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Kenshoo Ltd
Kenshoo Ltd — Israeli ad-tech firm founded in 2006 by Yoav Izhar-Prato and Nir Cohen, acquired by Skai in 2021 after scaling to over $100B in client ad...
Kenshoo Ltd
Kenshoo was founded in 2006 in Tel Aviv by Yoav Izhar-Prato and Nir Cohen, initially focusing on search engine marketing automation before expanding into social media and programmatic advertising. The firm's wealth origin traces to its founders' entrepreneurial backgrounds, not an inherited fortune, making it a technology company rather than a traditional family office. Kenshoo's platform served over 700 brands and agencies, covering paid search, social, and e-commerce advertising across Google, Facebook, Amazon, and other major channels. Clients included large advertisers like eBay, Skechers, and Travelocity, with operations in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The company raised over $56 million in venture funding from investors such as Sequoia Capital and Tenaya Capital before its acquisition. The firm employed approximately 500 people at its peak, with offices in Tel Aviv, London, San Francisco, Chicago, and Tokyo. In June 2021, Kenshoo was acquired by Skai (formerly Kenshoo), a move that merged its technology with Skai's analytics and media buying capabilities. No recent independent operational activity is reported post-acquisition. Kenshoo's structural differentiator was its purely technology-driven approach to advertising — not a media agency but a software provider that charged licensing fees for its algorithmic optimization engine. This model allowed it to scale without taking media margin, a distinction from traditional ad agencies and holding companies.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Middle East
Country
Israel
City
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Corporate office
Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Kenshoo and what was their background?
Kenshoo was founded in 2006 by Yoav Izhar-Prato and Nir Cohen. Yoav Izhar-Prato previously served as CEO and built the company from a search marketing startup into a global ad-tech platform. Nir Cohen contributed as a co-founder and was involved in the firm's early product development. Both sold their stakes in the 2021 acquisition by Skai (per public records).
How did Kenshoo generate revenue?
Kenshoo operated as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, charging licensing fees for its algorithmic bid management and campaign optimization platform. Unlike media agencies, it did not take a cut of advertising spend; instead, clients paid for access to the technology. This model allowed Kenshoo to scale profitably across large advertisers (per the firm's official communications).
Which investors backed Kenshoo before it was acquired?
Kenshoo raised over $56 million in venture funding from Sequoia Capital, Tenaya Capital, and other investors prior to its acquisition by Skai. Notable rounds included a $20 million Series C in 2012 and a $15 million Series D in 2014 (per Crunchbase, historical records).
What was the explicit cause of Kenshoo's acquisition by Skai?
The acquisition was announced in June 2021, with Skai combining its own analytics and media buying platform with Kenshoo's programmatic advertising technology. The stated rationale was to create a unified omnichannel marketing platform that could handle search, social, and e-commerce campaigns in one system (per Skai press release, June 2021).
Does Kenshoo still operate as an independent entity?
No. Following the 2021 acquisition by Skai, the Kenshoo brand was retired and its technology was integrated into the Skai platform. The standalone company no longer exists (per Skai, 2021).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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