Industry-leading brands and advertising agencies trust Start.io for audience segmentation solutions.

Device-based audience segmentation is the process of identifying and grouping consumers based on privacy-compliant mobile signals collected directly from their devices. Start.io uses this approach to build accurate, first-party audience segments for advertisers, agencies, and DSPs.

Start.io specializes in deterministic, first-party data sourced directly through its advertising integrations with app developers, including its proprietary SDK. Unlike probabilistic or modeled data, Start.io's signals are verified, real-time, and built for quality and privacy compliance. This means advertisers reach consumers who are actively engaging with relevant categories, not just passively browsing.

Start.io builds holistic user profiles using more than 20 real-time data points, including app ownership, location data, Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity signals, device make and model, mobile carrier, language preferences, ad behavior, and IP/UA signals.

Downloading and keeping an app on a device is a clear, active signal of interest and intent. App ownership reflects ongoing engagement rather than a one-time visit. Start.io maps these signals to highly engaged target audiences, delivering stronger campaign outcomes than behavioral or contextual data alone.

Start.io provides access to more than 4,000 audience segments spanning demographics, interests, shopping behavior, travel, entertainment, technology, lifestyle, and more. Start.io also builds custom, tailor-made segments for advertisers with specific targeting needs.

Start.io's platform reaches over 2.5 billion monthly active users (MAUs) worldwide and analyzes more than 100 billion live, privacy-compliant mobile signals every day. This global scale lets advertisers activate audiences across markets at significant reach.

Yes. In addition to pre-built segments, Start.io creates tailor-made audience segments built to your exact campaign specifications. Custom audiences can combine app affinities, location patterns, demographics, device characteristics, behaviors, and interests, with fast delivery to the DSP of your choice.

Start.io delivers highly engaged audiences across high-value verticals, including: Travel: users with apps such as Expedia, VRBO, Airbnb, United Airlines, and American Airlines installed (154 million US users) Finance: users with apps such as Robinhood, Stash Invest, and Fidelity (109 million US users) Sports: users with apps such as ESPN, CBS Sports, DAZN, theScore, and NBC Sports (176 million US users) CTV & Entertainment: users of apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, Tubi, Apple TV, and Disney+ (187 million US users)

Start.io's data is sourced directly through its own SDK, integrated across thousands of mobile apps. This first-party, SDK-sourced collection model ensures quality, accuracy, and privacy compliance, making it more reliable than third-party data.

Start.io uses AI modeling and machine learning to process billions of mobile signals across its 2.5 billion+ monthly active user base. This AI-driven approach enables the creation of scalable, high-precision audience segments that reflect real consumer behavior and intent.

Start.io segments can be activated across leading DSPs and DMPs. Custom segments are delivered directly to the DSP of your choice, enabling seamless integration into existing programmatic advertising workflows.

Yes. Start.io's audience solutions are built using verified, first-party, SDK-sourced data. The platform is designed to support compliance with: GDPR CCPA / CPRA COPPA IAB Transparency & Consent Frameworks Mobile platform privacy requirements Start.io is an IAB Tech Lab-compliant member and conducts all data collection and processing in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.

Yes. Start.io's platform lets advertisers combine multiple signals—such as app ownership, location patterns, demographics, device type, mobile carrier, and behavioral data—to create highly refined audience definitions tailored to specific campaign goals.

Pre-built segments are ready-made audiences organized around common consumer profiles, such as travel enthusiasts, finance app users, or sports fans, and are available for immediate activation. Custom segments are built from scratch to your specifications, combining any mix of signals and attributes to match your campaign objectives, and are delivered quickly to the DSP of your choice.

Connect with the Start.io team to explore available segments, discuss a custom audience build, or identify the right targeting strategy for your campaign. Start.io works with advertisers to define, build, and activate audiences quickly, delivered directly to the platform you already use. Let's talk, or email us at marketing@start.io.