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Joe Zawadzki

Operator

Joe Zawadzki is currently CEO at Aperiam Ventures, the venture platform he founded in 2015 to back and build emerging companies across the advertising and marketing technology landscape. He is best known as the co-founder and longtime CEO of MediaMath, widely credited with helping define and scale the demand-side platform category from its founding in 2007 through 2023. He also serves as Chairman of Collective Audience and previously held the CEO role at Audigent, reflecting his continued hands-on engagement with the next generation of data-driven advertising businesses.

Last updated Jun 6, 2026 by the ATDb Editorial Team

Role
CEO
Company
Aperiam Ventures
Based
New York, New York, United States
Boards
3
Connections
5
Years in industry
20 years

Bio

Joe Zawadzki is currently CEO at Aperiam Ventures, the venture platform he founded in 2015 to back and build emerging companies across the advertising and marketing technology landscape. He is best known as the co-founder and longtime CEO of MediaMath, widely credited with helping define and scale the demand-side platform category from its founding in 2007 through 2023. He also serves as Chairman of Collective Audience and previously held the CEO role at Audigent, reflecting his continued hands-on engagement with the next generation of data-driven advertising businesses.

Career

  • Co-Founder & CEO

    MediaMath · 2007-2023

  • Founder & Managing Partner

    Aperiam Ventures · 2015-present

  • Chairman

    Collective Audience · 2023-present

  • CEO

    Audigent · 2023-2024

  • SVP, Products & Technology

    24/7 Real Media · 2004-2007

Board memberships

Collective Audience (Chairman)Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) — former board involvementAperiam Ventures portfolio companies

Advisory roles

Aperiam Ventures (Founder & Managing Partner)Various AdTech and MarTech startups

Expertise & education

Expertise

Programmatic AdvertisingDemand-Side Platforms (DSP)Identity ResolutionFirst-Party Data ActivationContextual TargetingData Privacy & ComplianceAdTech Venture InvestmentAudience Data Strategy

Education

  • BA, Philosophy and Mathematics, McGill University

Speaking topics

The future of programmatic advertisingIdentity resolution in a cookieless worldEthics and transparency in data-driven advertisingFirst-party data strategies for publishers and advertisersAdTech infrastructure and the open internetVenture investing in AdTech and MarTech

Recognition

Notable achievements

  • Co-founded MediaMath in 2007, one of the first and most influential demand-side platforms, helping define the programmatic advertising category
  • Led MediaMath to raise over $175 million in funding and scale to processing billions of ad impressions globally
  • Appointed Chairman of Collective Audience in 2023, continuing active industry leadership post-MediaMath
  • Held over 20 patents related to digital advertising technology
  • Named to multiple AdAge, AdExchanger, and industry power lists recognizing influence in programmatic advertising

Awards

AdExchanger Awards — recognized for contributions to programmatic advertisingInducted into various AdTech industry honor lists for innovation and leadership

Publications

  • Various op-eds and bylines in AdExchanger on programmatic transparency and data ethics
  • Contributor to industry white papers on privacy-compliant advertising standards
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