Braze, the leading customer engagement platform empowering brands to Be Absolutely Engaging™, is now accepting applications for the fifth cohort of its Tech for an Equitable Future product grant program. This year, Braze has partnered with BET+, a premium streaming entertainment service, to enhance the support offered to underrepresented founders. Applications will be open until January 17, 2025.

1. Empowering Underrepresented Founders

• The Tech for an Equitable Future program aims to assist 20 companies led by underrepresented founders, including Black and women entrepreneurs, by providing 12 months of free access to Braze technology and resources essential for business growth and scalability.

2. BET+ Partnership Enhances Support

• In a first-of-its-kind partnership, BET+ will mentor select participants, offering guidance on customer engagement strategies and access to a branding masterclass. As a Braze customer, BET+ will mentor five program participants and provide free email advertising features in its subscriber campaigns. Jason Harvey, EVP and General Manager of BET+, emphasized the alignment of this partnership with their brand values, aiming to empower under-resourced founders.

3. Addressing Funding Disparities

• The program addresses significant disparities in venture funding, highlighting that in 2023, Black-founded startups received less than 0.5% of the total VC funding available, while women-founded companies garnered only 2.2%. Braze's initiative aims to provide foundational support to these marginalized groups, offering over $900,000 in annualized product value to startups this fiscal year.

4. Program Eligibility and Benefits

• To qualify for the grant, applicants must be located in APAC, EMEA, or North America, have underrepresented founders, be bootstrapped or have less than $30M in VC funding, employ fewer than 100 staff, and possess compatible SDK and resources. Selected businesses will receive:
  • Free access to Braze’s Core package, including platform access, SDKs, APIs, and a comprehensive messaging package.
  • Onboarding services and over 25 hours of educational content.
  • A dedicated Customer Success Manager and access to digital community spaces for networking.

5. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

• Rod McLeod, VP of Social Impact at Braze, expressed pride in the evolution of the program, highlighting its role in leveling the playing field for marginalized founders and fostering a more inclusive business environment.

The Tech for an Equitable Future program represents a significant step towards addressing the inequalities faced by underrepresented entrepreneurs in the tech industry. Through the collaboration with BET+ and the provision of resources, Braze is committed to empowering diverse founders to thrive in a competitive landscape.

• New BrazeAI™ agent, codenamed Project Catalyst, will deliver 1:1 customer engagement by rapidly creating, testing, and optimizing thousands of experience variations

• Additional Canvas template and BrazeAI™ assistant features help marketers more easily get started and deliver sophisticated customer experiences

• Enhancements to the Braze Data Platform further make it easier to unify and activate customer data, including new Cloud Data Ingestion integrations with AWS S3 and Microsoft Azure, zero-copy data, automated identity resolution, and enhanced analytics

• Expanded channels to include LINE and RCS Business, and new WhatsApp features such as dynamic images, click tracking, and commerce support

Braze, the premier customer engagement platform, has launched new product innovations at its annual conference, Forge 2024, aimed at empowering marketers to create and optimize personalized, one-to-one experiences. With over a decade of AI advancements, Braze introduces BrazeAI™ features and Project Catalyst, which promises to revolutionize how marketers engage with consumers.

1. Introducing Project Catalyst

• Project Catalyst is a groundbreaking feature set to enter beta in the first half of FY26. This agent synthesizes Braze's AI capabilities, allowing marketers to input high-level guidelines for campaigns, target audiences, and desired outcomes. The agent generates numerous variants for each component of customer journeys—including subject lines, message tones, offers, and timing—tailoring unique experiences for every consumer.

2. Enhanced Marketing Capabilities with BrazeAI™

• The integration of BrazeAI™ capabilities allows marketers to rapidly experiment and refine customer experiences. The technology enables personalized interactions across multiple digital touchpoints, enhancing engagement through a combination of machine-crafted scale and human creativity.

3. New Assistant Features

• Braze also announced two new generative AI assistant features: BrazeAI™ Liquid Assistant (now available) and Message Template Assistant (early access in Q3FY25). These tools enable marketers to create advanced personalization logic and sophisticated message templates using simple plain text prompts, streamlining the campaign creation process.

4. Innovations in Braze Canvas

• The Braze Canvas, a no-code journey orchestration solution, now includes Canvas Templates (generally available), providing a library of pre-built use cases such as onboarding and abandoned cart strategies. This feature significantly simplifies setup, allowing marketers to focus on high-value projects.

5. Data Platform Enhancements for Unified Insights

• The Braze Data Platform is equipped with new Cloud Data Ingestion (CDI) integrations for AWS S3 and Microsoft Azure, facilitating seamless data unification. New capabilities, including automated Identity Resolution and CDI Segments, empower marketers to maintain accurate customer profiles and build audiences efficiently without relying on technical teams.

6. Expanded Reporting and Analytics

• Braze is enhancing its reporting capabilities, offering new custom dashboards and reporting options that make insights more actionable. These tools will be available for early access later this year, supporting marketers in refining their customer engagement strategies.

7. New Global Channel Support

• Braze is also expanding its cross-channel capabilities with support for new messaging platforms such as LINE (available Q3FY25) and enhanced features for WhatsApp. Upcoming support for RCS Business Messaging is also planned, ensuring brands can engage customers effectively across various channels.

With these new innovations, Braze continues to lead the charge in personalized customer engagement. By leveraging AI-driven features and enhanced data capabilities, marketers can create memorable experiences that resonate with consumers and foster brand loyalty.

Strapi 5 offers a revamped content workflow, a smoother developer experience, and faster performance.

Strapi, the leader in open-source headless content management systems (CMS), has announced the general availability of Strapi 5. This latest version brings significant improvements in content management, performance, scalability, and developer experience, reinforcing Strapi's position as the go-to solution for businesses ranging from innovative startups to large enterprises.

Key Highlights of Strapi 5:

1. Intuitive Content Editing

• Strapi 5 enhances collaboration among teams with improved draft and publish workflows and robust content history tracking. These features simplify managing content iterations and revisions, making it easier for content teams to work together effectively.

2. Streamlined Developer Experience

• Developers will benefit from a refined API response system and a new entity service, which simplify data handling. The updated Plugin CLI and design system facilitate faster development while ensuring a consistent user interface across applications.

3. Faster Performance

• The new version leverages a TypeScript codebase and transitions from Webpack to Vite, resulting in faster build times and increased efficiency. This architecture refactoring not only improves performance but also creates a more reliable development environment.

4. Comprehensive Support and Documentation

• Strapi 5 is backed by extensive documentation and automated tools to help developers transition smoothly from previous versions. This commitment to user experience ensures that upgrading is quick and effortless.

Partnerships and Compatibility:

Several technology partners, including Mux, Imgix, and CKEditor, along with solution partners like VirtusLab and Notum, have updated their plugins to ensure full compatibility with Strapi 5. This collaboration enables users to seamlessly integrate advanced features into their new projects, enhancing the overall functionality of the Strapi platform.

Strapi 5 represents a significant leap forward in the evolution of headless CMS technology. By focusing on intuitive content management, enhanced developer tools, and performance improvements, Strapi continues to empower organizations to create customized digital experiences.

Imagine’s Full-Service Model Leverages People & Tech to Maximize Client Success

In a groundbreaking shift within the creative and experiential marketing sector, Imagine, a leader in visual communications, has redefined the agency relationship. By launching a new partner consolidation strategy, Imagine aims to provide clients with exceptional value through integrated creative talent and production, resulting in more efficient workflows and seamless execution of both digital and physical experiences.

Key Features of Imagine's Strategy:

1. Integrated Talent for Efficiency

• Imagine’s new approach eliminates the need for multiple partners by consolidating creative and production teams under one roof. This direct throughline from ideation to execution enhances operational efficiencies, reduces costs, and provides clients with streamlined workflows and access to top-tier creative minds.

2. Flexibility and Responsiveness

• With teams situated across the U.S. and a global sourcing network, Imagine can quickly pivot or adjust at any phase of a program or campaign. The introduction of Imagine Studio allows for on-site rapid prototyping, enabling clients to ideate and develop striking designs that foster brand loyalty and maximize consumer engagement.

3. Comprehensive Solution Offering

• “We Engineer as We Draw” is the guiding principle of Imagine Studio, emphasizing the agency’s ability to integrate agency-level thinking with production. From trend studies and messaging to design, prototyping, and full execution, all services are handled in-house, ensuring a smoother transition from concept to market execution.

Expertise Across Markets:

Imagine's team comprises over 100 talented creative experts with broad skill sets across various industries, including retail, entertainment, healthcare, and luxury goods. This diverse expertise allows the agency to uniquely serve clients both domestically and internationally, reshaping the traditional agency relationship.

“Unlike traditional agencies that often pass projects off for prototyping and execution, we offer a fully integrated approach,” said Robert Grimmett, SVP and Executive Creative Director of Imagine Studio. This integration not only reduces costs but also enhances the overall client experience.

Efficiency Meets Creativity:

Traditional marketing partnerships often separate creative work from production, leading to increased costs and prolonged timelines. In contrast, Imagine Studio operates with a "non-agency" model, offering unparalleled flexibility whether starting from scratch or stepping in for prototyping and execution.

Additionally, clients can leverage Imagine’s in-store marketing platform, Dotti, which provides complete control and visibility over retail marketing promotional materials. This innovation eradicates redundancies and waste, further enhancing operational efficiency.

Imagine is committed to building a model that prioritizes efficiency and innovation in creative marketing. By offering a flexible, full-service solution that drives value at every touchpoint, Imagine empowers clients to focus on growth and engagement. As Imagine Studio continues to evolve, the agency is poised to redefine creative partnerships, helping clients achieve and surpass their business objectives.

Study from FreeWheel’s Viewer Experience Lab and NBCUniversal shows that the right blend of these four factors improves quality of content by nearly 4x

FreeWheel, a global technology platform for the television advertising industry, in collaboration with NBCUniversal, has released a comprehensive report titled "Prescribing Premium." This study aims to identify the critical components that contribute to a high-quality viewing experience from an audience perspective.

Key Findings from the Report:

1. Defining Premium Quality:

• The study identifies four main factors that influence viewers’ perceptions of content quality: platform, content, device, and ad load. By optimizing these elements, quality metrics can potentially improve by 3.6 times.
• Content that benefits from editorial input and is viewed on larger screens with minimal interruptions is deemed the most premium by respondents.

2. The Halo Effect on Brands:

• The research highlights a direct correlation between content quality and brand perception. Notably, 68% of respondents associated ads appearing in premium content with higher quality, while 66% viewed the brands as more credible.

“Advertisers and marketers have long believed that placing their brands in premium content builds trust, but this research proves that and takes it a step farther by defining what they mean by ‘premium,’” said Thomas Bremond, Chief Revenue Officer, International, FreeWheel.

3. The Importance of Advertising Experience:

• The survey reveals that the nature of the advertising experience is just as crucial as the content itself. Limited ads and shorter ad breaks were found to achieve a 2.1 times higher quality index compared to longer breaks.
• 72% of respondents indicated that premium environments offer less intrusive ad experiences compared to non-premium settings. Previous findings from FreeWheel's Viewer Experience Lab confirm that ad breaks of two minutes or less significantly enhance viewing experiences.

Global Insights:

The Prescribing Premium study is based on 8,000 online interviews with adults aged 16-64 across key markets, including the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, and Canada. The research employed explicit questions about content consumption along with a conjoint analysis to capture viewer attitudes towards high-quality viewing experiences. The findings demonstrate that perceptions of quality are consistent across different age groups and countries.

Enhanced Engagement and ROI:

David Evans, VP of Research, Global Data and Insights at NBCUniversal, commented, “The vast majority of audiences across global markets engage with premium video regularly, selecting content based on high production values and strong narratives. This deliberate choice fosters a robust connection between viewers and content, driving conversation and recommendations. When combined with a high-quality ad experience, it creates an environment that is beneficial for advertisers, leading to increased attention and a higher return on investment.”

The insights from the "Prescribing Premium" report underscore the significance of understanding what constitutes a high-quality viewing experience. By leveraging these findings, advertisers can make informed decisions to enhance their brand appeal and optimize their media strategies, ensuring they connect with audiences effectively.

Zoom has unveiled several new add-on products and functionalities designed to enhance its advanced enterprise offerings portfolio. This comprehensive suite of products addresses organizations' compliance, security, privacy, survivability, and manageability needs, empowering businesses to operate more efficiently and securely.

Key Offerings for Enterprise Customers:

1. Zoom Compliance Manager Plus:

• Building on the previously launched Zoom Compliance Manager (ZCM), this enhanced offering, powered by Theta Lake, incorporates advanced features such as risk detection, data loss protection, and trends analysis. It aims to help organizations manage compliance obligations and mitigate risks associated with organizational communications.

2. Zoom Meeting Survivability:

• This new feature ensures business continuity by providing network redundancy, allowing Zoom meetings to continue uninterrupted even during internet outages or disruptions caused by natural disasters. Using Zoom Node, which hosts workloads on-premises, the system seamlessly transitions meetings to local servers, minimizing disruption for users.

3. Zoom Mesh for Meetings:

• Expanding upon its successful implementation in Zoom Webinars and Zoom Events, Zoom Mesh optimizes bandwidth usage, potentially saving companies up to 60% on internet bandwidth costs. This functionality enhances user experiences, particularly in bandwidth-constrained environments.

4. Zoom Customer Managed Key (CMK) Hybrid:

• This offering enhances Zoom's current CMK data privacy features, giving customers greater control over encryption keys used to secure their data. With CMK Hybrid, organizations can manage the encryption and decryption process on-premises, allowing for more tailored security measures. This feature will be available for Zoom Workplace with support for Zoom Team Chat in Q4 2024.

Addressing Enterprise Needs:

The new advanced enterprise products strengthen Zoom’s existing portfolio tailored for large organizations and regulated industries, such as finance, healthcare, and government. These offerings, included with Zoom Workplace Enterprise licenses, improve business continuity, optimize bandwidth, enhance security, and support communications compliance.

Organized Across Six Key Categories:

1. Communications Compliance: Solutions for archiving, data loss prevention, and chat etiquette.
2. Data Residency & Privacy Compliance: Tools for meeting regional data residency and privacy requirements.
3. Policy & Deployment Management: Zoom Device Management and provisioning tools.
4. Security & Access Control: Enhanced encryption and virtual desktop infrastructure offerings.
5. Analytics & Insights: Dashboards and monitoring tools for operational visibility.
6. Network Optimization & Survivability: Solutions like Zoom Mesh and Zoom Node to enhance performance.

With these advancements, Zoom continues to demonstrate its commitment to empowering businesses by providing essential tools that enhance efficiency, security, and compliance. While many features are available with Zoom Workplace Enterprise licenses, new products can be accessed as paid add-ons. For those interested in exploring Zoom’s advanced enterprise offerings further, the company will host technical sessions at Zoomtopia 2024.

Strategic Acquisition Enhances Attain's Data Capabilities and Expands Market Reach with Insights on Affluent Consumers

Attain, a leading permissioned commerce data platform, has announced the acquisition of Merryfield, a rewards app for better-for-you products. This strategic move aims to enhance Attain's scale, data depth, and affluent customer base, positioning the company for continued growth and innovation.

1. Merryfield's Background

• Launched and funded by celebrity investors Zooey Deschanel, David Mayer, and Joe Dickson.
• Rewards shoppers for buying better-for-you products, aligning with a growing consumer trend towards healthier and more sustainable choices.

2. Benefits for Attain

• Increased B2B revenue: Merryfield brings a complementary list of brands with eligible receipts, expanding Attain's reach and potential revenue streams.
• Data enrichment: Merryfield's strong foothold among upscale consumers, with a median income of $110k, enhances Attain's data footprint. This allows for richer insights and more targeted marketing capabilities.
• Aligned consumer portfolio strategy: Merryfield's focus on "better-for-you" products seamlessly aligns with Attain's strategy to double-down on product-level data and expand its data universe.

3. Attain's Perspective

• Acquisition strategy: This acquisition is the first step in an aggressive acquisition strategy aimed at expanding Attain's data assets, market reach, and the depth of insights it can offer to its clients.
• Value of Merryfield: Attain values Merryfield's impressive user base and brand relationships, which will enable Attain to massively scale its reach with a more affluent user base, aligning with its long-term strategy of durable engagement with high-value consumers.

4. Synergies and Opportunities

• Consumer portfolio strengthening: The acquisition strengthens Attain's consumer portfolio by allowing for seamless integration with Merryfield's established brand relationships within the consumer packaged goods sector. This creates shared opportunities for growth and value.
• Shared commitment to data-driven insights: Both Attain and Merryfield share a commitment to data-driven insights and empowering consumers to make better choices. This shared vision will drive collaboration and innovation.

The acquisition of Merryfield marks a significant step for Attain in its growth strategy, positioning the company as a leading provider of commerce data insights. Both companies are excited about the future and the potential for shared value as they leverage their combined strengths and expertise.

ITN has unveiled its ITN-SSP, an innovative platform that revolutionizes local linear TV by closely aligning it with the ease and efficiency of programmatic digital media. The ITN-SSP allows suppliers to submit, manage, control, and report on transactable inventory directly within ITN’s comprehensive marketplace. By integrating local linear TV with programmatic buying platforms, ITN takes a significant step toward modernizing the media landscape.

1. Key Features of ITN-SSP

• Streamlined Inventory Management: Suppliers can manage inventory in real-time, simplifying the process of buying and selling local linear TV.
• Robust Media Management Software: Built on years of internal development, the platform offers advanced tools for sellers, enabling greater control and transparency.
• Programmatic Integration: ITN is connecting with demand-side platforms (DSPs) and buying marketplaces, enabling a true programmatic buying experience for local linear TV.

2. The Evolution of Local Linear TV into the Programmatic Ecosystem

• Digital-Like Efficiency: ITN-SSP delivers a programmatic-like solution, offering ease of execution, control, and transparency akin to digital media.
• Ongoing Integration: Rollout of DSP connections is planned for late 2024 through early 2025, with full functionality expected next year.
• Improved Access for Buyers and Sellers: The platform bridges the gap between linear TV and other media, giving local TV stations a competitive edge in the evolving advertising market.

3. ITN’s Commitment to Future Growth

• Expanding Capabilities: Todd Watson, CEO of ITN, emphasized ITN’s commitment to continually enhancing the platform to meet industry demands.
• Programmatic Revolution: The introduction of ITN-SSP is a key milestone in bringing local linear TV back to the forefront of media buying by integrating it seamlessly into the programmatic ecosystem.

With the launch of ITN-SSP, ITN is poised to reshape the way local linear TV operates, combining the strengths of traditional TV with the efficiency and transparency of programmatic media. As ITN expands its integrations and functionalities, the future of local linear TV looks increasingly aligned with the digital-first world.