Octopus supplies rideshare drivers with tablets that run a 13-minute loop combining games (including sponsored cash-prize games), ride information (maps and weather) and advertising. The product is designed to keep passengers entertained, allow drivers to earn extra money, and potentially improve driver ratings by occupying riders during trips. The company deploys targeting and measurement technology such as geofences to adjust ad frequency, real-time analytics for advertisers, and seat monitoring to confirm a passenger is present when an ad plays. Octopus launched in 2018 and currently reaches more than 3 million people each month across about 10,000 screens in markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C. By working with Sinclair Digital Group — an affiliate of Sinclair Broadcast Group — Octopus can bring local TV station content onto its platform and scale its content offering. The startup touts its captive, buckled-in audience as an untapped medium for advertisers.

Total raised

$10M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Nov 2019