The Problem
Venues have screens. Local businesses want to advertise. But there was no easy way to connect them — no Airbnb for digital signage.
Existing solutions were either enterprise-only (expensive, complex onboarding) or too basic (no marketplace dynamics, no revenue sharing). We needed something in between.
What We Built
PiAds.co is a full marketplace platform that connects:
- Venues (bars, gyms, salons, lobbies) that have screens
- Advertisers (local businesses) that want to reach those audiences
Core Features
- Screen Management: Venues register screens, set availability, and manage content playlists
- Ad Marketplace: Advertisers browse available screens by location, audience, and pricing
- Content Scheduler: Automated ad rotation with time-slot booking
- Revenue Dashboard: Real-time earnings tracking for venue owners
- Ad Builder: Simple tools for advertisers to create content that fits screen formats
The Tech Stack
| Layer | Technology |
|---|---|
| Frontend | React, Next.js |
| Mobile | React Native |
| Backend | Node.js |
| Database | PostgreSQL |
| Cloud | AWS |
| Media | Cloudinary for asset management |
| Payments | Stripe Connect (marketplace payouts) |
Key Technical Challenges
1. Real-time Screen Sync
Screens needed to update content in real-time without manual intervention. We built a lightweight player app that polls for schedule changes and transitions between content smoothly.
2. Marketplace Pricing
We implemented dynamic pricing based on screen location, time slot, and audience metrics. Venues set base rates, and the platform handles the marketplace economics.
3. Revenue Splitting
Using Stripe Connect, we automated the 75/25 revenue split — venues keep 75% of ad revenue, and PiAds takes 25% as the platform fee.
Results
- Platform launched and processing real transactions
- Multiple venues onboarded with active screens
- Advertisers running campaigns on local screens
- Venue owners earning passive revenue from their existing hardware
What We Learned
- Start with one side of the marketplace: We onboarded venues first, then attracted advertisers. Trying to build both sides simultaneously doesn't work.
- Hardware is hard: Every screen is different. We built a flexible player that adapts to various resolutions and aspect ratios.
- Keep the MVP tight: V1 had just three features — register a screen, buy an ad slot, play content. Everything else came after validation.
Could We Build Something Like This for You?
If you have a marketplace idea, a SaaS concept, or a platform that connects two sides — we've done it. And we can do it fast.
#1a1a1a]">[Book a call and tell us your idea.
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