Movable Ink, an AI-powered personalized content platform, has announced its expanded partnership with Braze, a leader in customer engagement. Together, they are introducing two powerful new integrations—Movable Ink Da Vinci with Braze and Movable Ink Studio with Braze for Mobile Messaging. These integrations are designed to empower global marketing teams to deliver highly personalized, multichannel experiences with greater ease, efficiency, and ROI. The addition of WhatsApp to the mix of existing mobile channels like SMS, rich push, in-app messaging, and app inbox gives marketers even more ways to connect with their audiences.

Enhanced Capabilities for Marketers

Adam Stambleck, President of Movable Ink, highlighted the significance of these new integrations: “These new integrations represent a leap forward in what's possible for marketers. By combining Movable Ink's AI-driven content capabilities with Braze's advanced customer engagement tools, we’re giving teams the power to create highly personalized experiences that drive results—with twice the speed and half the effort.”

The enhanced capabilities now available to marketers include:

• Movable Ink Da Vinci for Braze: This update to batch email leverages Movable Ink’s AI-driven technology to create personalized messages for each individual, boosting engagement. Customers are seamlessly guided into Braze’s cross-channel customer journey orchestration tools, leading to smarter and more impactful campaigns.

• Movable Ink Studio for Braze: This no-code solution integrates with Braze to use an unlimited set of data sources to personalize content in real time at the exact moment of an open. Marketers can now create dynamic, real-time content for WhatsApp, along with existing channels like email, SMS, rich push, in-app messages, and app inbox.

Easier Multichannel Engagement

Kevin Wang, Chief Product Officer at Braze, emphasized the importance of these integrations in today’s marketing landscape: “Marketers are under more pressure than ever before to deliver seamless, relevant, and timely experiences. With these new integrations, we’re making it easier for brands to meet customer expectations and drive meaningful engagement across channels.”

The partnership between Movable Ink and Braze continues to expand, enabling brands to redefine marketing excellence by integrating personalized content across multiple channels.

This expanded partnership between Movable Ink and Braze offers an exciting opportunity for marketers to deliver personalized, dynamic experiences across an even broader range of mobile and email channels. With the added integration of WhatsApp and enhanced cross-channel orchestration tools, brands can now connect with customers in more meaningful ways, driving engagement and increasing ROI.

Bending Spoons, an Italy-based technology company, has successfully completed the acquisition of US-based streaming technology company Brightcove Inc. for $4.45 per share, approximately totaling $233 million in an all-cash transaction. The acquisition, which was first announced in November 2024, solidifies Bending Spoons’ position in the streaming and digital technology sectors.

Comments on the Acquisition

Luca Ferrari, CEO and co-founder of Bending Spoons, expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition: “It’s with great pleasure, and a deep sense of responsibility, that we can now welcome Brightcove into the Bending Spoons portfolio of leading digital businesses. We look forward to learning from the current Brightcove team, and are confident that the expertise we’ve accumulated and the proprietary technologies we’ve developed at Bending Spoons will help Brightcove reach new heights. We intend to own and operate Brightcove for the long-term, providing significant value to its large global customer base for many years to come.”

This acquisition is expected to leverage Bending Spoons' capabilities in technology development to enhance Brightcove's platform, driving further innovation in the streaming and video engagement industries.

Brightcove’s Legacy and Future Under Bending Spoons

Marc DeBevoise, CEO and Director of Brightcove, shared his views on the acquisition: “Brightcove has been a successful SaaS leader for 20 years, as an early pioneer and innovator in the streaming market and now as a leading video-powered engagement platform. Brightcove’s management team and board are pleased to have delivered this valuable result for shareholders while positioning Brightcove to continue to thrive into the future as part of Bending Spoons.”

The acquisition marks a significant moment for both companies as they work to shape the future of video streaming, combining Bending Spoons' technological expertise with Brightcove’s established market presence.

The acquisition of Brightcove by Bending Spoons represents a strategic move to expand their presence and capabilities in the streaming technology sector. With Brightcove's legacy and Bending Spoons' innovative approach, the companies are poised to provide even more value to their global customers in the years to come.

StackAdapt, a leader in multi-channel programmatic advertising, has raised significant growth capital to further expand its reach and impact in the advertising and marketing technology sectors. The latest investment round, led by Teachers' Venture Growth (TVG), along with participation from Intrepid Growth Partners and four other investors, pushes StackAdapt’s total investment to over $500 million USD. This comes after Summit Partners’ $300M investment in 2022, further reinforcing StackAdapt’s position as a global leader in advertising technology.

StackAdapt’s Evolution and Core Principles

Founded in 2014 by Vitaly Pecherskiy, Yang Han, and Ildar Shar, StackAdapt was designed to address the rapidly evolving challenges faced by marketing teams. The company operates on three core principles: solving customer challenges with purpose-driven solutions, harnessing AI and automation for powerful software capabilities, and providing a seamless, self-serve user experience. These principles have propelled StackAdapt to the forefront of the industry, with the platform now empowering modern marketers across 19 global markets.

Comments on the Investment and Future Vision

Vitaly Pecherskiy, Co-founder and CEO of StackAdapt, shared his thoughts on the latest round of investment:
"The challenges marketing teams face are vast and evolving rapidly. Much of the pressure to drive growth rests on their shoulders as they work to reinvent operations and discover new ways to reach customers effectively, profitably, and predictably. To help them stay ahead of the curve, we are relentlessly focused on building the most advanced, intelligent, and automated platform to make their success inevitable. We are excited to partner with TVG and the other great investors in this round to drive growth and innovation within StackAdapt, continuing on our mission to transform how marketers use technology to create value within their companies."

Support from TVG and Intrepid

Rick Prostko, Senior Managing Director at TVG, emphasized the company’s continued growth:
“We are proud to support StackAdapt, a leading Canadian technology company, on its trajectory to becoming the global leader in AI-driven, end-to-end advertising. The company has been able to demonstrate consistent growth and profitability while building the future of advertising and marketing technology. We have been impressed by their exceptional team, visionary leadership, and relentless focus on delivering customer value.”

Mark Machin, Managing Partner and Founder of Intrepid, also expressed enthusiasm:
“Intrepid is thrilled to make StackAdapt its first investment. Vitaly, Yang, and their team have built a remarkable company that highlights the tremendous potential of AI.”

Looking Ahead

This capital raise positions StackAdapt to expand its research and development, innovate further in programmatic advertising, and extend its global presence. The company is well-poised to continue shaping the future of advertising and marketing technology.

With a focus on innovation and AI-driven solutions, StackAdapt continues to lead the way in programmatic advertising, securing both customer success and company growth. As it moves into its next phase of expansion, StackAdapt remains dedicated to transforming how marketers use technology to create value.

NoviSign, a global leader in cloud-based digital signage software, has announced a strategic partnership with BrightSign, the global market leader in digital signage media players. This collaboration enhances the flexibility and scalability of NoviSign’s solutions, combining its industry-leading software with BrightSign’s secure and reliable media players.

Highlights of the Partnership

1. BrightSign’s Industry-Leading Media Players

• Known for high-performance, reliable, and secure digital signage hardware.
• Runs on BrightSignOS™, enabling seamless connection to BSN.Cloud.
• Free BrightAuthor:connected software enhances content and player management.

2. Enhanced Digital Signage Solutions for Multiple Industries

• Combines NoviSign’s feature-rich software with BrightSign’s advanced media players.
• Suitable for retail, corporate communications, healthcare, education, and more.
• Enables effortless creation, management, and deployment of engaging digital content.

3. Leadership Insights on the Collaboration

• Gil Matzliah, CEO, NoviSign: Highlights the reliability of BrightSign hardware in delivering high-performance digital signage content.
• Misty Chalk, VP of Sales, BrightSign: Emphasizes how businesses can maximize digital signage potential with this seamless integration.

4. Seamless Integration & User-Friendly Experience

• Full compatibility across BrightSign’s product range.
• Supports interactive features like touchscreens, real-time data feeds, and IoT integrations.
• Optimized for a superior user experience.

5. Advanced Management & Monitoring Capabilities

• Real-time player monitoring and remote management.
• Self-healing playback protocols to ensure continuous operation.
• Minimizes the need for on-site management, reducing maintenance efforts.

The NoviSign-BrightSign partnership brings together best-in-class software and hardware to empower businesses with cutting-edge digital signage solutions. By leveraging NoviSign’s intuitive platform and BrightSign’s powerful media players, organizations can create immersive and high-performing digital experiences with ease.

Panopto, a global leader in AI-powered video content management solutions (VCMS) for higher education and workforce training, has announced its latest integration with Q-SYS through a newly developed Panopto Plugin. This collaboration enhances video streaming and recording management by integrating seamlessly into Q-SYS, a cloud-based audio, video, and control platform.

Highlights of the Integration

1. Panopto Plugin for Q-SYS: A Certified Solution

• Fully vetted and endorsed by Q-SYS with a Q-SYS Certified badge.
• Allows users to manage video streaming and recording directly within Q-SYS.
• Enables seamless login using Panopto credentials for quick access.

2. Enhanced Video Management Capabilities

• Users can select and connect to remote recorder instances.
• Displays connection status and upcoming recording schedules.
• Supports scheduled and ad-hoc recording sessions with start, stop, and monitoring functionalities.
• Allows session extensions to ensure uninterrupted recordings.

3. Official Launch at ISE 2025

• The Panopto Plugin, developed by Q-SYS, will debut at ISE 2025 on February 3, 2025.
• Addresses key feature requests from Panopto’s global user community.
• Enhances video recording and scheduling capabilities for high-profile projects.

4. Leadership Insights on the Partnership

• Brandon Nastoupil, COO, Panopto: Highlights the plugin’s role in simplifying workflows and improving collaboration.
• Geno Zaharie, Senior Director, Q-SYS: Emphasizes how the integration elevates customer experiences across industries.

This integration reinforces Panopto’s commitment to providing user-centric video management solutions. By combining Panopto’s AI-powered VCMS with Q-SYS’s cloud-managed AV platform, users gain a streamlined and scalable solution for managing video content in education, corporate training, and beyond.

Perion Network Ltd., a leader in advanced advertising technology, has announced the appointment of Stephen Yap as its new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). With over 17 years at Google, Yap brings extensive experience in digital marketing, data analytics, and global strategy.

Stephen Yap’s Industry Expertise

1. Google Leadership Experience

• Led sales and operations for Google’s platform business for 7+ years.
• Founded Google’s data and measurement platforms, including:
  • Google Analytics Premium
  • Google Tag Manager
  • Audience Center
  • Data Studio
  • Attribution Solutions

2. Key Contributions to AdTech

• Former Director of Sales at DoubleClick.
• Specialized in developing and commercializing marketing platforms.
• Expertise in AI-driven data analysis and omnichannel marketing solutions.

Perion’s Vision for the Future

• Tal Jacobson, CEO, Perion: "Stephen is the ideal leader as we transform into a marketing and advertising platform company. His expertise will help drive our global commercial strategy."
• Stephen Yap, CRO, Perion: "Perion is at the forefront of AI-powered marketing. Our technology will enhance efficiency, transparency, and omnichannel strategies for advertisers and agencies worldwide."

Stephen Yap’s appointment marks a strategic move for Perion as it strengthens its position in AI-powered advertising. His leadership is expected to drive innovation and accelerate growth in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Meltwater, a global leader in media and consumer intelligence, has announced a strategic partnership with Snap Inc., making it the first social listening platform to offer Snapchat-specific insights. This integration enables brands and agencies to enhance their advertising and content strategies by analyzing engagement, sentiment, and performance metrics on Snapchat.

Features of the Integration

1. Advanced Campaign Analysis

• Track engagement, reach, and sentiment of branded content.
• Generate in-depth reports on campaign performance.

2. AI-Powered Image Recognition

• Identify brand mentions, logos, and sponsorship activities in video and image content.
• Measure ROI with AI-generated tagging.

3. Optimized Content Strategy

• Analyze top-performing Snapchat content to refine marketing approaches.
• Gain insights into trends and audience preferences.

4. Competitive Benchmarking

• Compare brand performance with competitors.
• Identify opportunities to outperform industry rivals.

5. Audience Intelligence & Trendspotting

• Uncover audience interests, attitudes, and emerging trends.
• Align content strategies with real-time consumer insights.

Industry Reactions

• Ali Rana, Global Head of Revenue Partnerships, Snap Inc.:
  “Meltwater’s integration with Snapchat sets a new standard for social listening, helping brands stay competitive and engaged with their audiences.”
• Chris Hackney, Chief Product Officer, Meltwater:
  “This partnership empowers brands with deeper insights into video content performance, allowing them to craft more effective campaigns.”

With Snapchat’s growing influence in digital marketing, Meltwater’s integration ensures brands can leverage AI-powered insights to refine their content strategies and maximize campaign impact.

StreamLayer, a leader in interactive advertising solutions for live sports and entertainment, has announced its integration with Google’s programmatic advertising technology. This innovation enables media companies, sports leagues, and OTT platforms to deliver AI-driven, hyper-relevant ads during live broadcasts without disrupting the viewer experience.

How StreamLayer’s AI-Powered Ads Work

StreamLayer’s platform identifies natural breaks in live content—such as pauses between plays in football or before faceoffs in hockey—to deliver contextual ads. By combining AI-driven insights with Google’s real-time bidding technology, advertisers can now achieve:

1. Premium Ad Placement

• Serve ads during pivotal moments of the game.
• Capitalize on high-engagement scenes for maximum impact.

2. AI-Driven Audience Targeting

• Deliver personalized ads tailored to specific demographics.
• Leverage real-time analytics to optimize ad relevance.

3. Maximized ROI with Real-Time Bidding

• Ensure optimal ad placement with automated, data-driven bidding.
• Boost ad performance and increase monetization potential.

Expanding Beyond Sports: A Future-Ready Platform

StreamLayer’s technology is built for scalability, extending beyond sports to live events such as:

• Award Shows – Monetize high-profile entertainment broadcasts.
• Live Concerts – Engage audiences with interactive brand placements.
• Reality TV Events – Integrate contextual advertising without disrupting content flow.

Industry Insights

• John Ganschow, CEO of StreamLayer:
  “By merging AI-powered ad targeting with Google’s programmatic ad capabilities, we’re revolutionizing live broadcast monetization.”

StreamLayer’s integration with Google Ads marks a major advancement in live content monetization, providing advertisers with an unprecedented opportunity to engage audiences in real-time while preserving the integrity of live experiences.