Hivebrite, a leading community and engagement platform, has raised a $37 million Series B funding round. This latest funding highlights the growing demand for Hivebrite's product and its leadership in the community-building industry. Quadrille Capital led the round, alongside existing investor Insight Partners, and angel investor Edward Filippi. The new capital will fuel Hivebrite's continued platform innovation and expand its global team to further support its customers.

Convinced of the transformative power of online communities to share knowledge and opportunities, unite around a cause, or build a deeper relationship with stakeholders, Founder and CEO Jean Hamon launched Hivebrite in 2015. With Hivebrite's all-in-one community engagement platform, organizations across industries can build private, fully-branded communities to achieve their strategic objectives. The SaaS platform offers world-class features and modern APIs to strengthen community engagement.

Fast forward to 2023, over 900 organizations in more than 50 countries trust Hivebrite to power their communities. Hivebrite clients include Boeing, Roche, the Obama Foundation, the National Academy of Sciences, the Aspen Institute, the University of Notre Dame, the U.S. Naval Academy, and U.C. Davis.

Jean Hamon, Hivebrite Founder and CEO, says:
"At Hivebrite, we believe in the transformative power of online communities to drive growth, accelerate change, and generate operational efficiencies. This funding reflects our continued momentum, rapid customer base growth, and the success customers experience using our platform. Our new capital will help us further strengthen our platform, especially in relation to deeper customization possibilities, smart connections between community members, and user experience. We will also expand our global team to bring even more innovation and business value to our customers worldwide."

Peter Sobiloff, Managing Director at Insight Partners, says:
"Hivebrite's remarkable growth and impact has enabled deeper customization and automation in community management while further enhancing user experience. The impact Hivebrite has had on global organizations is a testament to the company's vision and the dedicated team around it. We look forward to our continued partnership with Hivebrite as they grow and scale up."

Brice Delome, Partner at Quadrille Capital, says:
"Hivebrite is a perfect example of the companies we seek out with Quadrille's Growth Equity program. An ambitious team, building a leading product and looking to partner with global investors to address global opportunities. We are thrilled to support Hivebrite as they empower communities to thrive and maximize their social impact."

In response to the ever-increasing demand for targeted deals in the face of mounting inflation concerns, ShopLiftr is empowering retailers to capitalize on the enduring strength of retail promotions via an innovative digital ad tech solution. Accompanied by impressive results, ShopLiftr's unique dynamic creative platform is reshaping the future of circulars and digital promotions, providing a more efficient and effective way to drive hyperlocal sales, increase foot traffic, and deliver significant value to shoppers.

Retail flyers and promotions are not fading away; however, they are undergoing a pivotal shift from print to digital. Considering that more than 8 in 10 shoppers frequently check circulars for weekly grocery deals, and a staggering 81% of shoppers conduct online price checking before buying, the relevance and influence of digital in-store promotion amplification becomes evermore apparent.

Despite some signs of stabilizing inflation, 94% of American consumers expect the higher cost of groceries to persist. As a result, price continues to be a significant factor for shoppers, with 67% stating that it influences their choice of a go-to large retailer. In response, deal hunting has become mainstream, with nearly half of consumers shifting to merchants offering greater discounts and deals in the past year. This presents a significant opportunity for retailers to provide tailored value and cost-savings to consumers to attract them to add products from their stores to their shopping lists.

ShopLiftr understands that the key to success lies in effectively leveraging the digital ad space. By harnessing the largest proprietary database of active trade promotions in North America, ShopLiftr enables retailers and brands to deliver targeted deals and flexible messaging directly to consumers via dynamic display and video ads. Through hyperlocal trade promotion amplification, ShopLiftr ensures that consumers receive the most relevant and enticing deals based on their location and preferences – in real-time. This approach enhances the shopping experience, drives increased foot traffic and boosts in-store sales.

The results speak for themselves. ShopLiftr's dynamic ad solutions have proven to be highly effective, with a retail grocery partner experiencing a remarkable 19% increase in foot traffic. Likewise, a leading consumer goods brand witnessed an impressive 28% upswing in foot traffic, thanks to the tailored and impactful digital display and video ads provided by ShopLiftr.

"Digital flyer amplification and dynamic ads are more than just buzzwords at ShopLiftr. They're revolutionizing the retail ad industry," said Ian Clark, VP of Sales at ShopLiftr. "By integrating cutting-edge technology and data insights, we help retailers and brands engage their customers in a more effectual way, with superior results."

ShopLiftr remains at the forefront of this transformative shift in retail advertising, pioneering digital flyer solutions that drive engagement and deliver measurable results. With a focus on driving hyperlocal sales, ShopLiftr offers a high-impact solution for retailers and brands in various product categories to successfully respond to the surge of deal-seeking consumers and generate proven results.

• Generative AI Labs to accelerate development of industry AI solutions with Infosys Topaz and Google Cloud generative AI technologies

• Infosys will train 20,000 practitioners on Google Cloud's generative AI technologies and launch Generative AI Labs to develop industry solutions and accelerate business transformation

Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced that it is expanding its alliance with Google Cloud to help enterprises build AI-powered experiences leveraging Infosys Topaz offerings and Google Cloud's generative AI solutions.

As part of the expansion, Infosys will create the new global Generative AI Labs to develop industry-specific AI solutions and platforms, which will help enterprises infuse generative AI into their business processes. Infosys will also train 20,000 practitioners on Google Cloud's gen AI solutions, including Vertex AI and Duet AI in Google Workspace, to ensure organizations have the professional services expertise and resources to successfully develop, implement, and manage any type of generative AI project.

This alliance between Infosys and Google Cloud builds on Infosys' existing data, analytics & AI expertise on Google Cloud. Infosys is actively working with Google Cloud to develop a suite of transformative AI platforms and industry solutions for a range of business scenarios, including Consumer AI, autonomous supply chain, autonomous marketing, anti-money laundering and customer services transformation. A wide range of its existing platforms and solutions are being enhanced with Infosys Topaz and Google Cloud generative AI capabilities. These include Infosys Live Enterprise Application Management Platform, Infosys Applied AI Platform, Infosys Customer Intelligence Platform, Infosys Data Streams, and Infosys Supply Chain AI Platform among others.

The joint capabilities will help create a strong foundation for enterprises towards AI-enabled transformation. For example, Infosys Topaz and Google Cloud generative AI recently helped a leading consumer goods company in successfully launching an AI Twin to assist in real time planning of marketing spend, promotion, and product supply across markets. In another case, for a major telecommunications company, Infosys built a new data and AI capability on Google Cloud to drive growth through digital channels and support the end-to-end customer journey from prospecting to servicing. Infosys AI-powered solutions use insights to improve customer experience, drive sales, and redefine client's digital business strategy for long term success.

Salil Parekh, CEO, Infosys, said, "Infosys has been long making investments in the AI space. We are leveraging generative AI to deliver transformative business solutions as well as integrating it in many of our offerings to accelerate productivity. The combined strength of Google Cloud's generative AI capabilities, Infosys Cobalt, and Infosys Topaz will help enterprises transform and future-proof their business, built on strong digital, cloud, and next-generation AI capabilities."

Thomas Kurian, CEO, Google Cloud, said, "Generative AI is fundamentally changing how businesses operate, from enabling supply chain managers to operate more sustainably to helping marketers more efficiently create campaigns. Through our expanded partnership with Infosys, we will give our mutual customers the resources and skills needed to use generative AI today to create real-world value for their organizations."

Bringing generative AI to Infosys platforms

Infosys has a long history of helping customers transform with Google Cloud's data analytics and AI. Now, Infosys will work with Google Cloud to develop a suite of gen AI platforms, leveraging the strength and expertise of Infosys Topaz and Infosys Cobalt in enabling business transformation for enterprises. Together, Infosys and Google Cloud's generative AI capabilities will solve large and complex problems with emerging technology solutions across both business and technology domains.

Arity IQ^SM, one of the largest driving behavior databases tied to claims is now widely available to Google Cloud auto insurance customers to price more accurately at time of quote

Arity, a leading mobility and data analytics company, today announces that the Arity IQ^SM network and attributes dataset are now available in Google Cloud’s data exchange, Analytics Hub.

Google Cloud’s auto insurance customers can now more accurately price insurance policies at time of quote by using driving behavior history. By having access to this data, insurers are able to increase pricing sophistication, improve profitability, and grow their book of business.

With access to the Arity IQ^SM network in Google Cloud’s Analytics Hub, insurance carriers can:

• Enhance owned datasets with comprehensive driving behavior data through Arity’s Drivesight® Score or specific driving attributes within Google Cloud’s privacy-safe environment.
• Analyze and segment customers at time of quote to increase pricing sophistication.
• Deliver personalized experiences with more accurate quotes to customers at new and renewed business.

“We’re excited to bring the Arity IQ^SM network to Google Cloud’s insurance customers,” said Gary Hallgren, Arity’s president. “We’re not only expanding the reach of one of the world’s largest driving behavior databases tied to claims, but we’re helping insurers price more competitively at time of quote.”

Arity uses privacy forward methods for secure and safe data storage, including encrypting data at rest and in transit and by making the data available within Google Cloud’s Analytics Hub, carriers can access the data in a privacy-safe environment.

“Google Cloud Analytics Hub provides Arity’s customers with an efficient, secure platform to exchange data and combine their business data with third-party insights,” said Yolande Piazza, Vice President of Financial Services at Google Cloud. “With the addition of the Arity IQ^SM network, our insurance customers can increase value for their business while providing more accurate prices based on how their customers behave behind the wheel.”

Access the world's most extensive library of Lottie animations, or bring your team's private library to Canva in just a few clicks.

LottieFiles, the world's leading platform for Lottie animations, proudly announces it is teaming up with Canva, the world’s only all-in-one visual communication platform, to give Canva users free access to more than 100,000 ready-to-use animations. This integration, a global first, melds LottieFiles' extensive animation library with Canva's unparalleled design platform, giving Canva users the ability to transform their static designs by leveraging the emotive and storytelling power of motion like never before.

The LottieFiles app for Canva isn't just another integration; it's a revolution in the design landscape led by motion.

With the LottieFiles app for Canva, users can access:

• Over 100,000 free, ready-to-use animations: Canva users will have access to animations with hundreds added daily for every industry and every use case.
• Customizable animations to match any brand: Each animation is transparent and background-free that can fit any color palette.
• ‘Tiny but Mighty' file format: Lottie animations, which are six times smaller than GIFs, can now be natively used in Canva. This gives users high quality animations with faster load speeds.
• Access private animations from the LottieFiles platform: Organizations and teams can bring their Private Lottie Library into Canva.

Redefining Creative Boundaries Beyond Static Designs

Serving over 6.5 million designers and developers globally and endorsed by teams from over 275,000 organizations, LottieFiles is no stranger to the design world.

“Our mission at LottieFiles has always been to empower Creators to bring elements of joy into their creations; this integration is a significant stride in that direction. Combining Canva's easy-to-use design platform with the power of Lottie creates a dynamic duo experience like never before," said K Minglani, Co-Founder and CEO of LottieFiles.

The LottieFiles app for Canva emerges as a testament to the transformative power of animation, seamlessly blending intuitive design with rich customizations. It allows users to inject motion and powerful storytelling into their creations. As Canva emphasizes its dedication to simplifying design processes while heightening visual impact, this collaboration with LottieFiles is a testament to that commitment.

“The integration with LottieFiles brings powerful new creative possibilities when creating presentations, videos, whiteboards and more in Canva. Canva aims to make design accessible by integrating the world's best content and technology into one simple platform. By partnering with LottieFiles, we're ensuring that users can effortlessly tap into the captivating appeal of motion graphics,” said Anwar Haneef, Head of Ecosystem at Canva.

Driven by Seedtag's Contextual AI technology, Contextual Audiences allow marketers to activate accurate and scalable targeting to reach their ideal audience

Seedtag, the leading global contextual advertising company, has launched its advanced Contextual Audiences powered by its proprietary Contextual AI technology, Liz. With the launch of Contextual Audiences, Seedtag is providing advertisers with a new targeting capability that empowers them to engage with modern consumer interests without relying on personal data. Contextual Audiences effectively address the hurdles of reach, scale, and privacy that advertisers commonly encounter with the coming deprecation in third-party tracking cookies.

In response to advertisers' rapidly evolving and diverse needs, Seedtag's new contextual audience groups precisely meet each campaign's unique requirements while respecting user privacy. Powered by Liz's real-time analysis of web content, Seedtag ensures relevant and up-to-date audiences that evolve based on Liz's network insights. This enables advertisers to target audiences based on the content they're currently consuming rather than their past behavior. By activating Seedtag Contextual Audiences, brands can target precise interests rather than broad stereotypes, capturing their target audience's attention and engaging them at the optimal moment to maximize campaign effectiveness.

Seedtag offers brands many ways to connect with their audience:

• Signature Audiences: These audiences have predefined configurations, offering advertisers distinct options for specific verticals and across markets. Additionally, they allow for a certain level of customization to accommodate specific advertiser preferences. Signature audiences examples include "Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Advocates" or "Eco-conscious Consumers".
• Seasonal Audiences: These audiences focus on specific temporal events marked by a specific timeframe. This revolutionary approach builds upon the foundation of Signature Audiences, amplifying their effectiveness through timely precision. An example of a seasonal contextual audience would be "Black Friday Consumers".
• Custom Audiences: Some campaigns demand a level of specificity that signature audiences might not fulfill. For such scenarios, Seedtag has harnessed Liz's capabilities to build a campaign-specific machine-learning model that precisely matches the client's brief. This model analyzes every URL and provides a score based on the most relevant content to help connect brands with a niche audience.

With our advanced Contextual AI technology, Seedtag is revolutionizing digital marketing by providing brands with accurate and scalable targeting methods while protecting user privacy," said Brian Danzis, US Managing Director at Seedtag. "Our audiences, built without the need for cookies, are fresh and relevant, based on regular signals from our AI's network level analysis of content trends; it's this unique approach that's driving better campaign performance than signature, stale third-party data segments."

The introduction of Contextual Audiences showcases Seedtag's sustained commitment to providing comprehensive and flexible solutions that align with advertisers' changing needs. As the advertising landscape continues to evolve, Seedtag continues to deliver cutting-edge AI technology to help brands excel in their campaigns.

Industry-first initiative will help publishers accurately understand their carbon footprint and set net-zero targets

Sharethrough, one of the top global independent omnichannel ad exchanges, today announced the launch of the Net Zero Publisher Program. Developed in partnership with measurement company 51toCarbonZero (51-0), this unique initiative aims to help publishers gain an accurate understanding of their carbon footprint, allowing them to set net-zero targets and take tangible actions that will have a positive impact on the digital media industry.

For publishers who choose to participate in the program, Sharethrough will cover measurement costs for the first year, in alignment with Ad Net Zero's measurement methodology recommendations. In addition, 51-0 will provide tailored measurement and guidance on effective actions towards Science Based Target (SBTi) approval and net-zero commitment. Publishers committed to measure and eventually achieve net-zero emissions will also have the ability to join Sharethrough's Path to Net-Zero Marketplace, which will allow advertisers to prioritize spend on sites certified to be working towards net-zero emissions. These publishers will benefit from free measurement for the first year and better positioning among media agencies and brands, ultimately providing the opportunity for more advertising revenue. IPG Mediabrands is one of the early endorsers of the program.

"IPG Mediabrands is proud to be an anchor partner in Sharethrough's latest initiative, bringing more awareness and improved sustainable solutions to the entire digital advertising and media ecosystem," said Martin Bryan, Global Chief Sustainability Officer of IPG Mediabrands. "At IPG Mediabrands, we're committed to improving the sustainability of advertising and supporting the Net Zero Publisher Program which helps accelerate the availability of SBTi-approved media inventory by 2025. We're proud to recognize Sharethrough as the go-to advertising exchange helping publishers, agencies and brands alike achieve this goal."

Over the last 18 months, more and more brands have asked agencies and media partners to aid their efforts in achieving net-zero goals. But while brands, agencies and other ad tech players have launched strong sustainability initiatives, publishers have been falling behind, mainly due to lack of opportunities and economic pressures. Sharethrough hopes the Net Zero Publisher Program will allow publishers to better grasp their carbon footprint which will in turn help advertisers achieve their sustainability goals.

"Sharethrough's Net Zero Publisher Program aligns perfectly with our goals of building a cleaner, more sustainable advertising ecosystem," said Ben Skinazi, Chief Marketing Officer at Sharethrough. "The program creates a turnkey way for publishers to set and achieve net-zero carbon emissions, without initial measurement costs, which will have a lasting impact on the larger industry as well as our bottom line."

"Our data shows that six out of ten U.S. internet users are more inclined to visit websites that are certified sustainable," said JF Cote, CEO of Sharethrough. "The Net Zero Publisher Program allows publishers the opportunity to achieve that certification in a cost-effective, third-party validated way. The Net Zero Publisher Program is another strategic addition to our offerings, and represents our commitment to taking tangible actions to help publishers and the overall advertising industry understand and mitigate the impact digital ad campaigns have on the environment."

"Hearst Newspapers is fully committed to sustainable practices and is proud to partner with Sharethrough to further our shared dedication to a greener future. Our dedication to a more sustainable ecosystem aligns with our strategic pillars, as responsible environmental stewardship is an integral part of our business," said Michael Irenski, VP, Programmatic Revenue, Hearst Newspapers.

Former Head of Product + Engineering Continues to Lead Catch+Release’s Marketplace Tech Innovation on AI-Powered Content Licensing

Catch+Release, the content licensing marketplace for brands and creators, today announced the promotion of Jim McCollom to the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) from Head of Product + Engineering. As a seasoned innovator and strategic leader with a deep technical background, McCollom will continue to drive Catch+Release's marketplace capabilities to meet the needs of large to mid size brands and protect content creators through fair compensation..

McCollom brings a wealth of experience gained from his prior positions, including Vice President of Cloud Engineering at DataStax, Director of Platform Engineering at Lending Club, and Software Development Manager at Amazon. In each of these roles, he consistently achieved exceptional results, contributing significantly to the success of these renowned, growing companies that deliver unique customer value.

Over his 20+ year career, McCollom has demonstrated a remarkable ability to grow and retain top talent engineering teams. He has cultivated a product and engineering-centric culture firmly grounded in modern development techniques. His career highlights include shaping technological strategies, leading high-performing teams, and consistently delivering customer-centric solutions on time and within budget, spanning industries from fintech to healthcare.

"Jim has been an integral part of our leadership team, and his dedication to driving innovation has been exceptional. His vision, combined with his commitment to elevating Catch+Release as an industry leader, has resulted in groundbreaking products and features, such as our industry-leading AI search. It's an exciting time in our industry, and with Jim's leadership, we're confident that we'll continue to maintain our position at the forefront of the content licensing world," said Analisa Goodin, CEO and Founder, Catch+Release.

"I'm very honored to take on the role of CTO at Catch+Release. The journey we've embarked upon together has been nothing short of remarkable. I'm incredibly grateful to be part of a team that consistently drives tech innovation, making it possible for us to provide our customers and users valuable solutions in the ever-changing content licensing landscape. As we navigate through the headwinds of innovation, I'm excited about the path ahead, and I'm committed to continuing to advance our mission and deliver pioneering solutions," said McCollom.