Hailr: Pioneering Gamified Advertising for a Digital Age

Hailr didn’t start as a standalone product.

It was born out of necessity within Sea Monster, where the team noticed a recurring problem. Brands and agencies wanted interactive, engaging experiences—but the process was slow and expensive.

As co-founder Ynze de Jong explains, “We were receiving briefs that demanded speed and flexibility we simply couldn’t deliver within Sea Monster. That’s when we realised there was an opportunity to build something different.”

This realisation led to the creation of Hailr, a gamified digital advertising platform.

Launched in 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the platform was designed to bring faster, more cost-effective solutions to market while ensuring brands could still create meaningful connections with their audiences.

Launching a business during a global pandemic came with its own set of hurdles, but Ynze reflects on the experience with a sense of gratitude. “Starting in 2020 wasn’t easy,” he says, “but in a way, the timing worked in our favour. We were able to focus entirely on product development without the distractions of normal business pressures.”

The Role of Customers in Shaping Hailr

Hailr’s evolution has been driven largely by customer feedback. “Coming from a gaming background, we knew how to build for engagement,” Ynze admits. “But we didn’t know much about the marketing and advertising world.”

This learning curve became an advantage. The team worked closely with clients to understand their needs and adapt the platform.

One of the key innovations born from this collaboration was Hailr’s self-service feature. “It was our customers who showed us exactly what they needed. They didn’t just tell us—they brought insights we couldn’t have gained otherwise.”

Listening to customer needs has shaped much of Hailr’s growth and continues to drive innovation within the platform.

Gamification as a Game-Changer

At its core, Hailr challenges the traditional nature of advertising.

Ynze sees most ads as one-sided experiences that demand attention but offer little in return. “Think about it—billboards, podcast ads, social media ads—they’re all asking for something from the user, but they’re not giving anything back,” he says.

Hailr challenges traditional advertising methods by focusing on gamification.

Through interactive experiences, brands can engage their audiences in meaningful ways. Interestingly, the platform has seen high engagement not just among younger demographics but also from users aged 40 to 60. “Gaming is becoming universal,” Ynze notes. “The idea that it’s just for younger people is outdated.”

The platform’s success is evident in the numbers.

Over 70% of traffic converts into engaged users, who spend more than five minutes on average during their first session and return organically four or more times. To date, Hailr has distributed over $1 million in rewards, helping hundreds of thousands of users engage with brands in a more interactive way.

Looking Ahead

Hailr is gearing up for the launch of its newest feature, Hailr Express, which will allow users to configure and launch campaigns directly online. “We’re really proud of this solution,” Ynze shares. “It’s been a long time coming, and we can’t wait to see how it performs in the market.”

Ynze’s advice to founders looking to innovate is simple: embrace what you don’t know. “When we started, we didn’t fully understand the marketing world. But we didn’t let that stop us. If you stay focused on your users and their needs, you’ll find a way to make it work.”

Hailr’s journey is a testament to the power of listening, adapting, and creating value. From its roots in Sea Monster to becoming a standout platform in gamified advertising, Hailr continues to redefine what it means to engage an audience.

To learn more, visit hailr.app.