140 Proof Review, Pricing & Features

140 Proof was a social-interest mobile ad targeting company acquired by AcuityAds in 2016. See its history, what it did, and its status today under illumin.

Category
Productivity
Pricing
custom
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2009
Headquarters
San Francisco, California, United States (historical, prior to acquisition)

What Was 140 Proof

140 Proof was an advertising technology company founded in 2009 in San Francisco, California, that specialized in social and mobile ad targeting based on users' interests inferred from social media activity.

Its core technology, sometimes referred to as a Blended Interest Graph, aggregated social signals from platforms like Twitter and Foursquare to help brands target ads and recommendations based on inferred consumer interests.

The company was acquired by AcuityAds in 2016 for up to $20 million, and its team and technology were integrated into AcuityAds' broader advertising platform rather than continuing as an independently branded product.

What It Offered Historically

140 Proof's core offering was interest-based ad targeting, using patented content-matching technology to connect brands with relevant audiences based on social data rather than traditional demographic targeting alone.

It served advertisers and publishers looking to reach mobile and social media users with more relevant ad creative and recommendations.

Following its acquisition, these targeting capabilities were absorbed into AcuityAds' platform, which itself later rebranded fully to illumin in 2023.

Current Status and Pricing

140 Proof does not operate as an independent, purchasable product today, so there is no current public pricing to report.

The 140proof.com domain redirects through pages associated with its acquirer's corporate site rather than hosting a standalone product or signup flow.

Businesses seeking similar interest-based social and mobile ad targeting capabilities today would need to evaluate illumin or other current demand-side advertising platforms directly.

Key Features

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Historically notable for pioneering interest-graph based social ad targeting in the early 2010s
  • Backed by venture investors and acquired at a meaningful valuation, indicating real market traction at the time
  • Its technology and team continued to be used within its acquirer's platform rather than being shut down outright

Cons

  • No longer operates or is sold as an independent, standalone product
  • Its official domain no longer hosts current company information or a live signup flow
  • Modern buyers cannot evaluate or purchase 140 Proof directly, only its successor platform, illumin
  • Public information about the brand is largely historical, with limited current documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

What was 140 Proof?

140 Proof was a social and mobile advertising technology company founded in 2009 that used an interest graph built from social data to power ad targeting and brand recommendations.

Is 140 Proof still an active company?

No. 140 Proof was acquired by AcuityAds in 2016, and its technology and team were absorbed into AcuityAds, which itself rebranded to illumin in 2023. It does not operate as a standalone product today.

Who acquired 140 Proof?

AcuityAds, a Canadian advertising technology company, acquired 140 Proof in August 2016 for up to $20 million.

What happened to the 140 Proof website?

The 140proof.com domain now redirects toward pages associated with its acquirer's corporate site rather than an independent product.

What is illumin, and how does it relate to 140 Proof?

Illumin is the current brand name of AcuityAds, the company that acquired 140 Proof in 2016; 140 Proof's targeting technology and team were folded into that company.

Who founded 140 Proof?

140 Proof was founded in 2009 by Jon Elvekrog and John Manoogian III.

Can I still sign up for 140 Proof today?

No. There is no current signup flow or active product under the 140 Proof name; interested buyers would need to look at illumin instead.

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