reducing ad spend on non-converting audiences.

Use Case #2: An Apparel Brand Wants to Acquire Future Whales

Similarly, if an apparel brand wants to attract high-value customers, Angler AI predicts which visitors and new customers are likely to become high lifetime value (LTV) customers and make repeat purchases within the next 90 to 180 days. Angler then sends only the events related to those high-value visitors and potential repeat buyers through its Predictive CAPI, ensuring the brand targets the most valuable audiences.

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Use Case #3: a high ticket point item brand wants to acquire high value leads

For brands with longer consideration cycles—typically those selling higher-ticket products or services—success hinges on acquiring leads through paid social channels and converting them into paying customers through CRM and telemarketing efforts. For these brands, acquiring leads that eventually convert is critical to the campaign’s success. Similarly, for try-before-you-buy or free trial brands, getting sign-ups that will convert into paying accounts is equally vital.

In these cases, Angler AI predicts the quality of leads and sign-ups in near real time. It then sends high-value lead and sign-up events to the walled gardens, ensuring that ad platforms focus on acquiring the most valuable potential customers.

Got 2 minutes? Watch this explainer video to see how Angler AI helps you attract high-value customers (Use Case #2)

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