About
Firsthand

Firsthand is building the AI agent platform for brands and publishers.

The current online landscape presents a stark reality for brands and publishers: limited control over audience engagement, data ownership, and content representation.

Algorithms reign supreme, dictating how information is surfaced and monetized, often at the expense of genuine connections and brand value.

But a new era dawns. The advent of AI presents a transformative opportunity: the ability to engage in real-time, one-to-one conversations with consumers, anywhere they navigate the digital world.

Imagine empowered brand ambassadors powered by AI, seamlessly weaving your message into personalized interactions. Imagine regaining control of your data and content, ensuring it reaches your audience with authenticity and impact.

This is more than new tech; it's a massive shift in how we connect and engage, and a chance for brands and publishers to regain control of their business strategy.

We're leveraging the power of AI to drive first hand connections between publishers, brands, and consumers. Our platform combines an AI-first knowledge management rights solutions with custom AI agents to distribute direct conversational campaigns that respond to a user’s in-moment need - anywhere on the web.

Our company name represents the spirit of what’s now possible in the AI era — information that flows directly between publishers, brands, and consumers, without filters, misrepresentation, or middlemen. Consumers can seek answers from the authority they’re seeking information about, while brands and publishers can learn more about their consumers needs and wants through conversation, firsthand.

Founded by digital advertising veterans and funded by AI pioneers, we’re focused on building the data and agent infrastructure that will power consumer interactions in the AI era.

Help build the AI
agent platform that transforms
consumer engagement.

Work at Firsthand

Leadership Team

Firsthand is founded and led by pioneers of digital advertising who built companies including DoubleClick, AppNexus, and FreeWheel — companies that supported an open internet.

Headshot of Jonathan Heller, CEO and co-founder of Firsthand
co-CEO, Founder,
& Chairman
Headshot of Michael Rubenstein, CEO and co-founder of Firsthand
co-CEO, Co-Founder,
& Board Director
Headshot of Wei Wei, CTO and co-founder of Firsthand
CTO, co-founder,
& Board Director
Headshot of Veronique Valcu, Head of Marketing of Firsthand
head of marketing
Head of Finance
Headshot of Sara Wallace, Founding Director of Product at Firsthand
founding director
of product

Investors and advisors

Funded by AI luminaries and advised by leading technology entrepreneurs.

Investing in people using AI to shape the future of how we live, work, and play.

Founder & CEO, Scope3
Fmr. Founder & CEO, AppNexus
(acquired by AT&T)

CEO of 1stDibs.com
Former CEO of DoubleClick
(acquired by Google)

Icon - Elements Webflow Library - BRIX Templates
Icon - Elements Webflow Library - BRIX Templates

Get started

Your AI agents.
Your consumers.
Always on your terms.

Contact us
Through Q2, we're accepting a small number of enterprise advertisers and publishers to participate in our pilot program.