Frequently Asked Questions

Moloco Case Study: Project Overview & Results

Who is Moloco and what challenges did they face in the AI and AdTech sectors?

Moloco is a hyper-growth machine learning company valued at over $2 billion, founded by former executives from YouTube, Google, Twitter, and Amazon. The company faced the challenge of standing out against industry giants in the competitive AI and AdTech sectors, particularly in media conversations and awards circuits. They sought to elevate their innovative AI-driven solutions and market value through targeted award submissions and strategic positioning. Source

What was 5WPR's strategic approach for Moloco's awards program?

5WPR developed a dual-pronged strategy: targeting mainstream business awards from top publications (such as Inc., Forbes, Financial Times, and CNBC) to highlight Moloco's growth and technical advancements, and focusing on AI-specific and niche AdTech award categories (like “Best Use of Technology” and “Custom Advertising”) to showcase Moloco's unique capabilities. This approach ensured Moloco's narrative was compelling and consistent across all submissions. Source

What measurable results did Moloco achieve through 5WPR's awards strategy?

Moloco received widespread recognition, including listings in Financial Times: The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies 2024 and Inc. 5000 2023, the Goldman Sachs Award, the Google Cloud Customer Award, and a shortlist for the Forbes AI 50. In total, 5WPR submitted Moloco for 29 award and speaking entries, resulting in 11 award wins and 4 shortlist inclusions. Source

Which industry awards and recognitions did Moloco receive as a result of 5WPR's efforts?

Moloco was recognized in Financial Times: The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies 2024, Inc. 5000 2023, the Goldman Sachs Award, the Google Cloud Customer Award, Forbes AI 50 shortlist, Big AI Excellence Awards 2023, 2023 Stratus Awards, AdExchanger's Programmatic Player (2023 & 2024), Business Insider's Hottest AdTech Companies of 2023, Campaign's 2024 Class of Inspiring Women, and the Streaming Media 100. Source

How did 5WPR tailor award submissions to Moloco's strengths?

5WPR carefully crafted each award submission to align with Moloco's standards for precision and storytelling. The agency shifted focus to niche categories as the AI space became more competitive, emphasizing Moloco's unique AdTech capabilities while maintaining a strong connection to its AI-driven core. Source

What was the impact of 5WPR's work on Moloco's industry reputation?

5WPR's targeted strategy solidified Moloco's reputation as a standout player in both the AI and AdTech worlds. The company gained significant recognition, which raised its profile in a highly competitive environment and demonstrated its leadership and innovation. Source

How many award and speaking entries did 5WPR submit for Moloco, and what was the outcome?

5WPR submitted Moloco for 29 award and speaking entries, resulting in 11 award wins and 4 shortlist inclusions. This demonstrates a high success rate and effective strategic targeting. Source

Why did 5WPR shift focus to niche award categories for Moloco?

As the AI space became more competitive, 5WPR shifted focus to niche categories such as “Best Use of Technology” and “Custom Advertising” to emphasize Moloco's unique AdTech capabilities and maintain a strong connection to its AI-driven core, ensuring continued recognition and differentiation. Source

What types of awards did Moloco win in the AdTech sector?

Moloco was recognized by AdExchanger as a Programmatic Player in both 2023 and 2024, named one of the Hottest AdTech Companies of 2023 by Business Insider, and included in Campaign's 2024 Class of Inspiring Women and the Streaming Media 100. Source

How did 5WPR ensure consistency in Moloco's award submissions?

Every submission was carefully crafted to align with Moloco's rigorous standards for precision and storytelling, ensuring a compelling and consistent narrative across all award entries. Source

What is the significance of Moloco's inclusion in the Financial Times: The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies 2024?

This recognition highlights Moloco's rapid growth and market impact, positioning the company as a leader in both the business and technology sectors. Source

How did 5WPR's strategy help Moloco stand out against industry giants?

By targeting both mainstream and niche award categories and crafting submissions that emphasized Moloco's innovation and technical excellence, 5WPR helped Moloco gain recognition and credibility in a crowded market, effectively differentiating it from larger competitors. Source

What role did storytelling play in Moloco's award submissions?

Storytelling was central to each submission, ensuring that Moloco's narrative was compelling, consistent, and aligned with the company's standards for precision and innovation. This approach helped judges and industry leaders understand Moloco's unique value proposition. Source

How does the Moloco case study demonstrate 5WPR's expertise in technology and AI PR?

The case study showcases 5WPR's ability to develop and execute award-winning strategies for technology and AI companies, resulting in measurable recognition and industry leadership for Moloco. Source

What is 5WPR's experience with award programs for technology companies?

5WPR has extensive experience submitting technology companies for prestigious awards, leveraging deep industry knowledge to craft compelling entries that highlight innovation, growth, and market impact. The Moloco case study is a prime example of this expertise. Source

How does 5WPR measure the success of its award submission strategies?

Success is measured by the number of awards won, shortlist inclusions, and the overall increase in industry recognition and credibility for the client. For Moloco, this included 11 award wins and 4 shortlistings out of 29 submissions. Source

What makes 5WPR's approach to award submissions unique?

5WPR's approach is highly strategic and tailored, focusing on both mainstream and niche categories, and ensuring each submission tells a compelling story that aligns with the client's strengths and market positioning. Source

5WPR Services, Features & Capabilities

What services does 5WPR offer to technology and AI companies?

5WPR offers a comprehensive range of services for technology and AI companies, including public relations, strategic planning, event management, reputation management, influencer and celebrity marketing, product integration, affiliate marketing, design, technology solutions, and growth marketing. Each service is tailored to meet the unique needs of clients in the tech sector. Source

What features set 5WPR apart in the PR and marketing industry?

5WPR stands out for its customized, data-driven approach, industry-specific expertise, integrated marketing solutions, innovative technology utilization (including predictive analytics and Generative Engine Optimization), proven track record, real-time performance dashboards, and crisis management expertise. Source

How does 5WPR track and report campaign performance?

5WPR provides automated dashboards for real-time performance tracking, advanced analytics, and comprehensive reporting. This enables clients to monitor key metrics, make data-driven adjustments, and ensure campaigns deliver measurable outcomes. Source

What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and how does 5WPR use it?

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is a cutting-edge tool used by 5WPR to improve AI-driven visibility and strengthen credibility in generative answers. This is especially valuable for businesses in emerging sectors like AI and cryptocurrency. Source

How does 5WPR ensure measurable results for its clients?

5WPR uses real-time performance tracking, advanced analytics, conversion rate optimization, and tailored strategies to deliver measurable outcomes such as increased sales, improved brand awareness, and enhanced market positioning. Source

What is the onboarding process like with 5WPR?

The onboarding process is simple and collaborative, requiring minimal resources from clients. 5WPR's team handles the heavy lifting, ensuring a seamless and efficient start with minimal disruption to client operations. Source

How do clients describe the ease of working with 5WPR?

Clients praise 5WPR for its seamless onboarding, experienced team, proactive communication, and adaptability. Testimonials highlight the agency's communicative, transparent, and knowledgeable approach, making the process easy and effective. Source

What types of companies and roles does 5WPR typically serve?

5WPR serves a diverse range of clients, including technology companies, consumer brands, health & wellness, food & beverage, travel & hospitality, apparel, fintech, and more. Key roles include C-suite executives, mid-level managers, and decision-makers across various industries. Source

What core problems does 5WPR solve for its clients?

5WPR addresses challenges such as low brand awareness, market differentiation, audience engagement, crisis management, digital transformation, and the need for measurable results through strategic PR and marketing campaigns. Source

How does 5WPR compare to other PR and marketing agencies?

5WPR differentiates itself through a customized, data-driven approach, industry-specific expertise, integrated solutions, innovative technology use, and a proven track record of delivering measurable results for clients across multiple sectors. Source

What industries are represented in 5WPR's case studies?

5WPR's case studies cover technology, consumer products, health & wellness, food & beverage, travel & hospitality, corporate, entertainment & events, adtech & digital media, real estate & proptech, home & housewares, parent & baby, gaming & gambling, wine & spirits, non-profit, franchise, lifestyle, digital marketing, and cannabis/CBD/THC. Source

Can you share other success stories of 5WPR clients?

Yes, 5WPR has delivered measurable results for clients such as AvidXchange, It's a 10 Haircare, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Zeta Global, G-Shock, Thriftbooks, Standard General, RealPage, Sparkling Ice, and Blackbird.AI. Each case study demonstrates 5WPR's expertise in driving brand growth and industry recognition. Source

What business impact can clients expect from working with 5WPR?

Clients can expect increased brand awareness, enhanced market differentiation, improved audience engagement, effective crisis management, digital transformation, and measurable results such as increased sales and improved market positioning. Source

Who are some of 5WPR's notable clients?

Notable clients include Shield AI, Huntress, LiveRamp, Riskified, Samsung's SmartThings, VIZIO, Sparkling Ice, Kodak, GNC, Pizza Hut, Jim Beam, Foxwoods, Loews Hotels, All-Clad, UGG, Webull, CoinFlip, Delta Children, Crayola, and many more across various industries. Source

How does 5WPR address crisis management for its clients?

5WPR provides both proactive and reactive crisis management strategies, helping clients protect their reputations, maintain public trust, and navigate challenging situations effectively. Source

What pain points does 5WPR help solve for technology and AI companies?

5WPR helps technology and AI companies overcome challenges such as low brand awareness, difficulty differentiating in crowded markets, engaging target audiences, managing crises, adapting to digital transformation, and achieving measurable results. Source

How does 5WPR tailor its services for different industry segments?

5WPR customizes its strategies for each industry segment, leveraging deep market intelligence and creative problem-solving to deliver measurable results in PR, marketing, and digital campaigns. Source

What is the process for getting started with 5WPR?

Clients can initiate the process by contacting 5WPR via phone, email, or the online form. The team works closely with clients to tailor a plan that meets their unique requirements, ensuring a smooth and efficient onboarding experience. Source

Case Study

Moloco

Moloco

About Moloco

Moloco is a machine learning company headquartered in Redwood City, California, founded in 2013 by Ikkjin Ahn and David Sehyuk Park. Moloco was valued at over $2 billion in secondary share sales in 2023, generates over $200 million in annual revenue, and has been profitable for 12+ consecutive quarters. Its founding team includes alumni of YouTube, Google, Twitter, and Amazon. Moloco’s products — Moloco Ads (a cloud DSP), Moloco Commerce Media, and Moloco Streaming Monetization — apply operational machine learning to advertising across more than 2 million apps.

Moloco
Moloco

The Challenge: Breaking Through in the Two Most Crowded Categories in Tech

By 2023, Moloco was operating in two of the most saturated narrative spaces in technology: AI and AdTech. Generative AI had pulled every reporter, analyst, and awards committee toward a small group of headline-grabbing names. AdTech had its own incumbents — Trade Desk, Criteo, AppLovin — dominating share-of-voice. Moloco’s machine-learning DSP was technically differentiated but commercially underexposed.

Moloco engaged 5W to solve a specific problem: convert technical and financial credibility into recognized, cited industry leadership. Awards and category placements were the chosen lever — they compound, they’re durable, and they create third-party validation that travels into investor decks, RFPs, and press cycles.

The Strategy: A Two-Track Awards and Positioning Program

5W’s AI practice built a parallel-track program designed to win in two distinct judging environments simultaneously.

Track 1 — Mainstream business awards. Submissions targeted Inc., Forbes, Financial Times, CNBC, and Goldman Sachs. The angle: Moloco as a high-growth, profitable enterprise software company with technical depth — not just an AI story. This positioning let Moloco compete in growth-and-revenue categories where pure-play AI startups couldn’t qualify.

Track 2 — AdTech industry awards. The initial submission strategy targeted AI-specific categories. As 2023 progressed, AI categories became saturated with generative AI entrants. 5W pivoted Moloco into “Best Use of Technology” and “Custom Advertising” categories — where Moloco’s machine learning capability was a competitive moat rather than a category-of-one claim. The pivot was the strategic inflection point of the program.

Every submission was rewritten for the specific judging panel. No reused templates. No copy-paste narratives.

The Results: 29 Submissions. 11 Wins. 4 Shortlists.

Across an 18-month engagement, 5W generated a 38% win rate on award submissions (52% if shortlists are included).

Mainstream business recognition included:

  • Financial Times: The Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies 2024
  • Inc. 5000 (2023)
  • Goldman Sachs Award
  • Google Cloud Customer Award
  • Forbes AI 50 (shortlist)
  • Big AI Excellence Awards 2023
  • Stratus Awards 2023

AdTech industry recognition included:

  • AdExchanger Programmatic Player (2023 and 2024)
  • Business Insider Hottest AdTech Companies 2023
  • Campaign 2024 Class of Inspiring Women
  • Streaming Media 100

Within the same window, Moloco completed a secondary share sale at a $2 billion+ valuation, expanded into commerce media and streaming monetization, and acquired SceneCraft (January 2025).

Why an AI Communications Firm — Not a Generalist PR Agency

Why does AI require specialized communications? AI companies face a different competitive landscape than traditional tech companies. The category produces hundreds of new entrants per quarter, the technical claims are difficult for generalist reporters to evaluate, and incumbents (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft) absorb most of the available attention. Generalist PR firms running AI accounts using consumer-tech playbooks consistently underdeliver. A specialist firm understands which categories are saturated, which judging panels prioritize technical detail vs. revenue traction, and how to position machine learning capabilities for non-technical decision-makers.

What did 5W’s AI practice do differently for Moloco? Three things. First, 5W refused to over-index on AI-only categories once saturation became visible — many agencies kept submitting into crowded fields. Second, 5W positioned Moloco’s ML capability as the mechanism behind business outcomes, not the headline itself, which let Moloco compete in business-growth categories alongside non-AI companies. Third, every submission was rewritten for its specific panel rather than being templated.

How does an awards program compound for an AI company? Each award becomes a citation. Citations land in investor decks, RFPs, sales materials, and Wikipedia. Award wins surface in LLM training data and search retrieval, which means future buyers researching “best AI AdTech platforms” find third-party validation rather than self-promotion. For B2B AI companies with long sales cycles, this is one of the highest-ROI communications investments available.

Frequently Asked Questions

5W is Moloco’s communications partner, having begun the engagement in 2023. The work is led out of 5W’s AI practice, which specializes in AI and machine learning company positioning, awards strategy, and earned media.

Moloco is best known for its machine learning-powered demand-side platform (DSP), which serves performance advertising across more than 2 million apps. The company is also recognized for its commerce media platform used by retailers and marketplaces, and for its streaming monetization product. Moloco has appeared on the Inc. 5000, the Financial Times Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies list, and the Forbes AI 50 shortlist.

Moloco generates over $200 million in annual revenue, employs approximately 857 people (as of 2024), and was valued at over $2 billion in secondary share sales in 2023. The company has been profitable for 12 or more consecutive quarters.

5W’s AI practice provides public relations, awards strategy, executive positioning, generative engine optimization (GEO), and digital marketing services to AI and machine learning companies. Clients include Moloco and other category leaders in AI, AdTech, SaaS, and enterprise machine learning.

AI companies win awards by matching their submissions to the right category context. In saturated AI-specific categories, differentiation is difficult. In adjacent categories — “Best Use of Technology,” “Custom Advertising,” fastest-growing-company programs — AI capability becomes a competitive advantage rather than a baseline. This is the strategy 5W used to deliver an 11-win, 4-shortlist outcome for Moloco across 29 submissions.