Smartify Media (“Smartify”) has been named the 2025 Startup of the Year by The Advertising Club of New York in recognition of leadership in the programmatic digital-out-home sector. The esteemed award, established in 1959, celebrates trailblazers across the marketing, media, and advertising industries.
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Smartify Co-Founders Joe Kunigonis, Oleg Vyadro, Lenny Zappa
The honor will be presented at the Advertising People of the Year Awards on June 4, 2025, at the Tribeca Rooftop in New York City.
“We are honored to receive this recognition,” said Joe Kunigonis, CEO of Smartify. “This award is a testament to Smartify’s focus on innovation and operational excellence; reflecting the increasing significance of the programmatic digital out-of-home channel within the advertising ecosystem and the growth of retail media networks.”
The honorees:
- Matt Scheckner, Chairman of Advertising Week ("New Yorker of the Year”)
- David Sable, Vice Chair at Stagwell ( "Industry Legend")
- Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, CMO of DoorDash ("Marketer of the Year")
- Alex Cuevas, SVP, Director of Talent at BBDO ("Young Pro")
- Smartify Media, Co-Founders Joe Kunigonis, Oleg Vyadro and Lenny Zappa (“Start Up of the Year”)
"The AD CLUB brings the advertising community together through thought leadership, meaningful connections, and recognizing excellence across the industry. Congratulations to Smartify on being named 'Startup of the Year'!” - Gina Grillo, President, The Ad Club of New York.
Launched in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, Smartify’s initial offering - Small Business+ - assisted local retailers with critical storefront communications and a new ancillary revenue source. Smartify is currently present in 40+ U.S. markets in partnership with retailers and leading consumer marketplaces.
Over 3,000 advertisers have activated digital campaigns through Smartify, reflecting global, national and local brands such as Louis Vuitton, Emirates, BMW, Apple, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, ESPN, Disney, Dunkin, P&G, Bank of America, Harvard University and The Yankees.
Smartify’s Community+ Program powers out-of-home visibility for philanthropic campaigns by The Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber, American Cancer Society, Pan-Mass Challenge and other non-profits.
Smartify is a premium, third party-audited and verified, urban panel and retail media network that enables global brands, local businesses, and agencies to connect to defined audiences through programmatic or direct campaign activation. Smartify's platform offers a flexible, scalable and accessible way to advertise in America's top markets and consumer marketplaces.
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This award is a testament to Smartify’s focus on innovation and operational excellence; and reflects the significance of both the programmatic digital out-of-home channel within the advertising ecosystem and the growth of retail media. - Joe Kunigonis, CEO
Contacts
Debbie Williams, SVP, Marketing, Smartify, debbie@smartifymedia.com