Online ads can be frustrating for everyone involved. For users, they’re often intrusive, irrelevant, and disrupt the browsing experience. For advertisers, the challenge is just as real - ads are frequently ignored or blocked, making it harder to connect with the right audience and deliver meaningful results.
Pie is here to change that dynamic. With a customizable ad blocker that rewards users with cashback and innovative tools that make shopping more engaging, Pie creates a unique win-win: users enjoy a better experience, and advertisers build loyalty while driving real conversions.
We caught up with Chris Arreguin, Chief Revenue Officer at Pie, to dive into Pie's mission to transform online advertising, and what makes their approach so unique.
Let’s get to know Chris, Chief Revenue Officer at Pie
I started my journey in affiliate marketing nearly 20 years ago. Early on, I walked into a startup office in LA, resume in hand, for a job I found on Craigslist - without any advance notice. To my surprise, they hired me. That company was Savings.com, where I learned the ropes of affiliate marketing and helped the company grow, eventually getting acquired by Cox Target Media. After that, I co-founded Eckim (Definitivedeals.com), which we grew and sold to Coupons.com.
Not long after that exit, I joined Honey as employee #4, where I had the privilege of building out the partnerships team and shaping our monetization strategy before the company was acquired by PayPal in early 2020.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to learn so much and connect with incredible thought leaders and mentors in the affiliate space, including some standout individuals at Awin. I'm truly grateful for this close-knit community.
What drives Pie: fixing a broken system for consumers and advertisers alike
The idea for Pie (People's Internet Experiment) came to life after realizing how broken online advertising had become, giving neither consumers nor advertisers any choice.
So we made it our mission to rebuild the internet, putting people back in control.
For consumers, we “cut them a slice of the pie” by offering rewards for engaging with ads. We started with a free ad blocker that puts users in control of their online experience, then added Rewards for Ads, letting them earn a fair share for opting into ads they approve. This combats ad fatigue and allows users to see brands with fresh eyes. We also built the fastest auto-apply coupon tool for thousands of stores and a cashback program that works seamlessly with the ad blocker.
For advertisers, we address a big pain point: the current ad model eats into their profit margins. Our solution connects them with a motivated, previously unreachable audience - for a fraction of what they’re paying to big ad platforms.
With Pie, advertiser benefit from
- Enhanced engagement: By rewarding consumers, Pie creates an environment where users willingly engage with ads, leading to higher-quality interactions.
- Improved ROI: With lower costs and direct access to a motivated audience, advertisers see a greater return on investment compared to traditional platforms.
- Stronger brand loyalty: Pie’s loyalty program fosters positive relationships, encouraging repeat engagement and long-term customer retention.
The moments that make it all worthwhile
The validation we've received in just a few months since launching has been incredibly rewarding: Just eight weeks in, we had already partnered with over 6,500 brands and attracted more than 600,000 users across platforms.
The support we've received from advertisers, networks, agency partners, and even other publishers has been incredible. Everyone understands that solving ad blocking benefits the whole industry.
Looking ahead: what’s next for Pie
We understand the importance of upper-funnel traffic, which is why we prioritized the Instant Rewards feature from the start. We’ve just begun testing campaigns, and the results so far have been incredibly promising. And yes, we’re rolling out even more exciting features for our partners in 2025 - so stay tuned!
The partnership with Awin
The support we've gotten in launching on the platform over the past few months has been amazing. Awin has always been a trusted partner throughout my career, and their account and support teams really know how to find win-win opportunities for advertisers and publishers alike. They've done a great job connecting us with brands where we can make a real impact. It's been an awesome experience, and we're super excited for Awin ThinkTank in May.
If you're ready to partner with Pie, just email us them at partners@pie.org and send over an invite to join them on Awin (PID: 1694221).
There are no setup fees, and they will prioritize getting you onto their platform. Plus, if you're looking to boost your exposure as the holidays approach, ask about their upper-funnel campaigns to offer consumers instant rewards for visiting your site.
