AdLarge Acquires Inlet Media to Power AI Podcast Workflow Technology In-House
Podcast and audio advertising firm AdLarge has acquired Inlet Media, a creator-focused technology platform known for its AI-driven podcast workflow automation.
The acquisition marks a pivotal shift for AdLarge, which has historically relied on organic growth since its founding in 2011, and now steps firmly into a technology-first future. By bringing Inlet Media’s capabilities fully in-house, AdLarge aims to scale creator monetization, streamline operations, and offer more performance-driven solutions to advertisers across audio, video, and emerging content formats.
Although this is AdLarge’s first outright acquisition, the relationship between the two companies is far from new.
For nearly two years, AdLarge has relied on Inlet Media’s platform to:
Onboard podcast creators
Distribute audio and video content
Manage monetization workflows
Support AI-powered automation across creator pipelines
With the acquisition now finalized, AdLarge will fully own and evolve the technology that already underpins much of its operational backbone.
According to the company, the deal accelerates its transformation into a comprehensive content marketing ecosystem, designed to serve creators, advertisers, and brand partners at scale.
Who Is Inlet Media?
Born During the Pandemic, Built for the Creator Economy
Inlet Media was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic by Patrick Cedrowski and Brian Egan, at a time when podcasting and digital content creation were experiencing explosive growth.
The founders launched Inlet’s podcast automation platform in 2021, with a clear mission:
To simplify how creators distribute, manage, and monetize their content—without adding operational complexity.
By 2022, Inlet introduced AI-powered features, enabling creators and media companies to:
Automate podcast publishing workflows
Manage multi-platform distribution more efficiently
Improve monetization through smarter content handling
Reduce manual overhead across audio and video formats
These innovations quickly caught the attention of AdLarge, leading to a deep integration of Inlet’s technology across its network infrastructure.
Why This Deal Matters for AdLarge
From Sales-Focused to Technology-First
AdLarge has long been recognized as a major player in audio advertising representation, particularly within podcasting. However, the acquisition of Inlet Media signals a broader ambition: owning the technology stack that powers modern media workflows.
According to AdLarge, bringing Inlet in-house will help the company:
Expand revenue opportunities across creators and advertisers
Improve operational efficiency through automation
Deliver more data-driven, performance-focused tools
Support multimedia content beyond traditional audio
Scale faster without third-party tech dependencies
This shift positions AdLarge not just as a media sales firm, but as a technology-enabled platform company.
Deep Integration Across AdLarge and the fwd. Network
The Inlet platform is already embedded within both AdLarge and its fwd. network, powering:
Podcast onboarding
Audio and video distribution
Monetization workflows
Creator and advertiser operations
Multimedia content management
By fully acquiring the platform, AdLarge gains direct control over product development, roadmap prioritization, and long-term innovation.
Leadership Speaks: “A Major Milestone”
Cathy Csukas, CEO, AdLarge & fwd. Network
Cathy Csukas, CEO of AdLarge and the fwd. network, described the acquisition as a transformational moment for the company.
“This acquisition represents a major milestone for AdLarge,” Csukas said. “It positions us to significantly expand revenue opportunities, improve operational efficiency, and deliver more powerful, performance-driven tools for creators and advertisers alike.”
She emphasized the growing demand for integrated, data-driven solutions across the creator economy.
“Creators and advertisers demand more integrated, data-driven, and performance-focused solutions. By owning and evolving this technology together, we are building a stronger, more scalable future for our creators, our brand partners, and our entire ecosystem.”
Patrick Cedrowski Named First-Ever CTO
A New Role Reflects a New Direction
As part of the transaction, Patrick Cedrowski has been appointed Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of AdLarge and the fwd. network—marking the first-ever CTO role across the organization.
This appointment underscores how central technology has become to AdLarge’s long-term strategy.
Cedrowski highlighted the benefits of tighter integration:
“Bringing Inlet’s technology fully into AdLarge allows us to accelerate innovation, scale faster, and build a more connected, data-driven ecosystem for creators and advertisers.”
As CTO, Cedrowski will oversee:
Platform architecture
AI-driven workflow development
Product scalability
Technology alignment across brands and partners
Brian Egan Promoted to Vice President
Brian Egan, who has served as Head of Product at AdLarge since 2022, has been promoted to Vice President.
In his expanded role, Egan will:
Lead product strategy and execution
Oversee engineering and product alignment
Shape the company’s creator and advertiser technology stack
Drive innovation across audio, video, and emerging formats
Egan reflected on Inlet’s journey and its new role within AdLarge:
“Inlet was built to solve real-world problems in content onboarding, monetization, and workflow efficiency. Seeing that technology become a core pillar of AdLarge and the fwd. network is incredibly rewarding.”
What This Means for Creators
For podcast creators and multimedia publishers, the acquisition could bring several tangible benefits:
Enhanced Tools & Automation
Faster onboarding
Simplified content distribution
AI-assisted workflow management
Improved Monetization
More efficient ad placement
Better alignment between content and advertisers
Expanded opportunities across audio and video
Scalable Growth
Support for larger creator networks
Multi-format content expansion
Data-driven insights into performance
What Advertisers and Brands Stand to Gain
Brands working with AdLarge are also expected to benefit from the integration:
More accurate targeting and measurement
Performance-driven campaign tools
Access to premium creator inventory
Cross-format activation across audio, video, and emerging media
By controlling the full technology stack, AdLarge can optimize campaigns from creation to monetization, reducing friction and improving ROI.
Financial Terms Remain Undisclosed
As is common with many private acquisitions, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, industry observers note that the strategic value of owning proprietary AI-driven workflow technology likely outweighs short-term cost considerations.
A Sign of Where Podcasting Is Headed
The AdLarge–Inlet Media deal reflects a broader industry trend:
Podcasting is no longer just about audio
AI is becoming central to media operations
Technology ownership is a competitive advantage
Creator economies demand scalable infrastructure
As platforms, advertisers, and creators continue to converge, companies that own both relationships and technology are likely to define the next phase of digital media.
Final Takeaway
With the acquisition of Inlet Media, AdLarge is making a clear statement: the future of podcasting and content monetization lies in automation, AI, and integrated technology ecosystems.
By bringing proven workflow technology in-house and elevating its founders into leadership roles, AdLarge is positioning itself not just as a participant—but as a shaper of the next era of audio and creator media.
