A new name is going up over one of radio’s more closely watched technologies. GeoBroadcast Solutions is rebranding as Aktira, folding MaxxCasting, ZoneCasting, and Lazer under a single company built to sell geo-targeted FM inventory to broadcast groups.
Aktira will house GBS’ intellectual property, engineering, and commercial operations, including its three core products. MaxxCasting uses synchronized booster transmitters to fill coverage gaps within a station’s market. ZoneCasting lets stations split their coverage into geographic zones and air different commercials in each zone during the same break, on any existing FM radio. Lazer adds synchronized visuals and QR codes to compatible in-dash displays and matches listener responses back to the zone and spot for attribution.
ZoneCasting units can be sold directly or to programmatic buyers through private marketplace and programmatic guaranteed deals, running through a station’s existing ad systems. Aktira says the combination is the first integrated platform for creating, selling, and measuring over-the-air advertising.
Under its new model, Aktira will supply broadcasters with the equipment needed to deploy its systems at no upfront capital cost, sharing instead in the new ad revenue the platform generates. The company is also moving to enterprise agreements with broadcast groups that prioritize markets and standardize terms, rather than evaluating stations one at a time, and says it is in discussions with several of the country’s largest radio operators. Aktira is raising new equity and debt capital to fund that model and speed deployment.
MaxxCasting has been completed or initiated in more than 15 deployments, including in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Boston, adding an estimated 13 million incremental listeners, according to the company.
The rebrand follows the FCC’s full implementation of its FM booster geotargeting rules in July 2025, which allow stations to originate up to three minutes per hour of unique content on their boosters.
Ken Shapiro is leading Aktira’s commercial strategy and go-to-market efforts, while Louis Santor oversees financial strategy and capital planning. Quire and Jason Anderson are advising on strategy and capital. GBS’ existing team remains in place.
Aktira lead investors Jennifer and Brian White said, “GeoBroadcast Solutions spent years building the technology, intellectual property and regulatory approvals. Aktira turns those assets into a business built to scale. With Ken Shapiro, Louis Santor, Quire and Jason Anderson joining the team, we are adding commercial and financial depth to build on that foundation. MaxxCasting, ZoneCasting and Lazer give broadcasters more listeners, new inventory and meaningful new revenue.”
