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Future introduces ‘Helix’

Future has officially introduced Helix, an audience intelligence engine designed to drive commercial outcomes for advertisers.

Future introduces ‘Helix’
Michael Peralta: “By applying data science and predictive AI to first-party data, Helix identifies the audiences most likely to deliver results and measures their impact across the full path to purchase.”

Helix moves beyond traditional audience targeting by marrying advanced data science and predictive AI with Future’s vast first-party data ecosystem, connecting brands with high-value audiences at the exact moment of purchase intent, says Future.

The result is smarter, more effective performance across a portfolio of over 175 specialist media sites and select social environments, including Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, Who What Wear, Marie Claire, GamesRadar+ and Homes & Gardens, the publisher continued.

Since launching its proprietary audience data platform Aperture in 2021, Future says it has helped connect advertisers with high-intent audiences through proprietary first-party data. The publisher says Helix marks the next evolution of this intelligence.

According to Future, Helix is powered by three core capabilities:

  • Precision - Powered by decades of editorial trust and e-commerce expertise, Helix maps real-time intent across Future’s specialist media ecosystem, reaching consumers when they are most ready to convert.
  • Prescription - By analyzing brand- and vertical-level performance, Helix recommends specific audience segments based on proven conversion behavior – often uncovering personas clients hadn’t previously considered.
  • Performance - Built into Helix is the Performance Pledge, providing early-access U.S. advertisers with a performance guarantee on Click-Through Rates (CTR), powered by an expanded measurement suite that verifies results from awareness to final conversion.

Advertisers are increasingly prioritizing certainty over scale alone. As Michael Peralta, chief revenue officer at Future, explains: “Advertisers today aren’t just looking for scale or reach — they’re looking for certainty about which audiences will actually drive outcomes. By applying data science and predictive AI to first-party data, Helix identifies the audiences most likely to deliver results and measures their impact across the full path to purchase.”

Initial testing across 20 campaigns in fashion, retail, and technology has already demonstrated Helix’s effectiveness, Future continued. These campaigns delivered double-digit increases in click-through rates, alongside meaningful improvements in return on ad spend compared to traditional approaches.

Helix is now launching in the U.S., with plans to expand into global markets at a later stage.

As the platform continues to evolve, Future says Helix is positioned to play a central role in how advertisers connect with high-intent audiences and drive measurable performance across Future’s specialist media portfolio.


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