Firsthand

Overview

Firsthand is a New York company building AI brand agents that hold consumer conversations for publishers and marketers[1]. The company developed a Brand Agent Platform that enables marketers and publishers to deploy AI-powered brand agents on their own sites and across paid media[2]. This platform operates alongside Lakebed, an AI-first data rights management tool[2]. In March 2025, Firsthand raised $26 million in funding[3]. The company's investors include Radical Ventures, FirstMark Capital, Aperiam and Crossbeam Venture Partners[4]. Firsthand was co-founded by Jonathan Heller, who serves as co-CEO and chairman, Michael Rubenstein, who serves as co-CEO, and Wei Wei, who serves as CTO[5].

Firsthand built a Brand Agent Platform that lets marketers and publishers deploy AI-powered brand agents on their own sites and across paid media, together with Lakebed, its AI-first data rights management tool. [2]

Business address: 14-50 Broadway, New York, New York, 11106. [6]

Funding history

Firsthand raised $26 million for its brand agents, as reported by Axios on March 4, 2025 and promoted on the company's own homepage. [3]

Firsthand listed Radical Ventures, FirstMark Capital, Aperiam and Crossbeam Venture Partners as its investors. [4]