
Firsthand has built the first AI-powered Brand Agent platform, transforming the way marketers and publishers engage consumers through their own AI agents, anywhere online. Operating across both owned properties and paid media, Brand Agents make a company’s expertise accessible in real time, dynamically adapting to consumers’ interests and guiding them toward the information they need to take action. Core to the Firsthand Brand Agent Platform™ is Lakebed™, Firsthand’s AI-first data and knowledge rights management system that ensures companies retain full ownership and control of their expertise. Firsthand is led by Jon Heller, Michael Rubenstein, and Wei Wei, whose previous ventures helped build the foundations of modern digital advertising. Backed by Radical Ventures, FirstMark Capital, Aperiam Ventures, and Crossbeam Venture Partners, Firsthand is now pioneering the next evolution of AI-driven consumer engagement. Firsthand is headquartered in NYC, with team members working together in-office three days a week.

Firsthand has built the first AI-powered Brand Agent platform, transforming the way marketers and publishers engage consumers through their own AI agents, anywhere online. Operating across both owned properties and paid media, Brand Agents make a company’s expertise accessible in real time, dynamically adapting to consumers’ interests and guiding them toward the information they need to take action. Core to the Firsthand Brand Agent Platform™ is Lakebed™, Firsthand’s AI-first data and knowledge rights management system that ensures companies retain full ownership and control of their expertise. Firsthand is led by Jon Heller, Michael Rubenstein, and Wei Wei, whose previous ventures helped build the foundations of modern digital advertising. Backed by Radical Ventures, FirstMark Capital, Aperiam Ventures, and Crossbeam Venture Partners, Firsthand is now pioneering the next evolution of AI-driven consumer engagement. Firsthand is headquartered in NYC, with team members working together in-office three days a week.
Product: AI-powered Brand Agent platform to create and deploy brand-specific AI agents, backed by Lakebed™ knowledge and rights management
Founded / HQ: Founded 2023; emerged from stealth Feb 21, 2024; headquartered in New York City
Funding: Series A $26,000,000 (Mar 2025) led by Radical Ventures
Founders / Leadership: Jonathan Heller; Michael Rubenstein; Wei Wei (Crunchbase also lists Sara Wallace as a founding product leader)
Marketing and publisher consumer engagement using brand-controlled AI agents and knowledge management.
2023
Technology, Information and Internet
Amount not disclosed in available summaries.
26000000
Series A participants included FirstMark Capital, Aperiam Ventures, Crossbeam Venture Partners, and named angel investors.
“Backed by Radical Ventures (Series A lead) with participation from FirstMark Capital, Aperiam Ventures, Crossbeam Venture Partners and multiple angel investors.”
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