Hunch

High-Level Overview

Hunch is a technology company specializing in a creative performance platform that automates creative and media workflows for paid social advertising, using AI to drive revenue uplifts for modern marketers.[5][2] It serves brands, agencies, and media teams by unifying creative production, media buying, and insights across platforms like Meta, helping them test creatives faster, reduce CPA, and boost ROAS—evidenced by case studies showing up to 77% CPA decreases, 126% ROAS increases, and over 1 billion automated creatives launched for clients like Qatar Airways and Wavemaker.[5][2] Originally seed-funded in 2016, it appears to have overcome early challenges to achieve global leadership in data-driven social commerce marketing, with strong growth momentum in AI-powered ad optimization.[1][2]

Origin Story

Hunch was founded in 2017 by Siggi Rakovic and Igor Simovic, along with a small team of creative technology pioneers based in Los Angeles and Belgrade.[2] Starting as a local team with ambitious goals, they focused on building robust technology for automating creatives on social platforms, iterating through testing, expansion, and hiring experts in engineering, design, and marketing.[2] Early traction came from nifty tech foundations that evolved into scalable AI solutions, propelling Hunch to generate over a billion automated creatives and serve global brands, marking a pivot from seed-stage startup (noted as "Dead" in older records) to a thriving platform.[1][2]

(Note: A separate, unrelated Hunch from 2007 focused on product recommendations and was acquired by eBay in 2011; this profile centers on the active ad tech company.[3])

Core Differentiators

• AI-Powered Creative Automation: Generates and tests over 1 billion creatives, automating workflows on paid social for faster testing and optimization without operational headaches, as shown in Meta Power Lift Studies lifting conversions 5.5% and branded searches 233%.[2][5]
• Unified Platform Breaking Silos: All-in-one tool combining creative production, media buying, insights, and cross-platform data (e.g., Meta, Google), eliminating platform-hopping and enabling contextual customer journeys.[5][2]
• Proven Performance Metrics: Delivers tangible results like 77% CPA reduction for Kiwi, 25% higher ROAS and €5M revenue for Vitapur, and 126% ROAS uplift for Nordbutiker, with fair usage-based pricing and no hidden fees.[5]
• Team and Culture: Diverse group of engineers, designers, marketers, and enthusiasts supports innovative, efficient growth, loved by creatives and relied on by media teams for high-stakes goals.[2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Hunch rides the wave of AI-driven advertising automation, capitalizing on the explosion of paid social commerce where brands struggle with creative fatigue, siloed data, and scaling optimizations across Meta, Instagram, and beyond.[5][1] Timing is ideal amid 2025's maturing AI ad tech market, where tools like Omneky and Amanda AI compete but Hunch differentiates via end-to-end workflows for social commerce, addressing market forces like rising ad costs and demand for ROAS in performance marketing.[1][2] It influences the ecosystem by empowering agencies and brands (e.g., Bavaria Automotive, Telenor) to automate at scale, reducing manual effort and fostering data-driven creativity that boosts industry efficiency.[2][5]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Hunch is poised to expand as AI ad platforms integrate deeper with emerging retail media and omnichannel strategies, potentially capturing more enterprise migrations from legacy vendors like Skai (formerly Kenshoo).[1][5] Trends like hyper-personalized creatives and real-time optimization will shape its path, with its billion-creatives milestone signaling scalability for global dominance. Expect evolving influence through partnerships and AI advancements, solidifying its role as the go-to for marketers automating revenue growth—turning early LA-Belgrade hustle into sustained ad tech leadership.[2]