Captiv8, the leading influencer marketing platform for enterprise brands, has announced a strategic partnership with Perplexity for Startups to enhance its platform with advanced AI capabilities. The collaboration integrates Perplexity's Sonar models into Captiv8's workflow, transforming influencer campaign planning, execution, and reporting for brands and agencies worldwide.

By embedding AI-powered features directly into the platform, Captiv8 now offers faster insights, smarter decision-making, and stronger campaign performance, all within the platform's secure environment. This innovation enables clients to unlock the full potential of influencer marketing, significantly improving campaign outcomes.

Reimagining Campaign Intelligence with AI

Managing influencer campaigns involves navigating countless variables—from creator discovery to mid-flight optimization. Captiv8 recognized a key challenge: clients were spending too much time analyzing data or relying on external tools. With 60% of marketers planning to use AI to improve campaign results, Captiv8 responded by integrating AI directly into its core workflow with Perplexity's technology.

Krishna Subramanian, Co-founder & CEO of Captiv8, said,
"With Perplexity, we've built an intelligent co-pilot into the Captiv8 experience. It's not just about saving time—it's about unlocking creative potential and achieving better results."

Smarter Tools, Embedded in Workflow

The partnership introduces a suite of AI-powered features that streamline every stage of campaign execution. By using Perplexity's Sonar models, Captiv8 has enhanced its platform with tools that simplify the influencer marketing process:

1. Creator Vetting & Justification: Perplexity's Sonar API analyzes creator data (demographics, engagement, tone) and instantly generates justifications for brand-fit, saving clients hours of manual work.

2. AI Assistant: Clients can ask natural language questions like, "Which creators over-index with Gen Z in France?" or "Why did engagement dip on Day 3?" and get immediate, actionable answers.

3. Brand Safety Scoring: Captiv8’s Media Safety tool flags unsafe content and assigns a risk score, helping clients make informed partnership decisions with Sonar's real-time web research.

4. Automated Wrap Reports: Sonar’s advanced reasoning model compiles post-campaign summaries, combining key metrics, insights, and takeaways into polished reports—delivered in minutes instead of days.

All these tools are seamlessly integrated into Captiv8's user interface, eliminating the need for external data exports or third-party tools. The integration with Perplexity ensures that all campaign data remains private and protected with secure, zero-day retention.

Impact: Speed, Precision, and Results

The integration of AI has already delivered measurable results for early adopters. Brands and agencies have reported faster planning cycles, more precise targeting, and higher ROI. Tasks that once took days—such as influencer discovery or report generation—now take just minutes. AI now enables teams to identify trends, address performance dips, and optimize content on the fly, driving real-time improvements and long-term success.

Subramanian added,
"Thanks to Perplexity and their Startup program, we're providing clients with capabilities they've never had before. AI is no longer a buzzword—it's become the engine behind how our customers work and win."

A New Standard for AI in Marketing Workflows

Taz Patel, Head of Advertising at Perplexity, stated,
"Captiv8 is setting a new standard for AI in marketing workflows. By embedding our technology directly into campaign execution, we're helping brands make smarter, faster decisions that translate into more dollars flowing to creators and measurable impact in social commerce. It's an exciting step forward for the ecosystem."

With this partnership, Captiv8 continues to cement its position as a leader in influencer marketing innovation. The integration of Perplexity's AI tools is helping brands and agencies navigate the rapidly evolving influencer landscape with ease, unlocking new opportunities for growth and engagement.

Akeneo, a leader in Product Information Management (PIM), conducted a U.S. consumer survey to explore how AI impacts online shopping experiences. The study reveals an optimistic, yet complex, relationship between consumers and AI-driven features like recommendations and chatbots. With nearly one-third of consumers making purchases based on AI suggestions, brands have a significant opportunity to enhance product experiences and build trust through transparent and personalized AI implementations.

1. AI's Growing Role in the eCommerce Product Experience

• 75% of respondents have encountered AI-driven recommendations or chatbots while shopping online.

• 44% of those consumers engaged with the technology.

• 32% completed a purchase based on an AI recommendation, and 84% of them were satisfied with their decision.

• AI is being used across multiple stages of the customer journey to enhance experiences.

2. Where Consumers See AI Adding Value

• 37% noticed improved product recommendations.

• 33% experienced faster customer support.

• 31% benefited from more accurate search results.

• 28% observed enhanced product information and descriptions.

• 27% noticed improved AI summaries of customer reviews.

These figures indicate that consumers are increasingly recognizing AI’s role in refining their overall product discovery and decision-making processes.

3. The Future Potential of AI in Retail

• 42% of consumers expect faster and more accurate customer support from AI in the future.

• 39% look forward to more precise recommendations.

• 37% expect deeper personalization aligned with their preferences.

• Businesses have the opportunity to boost customer satisfaction and reduce product returns by ensuring that eCommerce product data is accurate, real-time, and AI-enhanced.

4. Transparency, Trust, and Chatbot Adoption

• Trust remains a concern—only 45% of consumers somewhat trust AI-powered recommendations and chatbots.

• Satisfaction with chatbots is low—only 38% of users reported satisfaction, and a mere 14% were very satisfied.

• 43% of respondents believe brands are not transparent about data usage, and 30% are uncertain about transparency levels.

• Despite trust issues, 49% of consumers are open to continuing purchases with brands using AI to enhance the experience.

The survey underscores a growing yet cautious optimism among consumers regarding AI in eCommerce. While AI significantly enhances product discovery and personalization, retailers must prioritize transparency and trust to maintain consumer confidence. Businesses investing in AI must align innovation with clear communication to build stronger, long-lasting relationships with their customers. The path forward lies in integrating AI with ethical, customer-centric strategies that respect privacy while elevating the product experience.

Influencer marketing is evolving beyond basic brand awareness. To address today’s challenges of capacity, cost, and complexity, Endlss has launched Endlss Copilot the first AI-powered influencer workflow and management platform. Built for growing brands, this all-in-one solution helps lean teams run high-performing influencer campaigns by automating execution, increasing personalization, and driving real revenue without the enterprise overhead.

1. Solving the Modern Influencer Marketing Challenge

• Influencer marketing today demands ROI, not just reach.

• Marketers are constrained by time-consuming tasks and fragmented tools.

• Endlss aims to empower brands to operate like large enterprises with fewer resources.

2. Features of Endlss Copilot

• AI-Powered Personalization at Scale
  Generates tailored outreach messages in the brand's voice, customized per creator based on performance, audience, and interests.

• Unified Workflow Platform
  Manages the full campaign lifecycle: influencer discovery, outreach, content coordination, gifting, payments, and tracking—all in one place.

• Smarter Attribution Tools
  Replaces coupon codes and vague tracking with “Smarter Links” for precise data on every click, conversion, and commission.

• Human-Centric AI Support
  Automates the busywork but keeps creative and strategic control in human hands, helping teams stay focused on big-picture growth.

3. Real-World Impact and Testimonials

• No Rivals, a fast-growing DTC brand, streamlined its influencer process using Endlss.

• With automated gifting, real-time analytics, and personalized AI engagement, the platform saved the brand hours of manual work each week.

• Endlss has helped them manage high-volume interest without sacrificing quality or oversight.

4. The Broader Significance in MarTech

• Creators are now seen as ROI-driving partners, not just brand ambassadors.

• Tools like Endlss align influencer programs directly with sales outcomes.

• The platform’s clean UX, AI-driven features, and competitive pricing position it as a powerful alternative to bloated legacy tools.

5. Experienced Team Behind the Product

• Developed by the creators of Penny AI, a sales enablement platform used in 70+ countries and supporting global brands like Rodan + Fields and Nu Skin.

• The team brings over a decade of experience building for digital marketers, creators, and commerce professionals.

Endlss Copilot is more than just another influencer tool—it’s a reset for the industry. By automating admin work, personalizing outreach at scale, and tying campaigns directly to revenue, Endlss empowers modern brands to build authentic creator relationships and scale without friction. As influencer marketing shifts towards measurable growth, Endlss is purpose-built to meet the moment.

Experiential marketing is a fast-growing segment of the advertising landscape, expected to hit $57 billion by 2027. Yet despite soaring budgets and strong consumer interest, the industry suffers from a critical flaw: a lack of standardized, data-driven measurement for success. Recognizing this void, CrowdAxis officially enters the market with a breakthrough solution its Experiential Power Index (EPI)™. This proprietary metric aims to redefine how brands measure, compare, and optimize their experiential investments.

1. The Measurement Gap in Experiential Marketing

• Brands invest heavily in experiential campaigns—pop-ups, festivals, in-person events—but face challenges in quantifying their real-world impact.

• Traditional measurement methods fail to link brand alignment or emotional response to tangible ROI.

• Without a standard framework, marketers rely on disjointed data points, making campaign comparisons difficult and optimization nearly impossible.

2. What is CrowdAxis and the EPI Score?

• CrowdAxis is the first intelligence firm focused exclusively on experiential marketing analytics.

• The EPI Score (Experiential Power Index™) provides a unified, data-backed metric for evaluating engagement, sentiment, recall, and conversion.

• Built on proprietary algorithms and multidimensional data collection, the EPI offers a single number to summarize event effectiveness.

3. Why the EPI Score Is a Game-Changer

• Standardization Across Experiences
  Enables marketers to compare diverse event formats—concerts, sports events, pop-ups—using a unified scoring model.

• Comprehensive Insights
  Measures attendee engagement, emotional response, brand recall, and conversion potential with advanced analytics.

• Optimized Investments
  Helps brands identify high-performing activations and cut back on underperformers, driving smarter budget allocation.

• Business-Outcome Alignment
  Provides actionable intelligence that links marketing experience quality directly to business KPIs.

4. Founders’ Vision and Industry Need

• Alicia Richardson, Co-Founder, highlights the core issue: millions spent on brand experiences often rely on incomplete or anecdotal data.

• The EPI score changes this by delivering reliable, data-driven insights.

• Keri D. Richardson, Co-Founder, emphasizes that the EPI enables apples-to-apples comparisons across event types—a first for the industry.

5. Implications for Brands and Agencies

• Brings clarity to an industry long operating in a measurement vacuum.

• Agencies can now prove impact with standardized metrics, improving client reporting and retention.

• Enables strategic planning by forecasting potential outcomes based on historical EPI data from similar activations.

As experiential marketing matures, the need for precise, comparative, and actionable performance metrics becomes critical. CrowdAxis, with its pioneering EPI score, offers a long-overdue solution that transforms experiential activations into measurable, scalable business drivers. For brands seeking to validate their marketing spend and optimize their event strategies, the EPI is poised to become the gold standard.

As digital marketing and public relations become increasingly interlinked, partnerships between top-tier agencies can amplify impact in powerful ways. Reshift Media, a leading digital marketing firm specializing in franchise growth, has officially named Ripley PR its public relations agency of record. With a proven track record in B2B and franchising, Ripley PR is poised to boost Reshift’s visibility in the competitive U.S. market.

This strategic partnership reflects a growing trend: the alignment of niche expertise across digital and communications channels to support brand expansion and deepen industry authority.

1. Why This Partnership Matters Now

• The U.S. is a key market for franchise growth and brand awareness, especially for Canadian-based companies like Reshift Media.

• Reshift’s existing clients and future prospects will benefit from greater brand recognition, trust, and media exposure in the American franchising landscape.

• With public relations playing an increasingly essential role in multi-channel digital strategies, this partnership strengthens Reshift’s full-service offering.

2. A Perfect Match of Philosophy and Expertise

• Shared Franchise Focus: Both companies specialize in the franchising space—a unique and complex business model requiring tailored communications and marketing strategies.

• Aligned Business Models: Both agencies value independent operation, strategic customization, and deep domain knowledge, creating a natural synergy.

• Mutual Respect for Reputation: Reshift CEO Steve Buors noted Ripley PR's industry reputation as unmatched, positioning them as the ideal PR partner.

3. Reshift Media’s Role in the Franchise Marketing Ecosystem

• Offers a full suite of digital services: social media marketing, website development, SEO, and proprietary software tailored to franchisors.

• Recognized globally with accolades such as:

  • Best Marketing Franchise Firm – Global Franchise Awards (3 consecutive years)

  • Entrepreneur Top Franchise Supplier – Repeatedly recognized, #1 in 2024

• Serves over 200 brands across 22 countries, with solutions that scale across geographies and franchise structures.

4. Ripley PR’s Award-Winning Approach to Franchise Communications

• Founded in 2013 with a focus on B2B, franchising, home services, and manufacturing.

• Known for crafting targeted PR campaigns that resonate with franchise buyers, corporate leadership, and business media.

• Earned distinctions such as:

  • Newsweek’s America’s Best PR Agencies (2024)

  • Entrepreneur Top Franchise Supplier

  • 2025 Merit Awards – Best Communications/PR Agency

5. Strategic Advantages for Franchise Brands

• Cross-Functional Excellence: By combining digital execution with media relations, franchise brands receive comprehensive, high-impact support.

• U.S. Market Penetration: With Ripley PR’s deep media connections and storytelling acumen, Reshift’s value proposition will resonate more strongly in the U.S.

• Integrated Growth Strategies: PR efforts now work in tandem with digital campaigns to support lead generation, brand equity, and client retention.

In today’s increasingly complex marketing landscape, the most successful franchise brands are those supported by specialized, synergistic agency partnerships. With Reshift Media and Ripley PR joining forces, franchise systems in North America and beyond stand to benefit from a best-in-class blend of digital marketing, strategic storytelling, and industry know-how. This collaboration not only amplifies Reshift’s authority in the U.S. but also signals a broader evolution in how franchise marketing and PR are executed—more aligned, more strategic, and more impactful than ever.

As the global e-commerce ecosystem continues to expand, platforms face a growing challenge in managing the risk associated with high-violation product categories. Recognizing this need, LegitScript, a leader in merchant and product monitoring, has unveiled a comprehensive benchmarking program for e-commerce marketplaces. This initiative aims to equip platforms with comparative insights on policy enforcement and risk mitigation, helping them grow securely in a highly regulated digital commerce environment.

Through a combination of automated data analysis, risk scoring, and human verification, LegitScript delivers a unique view into the compliance performance of over 20 global e-commerce platforms, offering a first-of-its-kind industry benchmark.

1. The Purpose Behind Benchmarking

• Assess Risk in High-Violation Categories: LegitScript focuses on product verticals most likely to involve regulatory or policy infractions.

• Compare Against Peers: Clients can evaluate how their marketplace performance stacks up against industry leaders and laggards.

• Make Data-Backed Policy Decisions: With clear performance indicators, platforms are better equipped to evolve internal policy and compliance strategies.

• Enhance Confidence for Growth: Strong risk governance becomes a competitive advantage in scaling e-commerce operations safely.

2. Methodology and Risk Coverage

• The benchmark includes analysis across categories that typically draw regulatory attention:

  • Controlled substances

  • Prescription-only medications

  • Cosmetics and supplements

  • Tobacco, vape products, psychoactives

  • Weapons and firearms

• Risk levels are analyzed globally, allowing for regional comparisons and trend recognition.

• Proprietary scoring models and human verification ensure accurate classification and contextual understanding.

3. Findings from Initial Benchmarking

• 80% Lower Violation Rates on Monitored Platforms: Platforms using LegitScript's monitoring reported dramatically fewer infractions.

• Millions of Products Assessed: The scale and depth of the analysis cover both niche and large-scale e-commerce players.

• Highlights where risk control makes a measurable difference, especially in categories prone to abuse or evasion.

4. Most Frequently Violative Product Types

LegitScript uncovered a pattern of problematic products that dominate risk profiles across marketplaces:

• Weight loss drugs: Acxion, Terfamex, Redotex

• Anabolic steroids: Testosterone, Oxandrolone

• Sexual enhancement drugs: Tadalafil, Sildenafil

• Skin whitening creams: Goree Beauty Cream, Arche Pearl Cream

• Tainted supplements: Royal Honey VIP, Detoxi Slim, Ligandrol

These products are often linked to regulatory violations due to mislabeling, undisclosed ingredients, or illegal distribution.

5. Seller Evasion Tactics Identified

Sellers frequently employ creative methods to evade detection. LegitScript’s benchmarking identified the top strategies used across platforms:

• Deliberate misspellings: e.g., T4dalaf1l instead of tadalafil

• Blurring product images to evade visual detection algorithms

• Misleading categorization: Listing meds under “home goods” or “cosmetics”

• Bundling violative items with legal ones to confuse detection systems

• Coded language usage: Terms like “Candyland” for pill molds or paraphernalia

Understanding these tactics allows platforms to proactively tighten enforcement and detection protocols.

6. Why It Matters for the Industry

• Protects consumers from harmful, mislabeled, or counterfeit goods

• Reduces liability for e-commerce marketplaces

• Establishes industry standards for risk scoring and evaluation

• Provides a competitive edge to platforms that prioritize safety and compliance

LegitScript’s benchmarking program also complements its broader Platform Risk Solutions, helping clients develop a long-term risk management framework with actionable metrics.

In a time when e-commerce platforms face increased scrutiny and complex compliance challenges, LegitScript’s benchmarking program provides clarity and confidence. By evaluating millions of products across high-risk categories, the program empowers marketplaces to strengthen their risk posture, enhance trust with users, and accelerate compliant growth. As platforms vie for global reach and brand integrity, this new benchmarking capability becomes an indispensable tool for sustainable success.

In an era where consumer demands and regulatory landscapes are shifting rapidly, the need for real-time, granular product intelligence has never been greater. NielsenIQ (NIQ), the global leader in consumer intelligence, is rising to this challenge by announcing the global expansion of its Product Insights platform (NPI). Initially successful in the United States, NPI will now scale across 25 additional markets in Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America throughout 2025 and 2026.

This expansion marks a pivotal shift in how consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands and retailers can understand, track, and respond to both micro-level product attributes and macro-level market challenges, including evolving consumer preferences, inflation, regulatory changes, and tariffs.

1. What is NIQ Product Insights (NPI)?

• NPI is a powerful AI-enabled platform offering over 27,000 product-level attributes, categorized by SKU.

• Attributes include dietary claims, clean label indicators, sustainability features, and regulatory compliance markers.

• The solution resolves up to 99% of consumer queries, including:

  • Is the product GLP-1 compliant?

  • Is it gluten-free?

  • Is it made in the country of origin?

2. Why the Global Expansion Matters

• NIQ is taking its proven platform beyond the U.S. into key international markets, allowing global retailers and CPG brands to:

  • Respond to local and global regulatory changes like food additive bans and origin labeling.

  • Adapt to inflation and tariff shifts impacting product pricing and sourcing decisions.

  • Stay relevant in fast-moving markets where product innovation and consumer preferences are evolving rapidly.

3. Features and Benefits of NPI

a. Regulatory Readiness

• Real-time tracking of tariffs, labeling regulations, and ingredient restrictions.

• Ensures global compliance, helping brands navigate complex legal environments.

b. Rapid Innovation Enablement

• Identifies early-stage trends in claims, packaging, and ingredients.

• Speeds up time-to-market with data-driven insights on what attributes influence purchase decisions.

c. Hyper-Personalization

• Retailers use NPI data to:

  • Improve category management

  • Optimize shelf layouts

  • Deliver personalized shopping experiences that enhance loyalty and drive sales

4. The AI-Driven Edge

• NPI uses generative AI to turn billions of product datapoints into actionable business intelligence.

• Retailers and CPG companies can:

  • Forecast demand trends

  • Adjust product assortments in real time

  • Inform strategic decisions from marketing to R&D

5. Transforming the Industry Standard

• NPI isn't just a data tool—it’s a foundational layer in NIQ’s strategic vision to modernize global consumer insights.

• It serves as a “single source of truth” for:

  • CPG product development

  • Go-to-market strategies

  • Long-term innovation pipelines

6. NIQ’s Global Impact

• NIQ now partners with 23,000 customers globally, including many of the world’s largest brands and retailers.

• This expansion cements NIQ’s leadership in:

  • Consumer intelligence

  • Retail measurement

  • Data-driven innovation

With the global expansion of NPI, NIQ is transforming how brands and retailers understand consumer behavior—at both macro and micro levels. Whether it's navigating regulatory disruptions, responding to inflationary pressures, or decoding fast-changing consumer preferences, NPI equips companies with the intelligence they need to stay agile and competitive in a complex global retail environment.

As 2025 approaches, NIQ’s global footprint in product insights will redefine retail intelligence—turning billions of data points into strategic advantage for businesses worldwide.

In a move reflecting strong financial health and strategic confidence, ON24, the B2B intelligent engagement platform, has announced a $50 million share repurchase program. The decision, authorized by ON24’s Board of Directors, highlights the company’s focus on delivering long-term shareholder value while reinforcing its position in the intelligent engagement and marketing automation landscape.

As digital transformation continues to accelerate across the B2B marketing ecosystem, ON24 is investing not only in innovation and customer success but also in shareholder returns—demonstrating a balanced approach to capital allocation.

1. Purpose and Strategic Rationale

• Board Confidence: The buyback reflects the Board’s belief in ON24’s growth trajectory, platform capabilities, and market positioning.

• Financial Strength: ON24 is funding the repurchase from its strong cash reserves, which totaled $181 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of March 31, 2025.

• Long-Term Value Creation: The initiative supports the company’s mission to build sustainable shareholder value, even amidst broader market fluctuations.

2. Share Repurchase Details

• Authorization Amount: Up to $50 million in common stock.

• Execution Methods:

  • Open market purchases

  • Privately negotiated transactions

  • Rule 10b5-1 trading plans

• Timeframe: The program is expected to span multiple quarters, providing flexibility and responsiveness to market dynamics.

• Discretionary Control: ON24 may modify, suspend, or discontinue the program at any time based on business conditions.

3. Market Context and Timing Considerations

• Stock Valuation: Share repurchase is often pursued when the stock is perceived to be undervalued, allowing the company to repurchase shares at an attractive price.

• Economic Environment: With continued market volatility and inflationary pressure, returning capital to shareholders can signal stability and confidence.

• Investor Sentiment: Buybacks are generally interpreted as a positive signal to investors, indicating strong cash flows and a focus on capital efficiency.

4. Impact on Shareholders and Capital Allocation

a. Reduced Share Count

• The repurchase will likely reduce the number of outstanding shares, potentially increasing earnings per share (EPS) over time.

b. Balanced Capital Allocation

• ON24 continues to invest in its product roadmap, customer success, and go-to-market strategy.

• The repurchase aligns with a strategy that balances reinvestment for growth and shareholder returns.

c. Reinforced Market Confidence

• By signaling financial discipline and long-term vision, ON24 reinforces its credibility with institutional and retail investors.

5. ON24’s Market Position and Outlook

• As a leader in B2B intelligent engagement, ON24 powers interactive webinars, virtual events, and content experiences for leading global enterprises.

• The platform's AI-powered insights and marketing automation capabilities give businesses the tools to generate and convert demand more efficiently.

• With continued digital acceleration, ON24 is well-positioned to expand its value proposition across marketing, sales, and customer success functions.

ON24’s $50 million share repurchase program is a strategic move that reflects the company’s confidence in its platform, leadership, and financial future. At a time when many companies are tightening capital deployment, ON24 is leveraging its robust balance sheet to deliver shareholder returns while continuing to innovate in the high-growth B2B engagement market.

This initiative not only signals financial discipline but also reaffirms ON24’s commitment to sustainable value creation as it navigates an evolving digital marketing landscape.