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.

Outbrain Inc. has completed its acquisition of Teads, merging their branding and performance advertising solutions under the Teads name. This transformative deal establishes one of the largest optimized supply paths for the premium open internet, connecting advertisers with curated media environments through AI-driven, data-enhanced creative experiences.

What This Means for Advertisers & Media Owners

The new Teads platform will empower advertisers with:

1. Expansive Reach & Direct Access

• 96% open internet audience reach across premium environments.*
• 10,000+ media partnerships with direct publisher relationships.
• 50 billion monthly CTV ad opportunities, including exclusive homescreen inventory.

2. AI-Powered Predictive Advertising

• 1 billion predictions per minute for optimized ad performance.
• 50 live AI models processing 4 billion signals per minute.
• Teads Omnichannel Graph (OG) extends audience targeting into the CTV landscape.

3. Data-Driven Creative Solutions

• Beautiful, high-impact ad formats optimized for audience engagement.
• 74% higher attention rates for unique CTV native creatives.
• Seamless storytelling across screens—from CTV to premium editorial content.

Industry Leaders on the Merger

David Kostman, CEO, Teads:
"This merger bridges a major industry gap—creating a scaled, end-to-end platform that delivers results from awareness to conversion across screens."

Jeremy Arditi, Co-President & Chief Business Officer, Teads:
"By prioritizing creative excellence, trust, and measurable outcomes, we’re building a stronger, more transparent advertising ecosystem."

Sital Banerjee, Global Head of Media, Lipton Teas & Infusions:
"This merger unlocks new ways to engage audiences with full-funnel solutions and improved business outcomes."

The newly formed Teads is set to redefine omnichannel advertising, offering AI-driven, full-funnel marketing capabilities across premium content and CTV environments. This marks a major step forward in scaling open internet advertising while delivering superior audience engagement and brand outcomes.

Rakuten Advertising, a leader in affiliate marketing, has announced a strategic partnership with Marcode to enhance brand protection against link hijackers, fraudsters, and trademark infringers. This collaboration aims to safeguard brand keywords and improve security across Rakuten Advertising's publisher network.

Highlights of the Partnership

1. Advanced Fraud Detection with Marcode

• Marcode’s Brand Protection module detects fraudulent affiliates and link hijacking attempts.
• Uncovers affiliate details hidden within deceptive websites.
• Identifies and bypasses link cloaking platforms for greater transparency.

2. AI-Powered Anomaly Detection

• Uses AI-driven search intelligence to monitor niche subnetworks.
• Enhances detection of anomalies in difficult-to-track affiliate activities.
• Accelerates takedown of fraudulent affiliates to protect advertisers.

3. Multi-Layered Protection for Advertisers

• Complements Rakuten Advertising’s partnerships with AdPolice and The Search Monitor.
• Provides flexible, tailored protection services to meet advertiser needs.
• Ensures the integrity of affiliate programs with continuous monitoring.

Industry Insights

• Nick Stamos, CEO of Rakuten Advertising, emphasized the need for varied protection solutions tailored to different advertisers.
• Andy Cooney, Co-Founder of Marcode, highlighted Marcode’s advanced fraud detection capabilities and commitment to stamping out affiliate fraud.

This partnership reinforces Rakuten Advertising’s commitment to securing its network, ensuring advertisers can operate with confidence. With Marcode’s AI-powered tools, affiliate fraud detection and prevention reach new heights, setting a benchmark for brand protection in the affiliate marketing industry.