Pocketmath, a small adtech company with around 21 employees, has ceased operations and effectively laid off its entire workforce after failing to secure a buyer. The shutdown, confirmed in early 2021, followed allegations of unpaid bills and lawsuits from partners like Smaato and Pulsepoint, which claimed hundreds of thousands in owed payments. Operating for about a decade, Pocketmath provided programmatic mobile ad technology and had raised $20 million from investors including Rakuten. The closure highlights the intense competition in the adtech industry, where smaller firms struggle against giants like Google and The Trade Desk, leading to consolidation and financial strain.
