Aarki is an AI-powered technology company that develops advertising solutions to drive revenue growth for mobile app developers, publishers, and brands. It provides a full-service platform that uses AI and deep learning to find and engage audiences, offering services for user acquisition and re-engagement through programmatic campaigns, creative optimization, and data-driven targeting. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Aarki CEO Aman Sareen to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Aman Sareen’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Sareen said:
“I’ve spent my career at the intersection of adtech, growth, and strategy—building and scaling businesses, solving complex challenges, and turning opportunities into results. Before joining Aarki, I co-founded and led ZypMedia (acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group), where we built a demand-side platform from the ground up, processing over $200 million in media transactions annually. Prior to that, I held key product and strategy roles at companies like Apsalar, YuMe, and Inadco, shaping the future of programmatic advertising and real-time bidding.”
“When I took over as CEO of Aarki, the company was at a crossroads. Some doubted whether we could turn things around, but I believed in the team and in the strength of our platform. Fast forward to today, Aarki has expanded its global footprint, powering app growth for top brands across markets worldwide. Our AI-driven approach and deep expertise in programmatic advertising continue to set new standards in mobile marketing.”
“At the core, my background is about building, learning, and pushing forward, no matter the challenges. And that’s exactly what we’re doing at Aarki—driving innovation, delivering performance, and shaping the future of in-app advertising.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Sareen shared:
“Aarki has been a key player in mobile programmatic advertising for more than a decade, but in the past two years, we’ve completely redefined what our product can do. When I stepped in as CEO, we didn’t just iterate—we tore the product down to its core and rebuilt it. The goal was to create something more powerful, more efficient, and truly differentiated.”
“In a world where GenAI and Large Language Models (LLMs) predict text completions with every prompt, we’ve applied a similar predictive approach to user engagement. Just as these models anticipate the next word, we decode how users navigate across apps. This behavioral intelligence is a goldmine for advertisers, enabling hyper-personalized re-engagement strategies that anticipate user needs before they arise.”
“That approach is paying off. Our platform has delivered performance at scale across North America, APAC, and EMEA, earning recognition on AppsFlyer’s Performance Index for Retargeting for two consecutive years.”
“We’re not just running retargeting campaigns—we’re optimizing every bid and impression with Deep Neural Networks (DNN), Supervised-AI, and creative innovation. Right now, my focus is on ensuring that we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in retargeting and user acquisition.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Sareen reflected:
“One of my favorite things about working at Aarki has been proving people wrong—again and again.”
“At every stage of our journey, there were critics who said, “Good luck with that,” doubting whether we could break through the competition, scale, or even stay relevant in the cut-throat adtech industry. But every time, instead of discouraging us, those doubts only fueled the team even more.”
“Whether it was rebuilding the company, navigating industry shifts, or setting new benchmarks for performance, we never backed down. Instead, we focused on what we do best—leveraging AI, data, and creativity to drive real results. Today, Aarki stands stronger than ever, and we’re just getting started.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Sareen explained:
“Aarki is a demand-side platform (DSP) built to drive performance on our three pillars: AI-powered platform, a privacy-first approach, and a unified creative strategy. With a dedicated global-scale data infrastructure processing billions of ad requests daily, Aarki empowers app marketers to acquire, engage, and retain high-value users with precision and scale. This infrastructure enables our proprietary AI models to analyze vast amounts of data to refine bidding, targeting, and creative decisions, ensuring maximum efficiency.”
“At the core of our AI capabilities is Supervised-AI – a system that blends machine intelligence with human expertise, much like an Iron Man suit. This allows us to make highly accurate predictions while keeping strategic control in human hands. With DNN, we predict user behavior and optimize campaigns for long-term value.”
“Aarki’s privacy-first approach ensures compliance with rapidly evolving regulations while maintaining high campaign efficiency through privacy-preserving techniques. Our unified creative strategy bridges data and design, enabling us to deliver highly personalized and engaging ad experiences that drive conversions. We also leverage custom product pages and dynamic product ads to create tailored experiences that enhance engagement.”
“In the end, marketing without measurement is like flying blind. With incrementality testing, we can isolate the true impact of retargeting, ensuring that every marketing dollar drives real growth. At Aarki, we don’t just give you wings—we build the radar to ensure you land exactly where you need to be.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Sareen and the team face in building the company? Sareen acknowledged:
“Absolutely. Challenges in adtech aren’t new, but the pace of change has accelerated. Privacy regulations are tightening, signal loss is real, and big walled gardens want to squeeze everyone out. When we went independent, some people thought we’d crumble. Instead, we doubled down. We strengthened our AI and leaned into what makes Aarki different—our ability to optimize every impression with precision.”
“People think retargeting is dead. But here’s what they don’t see—globally, app downloads are going down. Retention will fuel growth and bring in revenue. Retargeting is the key to unlocking this growth. We weren’t relying on the old ways of retargeting. We were already moving towards AI-driven, privacy-first strategies.”
“Instead of depending solely on deterministic IDs, we built models that could predict user intent with incredible accuracy, using contextual signals, behavioral patterns, and deep learning. Our supervised AI gave us an edge, combining machine intelligence with human oversight to fine-tune every campaign.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Sareen noted:
“A little throwback—Aarki had acquired a ton of data infrastructure early on. Instead of letting it collect dust or endlessly patching it, we put it to work. That foundation helped us build Deep Neural Networks, a model that learns and improves with every campaign. But tech never stands still, and neither do we.”
“When we launched Aarki 2.0, we did something radical—we tore everything down and rebuilt it from scratch. Most companies iterate, layering fixes over old systems. We refused to do that. We saw the cracks, the legacy constraints, and the limits of outdated systems. So, we started fresh—re-architecting our AI, redesigning our models, and building a future-proof DSP. Every line of code was rewritten with one goal: performance at scale, without relying on outdated identifiers.”
“We move fast, test constantly, and learn from what doesn’t work. That’s the culture. It’s not about clinging to old wins but continuously refining and evolving. And with a team of brilliant minds from across the globe, we stay ahead of the curve and we’re always building what’s next.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Sareen cited:
“First of all, it was Aarki 2.0 that has been a game-changer for us, redefining our approach to AI-driven advertising. We relaunched at MAU Vegas, expanding our capabilities beyond our traditional focus on gaming apps to now support non-gaming apps as well.”
“Following this, one of our biggest achievements has been the opening of Aarki Labs in Bangalore. This new hub, built on India’s rich talent pool, accelerates product innovation, marketing growth, and collaboration with global app developers.”
“We’re also scaling up hiring in China, tapping into another tech powerhouse to fuel our growth and expand our reach. With Aarki 2.0, along with our expanded global presence, we’re set to continue pushing the boundaries of mobile programmatic advertising, offering transformative solutions for app developers worldwide.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Sareen about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“Aarki has helped a wide range of apps—from gaming to e-commerce to food delivery—drive measurable growth with AI-powered retargeting. Here are a few standout success stories:
Food & Drink App: 75% Drop in CPA, 12.3M Reactivations
This food delivery app wanted more customers without skyrocketing costs. Using Deep Neural Networks, we identified high-intent users and served personalized retargeting ads. The campaign led to a 75% decrease in CPA and 12.3 million user reactivations, making it a recipe for success.
APPS: Achieved 2X ROI in 6 Weeks
A top mobile game publisher in Turkey needed to re-engage past players and increase revenue. We implemented Supervised-AI segmentation, creative optimization, and smart bidding, building high-value user cohorts based on inactivity and engagement patterns. The campaign drove a 60% drop in cost per purchase (CPPr) and doubled ROI in just six weeks.
Across industries, Aarki’s combination of AI-driven segmentation, predictive bidding, and dynamic creative optimization continues to deliver strong performance, proving that retargeting—when done right—still works.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Sareen affirmed:
“Everyone’s talking about AI, but not all AI is created equal. What sets Aarki apart is Supervised-AI.”
“Here’s why that matters: Pure AI, left unchecked, can lead to black-box decision-making, model drift, and performance volatility. We’ve seen how over-reliance on AI without human oversight can create inefficiencies, misinterpret intent, or fail to adapt to real-world nuances. That’s why we don’t just let AI run wild—we train it, fine-tune it, and guide it with real-world insights to ensure precision, transparency, and sustained performance.”
“And it’s not just about AI; data is the fuel that makes it work. Aarki’s unmatched data infrastructure powers our DNN. Instead of relying on outdated identifiers, we analyze contextual signals, engagement patterns, and first-party data to build high-intent audience segments, delivering scale without compromising user privacy.”
“In a world where AI hype often overshadows real performance, Aarki’s approach is different: We optimize, we refine, and we never lose sight of what actually drives results.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Sareen emphasized:
“Aarki’s future goals are clear: to be the best in retargeting while strengthening our capabilities in user acquisition.”
“We’ve built a reputation as a leader in retargeting, with a deep understanding of high-LTV segmentation, creative personalization, and AI-driven bidding. But growth doesn’t stop there. The real edge comes from doing both user acquisition and retargeting at the highest level.”
“Many DSPs focus on one or the other, but advertisers need both—seamlessly connected. That’s where Aarki is heading. We’re ensuring that whether an advertiser is acquiring new users or re-engaging lapsed ones, they get the best results possible.”
“It’s not about being everything to everyone—it’s about doing what we do best, and doing it at a level that puts us right on the heels of the biggest adtech players in the market.”
