# Uplane Raises $4.5M Seed to Automate Digital Ad Campaigns

**Author:** Zero G Talent
**Published:** 2026-11-12
**Category:** marketing
**Tags:** yc-hiring, ai, marketing automation, b2b saas, software engineering, growth operations

[Read on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/blog/uplane-raises-4-5m-seed-to-automate-digital-ad-campaigns)

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San Francisco and Berlin-based marketing platform [Uplane](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-companies/uplane) raised $4.5 million in seed funding to replace traditional ad agencies with automated software, according to reports in [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/pitch-deck-uplane-raised-funding-to-replace-marketing-agencies-ai-2026-4) and [jawlah.co](https://jawlah.co/en/53854). Play Ventures led the round, with participation from Y Combinator, 20VC, Rebel Fund, and Multimodal Ventures.

The platform automates campaign management across Meta, Google, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Its engine handles creative asset generation, landing page creation, budget allocation, and continuous optimization based on real performance metrics.

## Shortening the Ad Iteration Cycle

Former Enpal marketing director [Julius Körfgen](https://zerogtalent.com/people/julius-k-rfgen) co-founded Uplane alongside COO [Marvin Abdel-Massih](https://zerogtalent.com/people/marvin-abdel-massih), a former McKinsey consultant and Enpal executive, and CTO [Lukas Vollmer](https://zerogtalent.com/people/lukas-vollmer), a former head of engineering at Fastgen with 15 years of full-stack experience.

Speaking on the [Signal & Noise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS1loL5-tO8) podcast, [Julius Körfgen](https://zerogtalent.com/people/julius-k-rfgen) noted that traditional campaign feedback loops take months due to manual design, review, and media buying steps. Uplane reduces this testing loop to days or hours by assigning repetitive operational tasks to AI agents.

In an interview on [SaaS Club](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQZfGADRYfk), [Julius Körfgen](https://zerogtalent.com/people/julius-k-rfgen) revealed that Uplane reached seven-figure annual recurring revenue within six months of launch. The company targets clients spending over $100,000 per month on digital ads, including Deutsche Bahn, AG1, Kalshi, Wagetap, and Aonic. Clients typically report a 30% to 60% improvement in return on ad spend within six weeks.

## Expanding Teams in San Francisco and Berlin

Uplane operates with roughly 20 employees across its San Francisco and Berlin locations. To scale operations and deploy its technology for enterprise clients, the company is hiring across five open roles.

On the operations side, Uplane is hiring a [Growth Operations](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/uplane/growth-operations-113831) manager ($80,000 to $130,000) to work directly with the founders on internal structures and team scaling. The role requires fluency in both German and English.

To manage client accounts, Uplane pairs its software with dedicated strategists who guide campaign execution. In San Francisco, the startup is recruiting an entry-level [AI Marketing Strategist - San Francisco](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/uplane/ai-marketing-strategist-91103) ($100,000 to $130,000) to lead multi-channel campaigns, alongside an [AI Marketing Strategist Intern - San Francisco](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/uplane/ai-marketing-strategist-intern-san-francisco-93708) ($4,000/month).

In Berlin, Uplane is hiring a German-speaking [AI Marketing Strategist - Berlin (German Speaking)](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/uplane/ai-marketing-strategist-berlin-remote-german-speaking-96251) (€60,000 to €100,000) to oversee digital campaigns using the software, as well as an [AI Marketing Strategist Intern - Berlin (German Speaking)](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/uplane/ai-marketing-strategist-intern-berlin-remote-94434) (€2,410/month) to build ad creatives and landing pages. All positions require full-time, on-site attendance.

## Open Roles at Uplane

| Role | Location | Work Mode | Salary |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Growth Operations](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/uplane/growth-operations-113831) | San Francisco, CA / Berlin, DE | Onsite | $80,000 – $130,000 |
| [AI Marketing Strategist - San Francisco](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/uplane/ai-marketing-strategist-91103) | San Francisco, CA | Onsite | $100,000 – $130,000 |
| [AI Marketing Strategist - Berlin (German Speaking)](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/uplane/ai-marketing-strategist-berlin-remote-german-speaking-96251) | Berlin, DE | Onsite | €60,000 – €100,000 |
| [AI Marketing Strategist Intern - San Francisco](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/uplane/ai-marketing-strategist-intern-san-francisco-93708) | San Francisco, CA | Onsite | $4,000 / month |
| [AI Marketing Strategist Intern - Berlin (German Speaking)](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/uplane/ai-marketing-strategist-intern-berlin-remote-94434) | Berlin, DE | Onsite | €2,410 / month |

[See all open roles at Uplane](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-companies/uplane)

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*Source: [Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com), the job board for space, defense, AI, robotics and frontier-tech companies.*