The amplified partnership ensures the data quality of a company's email database, enabling increased customer engagement and improved brand reputation.

Validity, the leading provider of data quality and email marketing success solutions, has announced an expanded partnership with Iterable, the AI-powered customer communication platform. This collaboration enables businesses to instantly verify email contact information, optimizing sales and marketing campaign results and driving ROI.

Key Points:

• Market Competition:

  • Current global email volume is around 360 billion emails per day, increasing by 15% annually (Validity's State of Email in 2024 report).
  • Competing for consumer attention is increasingly challenging, necessitating robust email deliverability protocols.

• Importance of Email Verification:

  • Implementing contact verification services like BriteVerify ensures teams email active, valid contacts.
  • Sending campaigns to invalid or outdated email addresses can damage sender reputation and result in wasted revenue and resources.

• BriteVerify Integration:

  • Iterable customers can now maintain contact data quality by verifying email addresses in real-time at the point of capture.
  • Provides secure, scalable validation for marketing and sales leaders to build actionable databases and improve communication effectiveness.
  • Bulk validation for existing subscriber databases identifies outdated or invalid emails, saving time and reducing manual errors.

• Customer Testimonials:

  • Sarah Taylor, Digital Marketing Manager at CV-Library Group, highlights the integration’s time-saving benefits and improved email list hygiene.

• Statements from Leaders:

  • Jeff Lundal, CRO at Validity, emphasizes the crucial role of their solutions in helping businesses remain competitive.
  • Heather Blank, SVP of GTM and Partnerships at Iterable, underscores the importance of delivering meaningful, personalized, and dynamic cross-channel experiences to enhance customer engagement and loyalty.

The expanded partnership between Validity and Iterable represents a significant step forward in optimizing email deliverability and campaign ROI. By leveraging real-time email verification through BriteVerify, businesses can enhance their marketing strategies, ensure better engagement, and drive revenue growth.

Expanded partnership includes new growth targets and a comprehensive go-to-market strategy

AudioEye, Inc., a leader in digital accessibility solutions, and Finalsite, the premier K-12 school community relationship management platform, have announced an expanded partnership. This collaboration aims to significantly enhance digital accessibility for K-12 schools through a new growth strategy and comprehensive go-to-market approach utilizing AudioEye's advanced accessibility testing and remediation platform.

Key Points:

• Expanded Partnership:

  • The partnership focuses on addressing the growing digital accessibility requirements for K-12 schools.
  • AudioEye’s platform will provide advanced accessibility testing and remediation to meet the needs of Finalsite’s extensive client base.

• New ADA Regulations:

  • The Justice Department’s new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires state and local government entities, including public schools, to achieve digital accessibility compliance.
  • Schools must meet these requirements within two to three years, depending on their population size.

• Finalsite’s Commitment:

  • Finalsite serves 7,000 clients across 115 countries and is dedicated to providing accessible education technology solutions.
  • Their approach to digital accessibility goes beyond legal requirements to ensure equality and inclusivity for all users.

• Challenges in K-12 Digital Accessibility:

  • A nationwide study revealed that over 95% of K-12 school home pages had at least one detectable accessibility error.
  • Nearly two-thirds of websites failed to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), potentially hindering access to critical information for students and families.

• Statements from Leaders:

  • David Moradi, CEO of AudioEye: Emphasized the partnership's potential to meet growing accessibility demands and support school districts with their unique needs.
  • Jon Moser, Founder and CEO of Finalsite: Highlighted accessibility as a fundamental equality issue and praised the partnership for offering new ways to check and remediate inaccessible content.

• Innovative Solutions:

  • The expanded partnership introduces new tools and strategies to help schools achieve ADA compliance and enhance digital accessibility.
  • The collaboration aims to foster inclusivity and provide effective digital solutions for the K-12 education sector.

The expanded partnership between AudioEye and Finalsite marks a significant advancement in addressing digital accessibility challenges for K-12 schools. By leveraging AudioEye’s advanced technology and Finalsite’s extensive reach, the partnership aims to help schools meet new ADA regulations, enhance accessibility, and foster an inclusive educational environment for all students.

Goldman Sachs to acquire majority stake from Providence Equity Partners and other existing investors

TAIT management team to continue leading company and remain significant shareholders

TAIT, a global leader in creating transformative live experiences, has announced that Goldman Sachs Alternatives will acquire a majority stake in the company from Providence Equity Partners, pending regulatory approvals. This significant move will enable TAIT to expand its global reach and innovate within the live events industry.

Key Points:

• Acquisition Announcement:

  • Goldman Sachs Alternatives will acquire a majority stake in TAIT, subject to customary regulatory approvals.
  • Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

• TAIT’s Vision for the Future:

  • Adam Davis, CEO of TAIT: Expressed excitement about the partnership with Goldman Sachs, highlighting the potential for growth and innovation. He emphasized that the collaboration will help TAIT merge digital and physical worlds to create extraordinary, bespoke events.
  • The partnership aims to enhance TAIT’s capabilities and expand its global footprint, enabling the company to better serve clients and drive future success.

• TAIT’s Legacy and Impact:

  • For over 45 years, TAIT has been a trusted partner for some of the world’s most iconic artists, brands, and institutions.
  • The company has delivered high-profile productions across diverse markets, including Super Bowl halftime shows, award-winning theme parks, World Expo pavilions, and Olympic Opening ceremonies.

• Goldman Sachs Alternatives’ Role:

  • Leonard Seevers, Partner at Goldman Sachs Alternatives: Praised TAIT for its innovative solutions and passionate team. He expressed excitement about supporting TAIT’s next growth phase.
  • Simon Kubbies, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs Alternatives: Highlighted TAIT’s strong position in the growing entertainment sector and the opportunity to expand the company’s technology offerings and market presence.

• Providence Equity Partners’ Contribution:

  • Scott Marimow, Managing Director at Providence: Reflected on a successful five-year partnership with TAIT, commending the company's growth and resilience. He wished success to TAIT and its new partners.
  • Adam Davis: Acknowledged Providence’s instrumental role in TAIT’s achievements and expressed gratitude for their support.

• Advisors for the Transaction:

  • TAIT: Financial advisors were Evercore and Jefferies LLC; legal counsel was provided by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
  • Goldman Sachs: Financial advisors were Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC and PJT Partners; legal counsel was provided by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.

The acquisition of a majority stake in TAIT by Goldman Sachs Alternatives represents a major milestone in the company’s history. This partnership is set to propel TAIT into a new era of growth and innovation, positioning it to meet the evolving demands of the live entertainment and events industry.

MobileFuse, a major player in in-app, CTV, and DOOH advertising, has officially partnered with iSpot.tv, a leading cross-platform TV measurement company. This collaboration designates iSpot.tv as MobileFuse’s preferred measurement solution, utilizing their Unified Measurement platform to provide clients with advanced tools for analyzing and optimizing CTV and OLV campaigns at scale.

Key Points:

• Partnership Overview:

  • MobileFuse has selected iSpot.tv as its preferred measurement partner to enhance the effectiveness of CTV and OLV advertising campaigns.
  • The partnership leverages iSpot.tv’s Unified Measurement platform to integrate linear TV and CTV measurement, providing a comprehensive view of ad performance across platforms.

• Expanded Measurement Capabilities:

  • Ken Harlan, Founder and CEO of MobileFuse: Emphasized the importance of the partnership in expanding CTV offerings and reporting capabilities. Harlan highlighted that iSpot.tv’s solution meets MobileFuse’s high standards for unified insights and campaign effectiveness.
  • Through this partnership, MobileFuse clients will gain access to iSpot’s ad catalog, airing data, and Smart TV panel, which tracks impressions for over 30,000 brands.
  • The integration of these tools allows for better measurement of incremental reach, helping brands understand the added value of CTV in their media strategies.

• Enhanced Reporting and Optimization:

  • The collaboration introduces advanced optimization features including publisher, audience, and frequency adjustments.
  • MobileFuse will utilize iSpot’s Unified Measurement dashboard to provide detailed insights and reporting, helping clients optimize campaigns for maximum ROI.

• Impact of the Partnership:

  • An analysis by iSpot in May showed that for a medium-sized brand, over 67% of MobileFuse’s reach was incremental to linear TV, and this increased to 85% for smaller brands.
  • MobileFuse consistently surpasses iSpot’s Unified Measurement Benchmarks for the Percent Incremental Reach metric, demonstrating the unique value of their audience and the effectiveness of their CTV strategies.

• Industry Context:

  • As audiences increasingly shift from linear TV to streaming platforms, accurate measurement of CTV advertising becomes crucial.
  • Dan Lowenberg, VP of Media Partnerships at iSpot: Stressed the importance of measuring CTV’s value in a competitive advertising landscape and expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with MobileFuse to enhance their measurement solutions.

• Recent Campaign Success:

  • MobileFuse’s recent campaigns across various verticals, including Retail, QSR, Travel, and Pharma, have shown significant success in expanding reach beyond linear TV through their CTV strategies.

The partnership between MobileFuse and iSpot.tv marks a significant advancement in the measurement and optimization of CTV and linear TV advertising. By integrating iSpot’s Unified Measurement platform, MobileFuse aims to offer advertisers deeper insights, greater reach, and improved ROI for their media campaigns.

Funding was Led by Index Ventures with Participation from Kleiner Perkins, Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Adobe Ventures, HubSpot Ventures, and Jared Leto

Captions, a pioneering platform in generative video creation and editing, has announced a successful Series C funding round, raising $60 million led by Index Ventures. This round brings Captions' total capital raised to $100 million, with a valuation now reaching $500 million. The funding will be instrumental in advancing their AI capabilities and expanding their technical infrastructure to further innovate in video technology.

Key Points:

• Series C Funding Details:

  • Captions has raised $60 million in Series C funding, led by Index Ventures. Existing investors Kleiner Perkins, Andreessen Horowitz, and Sequoia Capital have also participated, along with new investors Adobe Ventures, HubSpot Ventures, and Jared Leto.
  • This funding round marks a significant milestone for Captions, positioning them strongly in the competitive landscape of video technology.

• Investment Focus:

  • Gaurav Misra, co-founder and CEO of Captions, highlighted their plan to invest $100 million into advancing generative video research, with a focus on growing their machine learning team and expanding in-house research efforts.
  • The company aims to solidify New York City as a hub for AI innovation, leveraging the city's burgeoning tech ecosystem to drive their mission of democratizing video creation.

• Technological Innovations:

  • Recent innovations by Captions include AI Creator, a groundbreaking 3D avatar designed for content creation, AI Edit for one-tap video editing, and Lipdub, which generates natural lip movement and body language.
  • These technologies have driven Captions' growth, resulting in over 10 million downloads for their mobile app alone and positioning them as a leader in AI-enabled video creation tools.

• Market Impact and Vision:

  • Damir Becirovic from Index Ventures emphasized Captions' role in enhancing storytelling through AI-enabled video creation, enabling users to share compelling stories in unprecedented ways.
  • Everett Randle of Kleiner Perkins highlighted Captions' agility in delivering innovative products, underscoring their potential to reshape how videos are created and shared globally.

• Business Applications:

  • Brandon Greer of HubSpot Ventures highlighted Captions' potential in transforming how businesses engage with customers through high-quality video content, catering to the dominance of short-form video formats in digital marketing.

Captions' Series C funding marks a pivotal moment as they accelerate their mission to revolutionize video creation with AI-driven innovations. With robust financial backing and strategic partnerships, Captions is poised to further expand its market presence and redefine the landscape of digital storytelling.

FluentStream enables thousands of organizations to adopt long-term hybrid and remote work environments

FluentStream, a leader in Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), has announced that its solutions are essential for the hybrid and remote work environments that have become the norm for many small- and medium-sized organizations. Today, over 90% of FluentStream’s customers rely on its self-service web portal and mobile app to support seamless communication from any location or device.

Key Points:

• UCaaS Solutions for Hybrid and Remote Work:

  • FluentStream’s UCaaS platform offers a comprehensive range of features designed to support remote and hybrid work environments. Key features include cloud-based calling, advanced call center capabilities, and integrations with popular tools like Salesforce and Microsoft Teams.
  • The platform’s user-friendly self-service web portal and mobile app enable administrators and employees to customize their communication services, manage settings, and maintain productivity from anywhere with an internet connection.

• Impact of COVID-19:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid shift to remote work for many organizations, highlighting the importance of FluentStream’s UCaaS solutions. FluentStream's services have proven vital for businesses adapting to these new work environments.
  • According to a recent EY study, 75% of companies envision a future with flexible or decentralized workspaces, underscoring the long-term relevance of UCaaS solutions.

• Successful Partnership with BroadAspect:

  • FluentStream's strategic partnership with BroadAspect, signed in March 2020, was instrumental in transitioning customers to FluentStream’s platform during the early days of the pandemic. BroadAspect, an on-premises services provider, collaborated with FluentStream to ensure a smooth transition for their customers.
  • Chris Chamberlain, CEO of BroadAspect, praised FluentStream’s reliable and flexible communication services, emphasizing continued customer satisfaction and effective support over the past four years.

• Future of Hybrid and Remote Work:

  • Cass Gilmore, CEO of FluentStream, highlighted the significance of their partnership with BroadAspect and the role of FluentStream’s services in helping organizations navigate the shift to long-term hybrid and remote work models.
  • FluentStream’s commitment to supporting remote work is reflected in their own use of the platform, which has enabled their team to operate effectively in a fully remote work environment since 2020.

• Customer Testimonials:

  • BroadAspect’s Chris Chamberlain commended FluentStream’s services for their reliability and flexibility, noting that these qualities have been crucial for customers transitioning to remote work and achieving greater productivity and satisfaction.

• Company's Own Remote Work Success:

  • FluentStream has successfully implemented a fully remote work environment for its own team, demonstrating the effectiveness of its UCaaS solutions and providing a model for other organizations to follow.

FluentStream’s UCaaS solutions have proven to be indispensable for small- and medium-sized organizations navigating the shift to long-term hybrid and remote work. With a robust platform featuring cloud-based calling, call center capabilities, and strategic integrations, FluentStream is well-positioned to support businesses as they adapt to evolving work environments and strive for greater productivity and employee satisfaction.

New platform enables the video commerce retailer to directly engage with creators and influencers, provide insights into engagement, and better connect with today’s modern buyer

HSN, a leader in livestream shopping and video storytelling, has officially launched HSNfluencer, a new creator platform developed in partnership with impact.com, the world’s leading partnership management platform. This advanced platform is designed to streamline the way HSN connects with creators and influencers, providing a comprehensive solution for managing partnerships, analyzing performance, and scaling influencer marketing efforts.

Key Features of HSNfluencer:

• Streamlined Creator Engagement:

  • HSNfluencer allows HSN to build and manage direct relationships with influencers and creators. The platform offers a centralized space where creators can access resources, tools, and support to generate content and promote HSN’s products.
  • Creators from diverse backgrounds can collaborate with HSN, using carefully curated product collections to inspire their content and generate affiliate product links for their posts.

• Enhanced Shopping Experience:

  • The platform enables influencers and HSN’s on-air personalities to curate their own storefronts, providing customers with a unique opportunity to interact with their favorite HSN personalities and shop their curated product collections.
  • This approach leverages the power of personal recommendations, a trusted source for consumers, to enhance customer engagement and drive sales.

• Data-Driven Insights and Performance Metrics:

  • HSNfluencer integrates impact.com’s technology to offer detailed performance metrics, actionable insights, and powerful reporting tools. This functionality helps HSN and its creators track campaign performance, optimize strategies, and scale their efforts effectively.
  • The platform supports an “always-on” creator performance structure, enabling continuous engagement and allowing creators to view and participate in ongoing campaigns.

• Growing the Creator Economy:

  • With the creator economy expected to reach $480 billion by 2027, HSNfluencer positions HSN to take advantage of this growth. By fostering authentic and transparent creator partnerships, HSN aims to meet consumers where they seek trusted reviews and recommendations.

Industry Insights:

• Influencer Marketing Trends:

  • According to recent data, 88% of consumers trust personal recommendations over other channels, and 64% are influenced to make purchases based on influencer recommendations.
  • David A. Yovanno, CEO of impact.com, emphasizes that leveraging trusted creators is crucial for engaging modern consumers and driving conversions in the growing creator economy.

• HSN’s Vision for the Future:

  • Rebecca Kerper, VP Chief Digital Officer at HSN, highlights the importance of HSNfluencer in growing HSN’s ambassador program and showcasing the impact of creator relationships on customer engagement.
  • The platform’s design focuses on creating a mutually beneficial environment for creators and customers, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

HSNfluencer’s Impact:

• Empowering Creators:

  • HSNfluencer empowers creators by providing a platform where they can discover products, create content, and engage with their audiences while earning commissions.
  • The platform also facilitates a community-driven approach, allowing creators to participate in campaigns, share their content, and connect with like-minded individuals.

• Expanding HSN’s Reach:

  • By utilizing impact.com’s advanced technology, HSN expands its reach and effectiveness in influencer marketing. The platform’s capabilities enable HSN to manage and optimize creator partnerships, drive brand awareness, and increase sales.

HSN’s launch of HSNfluencer, powered by impact.com’s cutting-edge technology, marks a significant advancement in creator partnership management and livestream shopping. The platform offers a streamlined solution for engaging with creators, enhancing the customer shopping experience, and driving growth in the creator economy. HSNfluencer represents a new era in influencer marketing, providing the tools and insights needed to succeed in a competitive market.

Seasoned consumer finance executive succeeds Co-Founder Krishna Gopinathan, who will remain on ADF’s Board

Applied Data Finance (ADF), a leading technology-enabled consumer lending services platform, has announced the appointment of Joseph Toms as its new Chief Executive Officer. Toms succeeds Co-Founder Krishna Gopinathan, who will transition to a board role and advisory position. Toms brings extensive experience in consumer finance and asset management, having previously served as the Head of Consumer Lending at Axar Capital and a member of ADF’s Board since November 2023.

1. Joseph Toms’ Background and Experience

• Over 35 years of experience in consumer finance and asset management.
• Former Head of Consumer Lending at Axar Capital.
• Launched Freedom Financial’s (later Achieve.com) successful lending division.
• Grew Freedom Financial’s lending division into a $2 billion consumer credit fund with AAA ratings from two rating agencies.

2. Vision and Leadership at ADF

• Toms' commitment to building on the foundation established by Krishna Gopinathan.
• Emphasis on ADF’s sophisticated risk pricing abilities and advanced data-science capabilities.
• Focus on innovative and responsible credit solutions for customers.

3. Company's Recent Developments

• Successful refinancing and growth equity capital infusion in late 2023.
• Continued growth and exploration of new opportunities for innovation and expansion.

4. Statements from Key Figures

• Joseph Toms on his new role and vision for ADF.
  • Praises ADF’s talented team and customer-centric approach.
• Krishna Gopinathan on Toms’ appointment.
  • Confidence in Toms’ ability to drive ADF’s success.

Joseph Toms’ appointment as CEO marks a significant step for ADF as the company continues to grow and innovate in the consumer lending industry. With Toms’ extensive background and strategic vision, ADF is poised for continued success and leadership in the market. Krishna Gopinathan's transition to a board role ensures ongoing support and guidance for the company's future endeavors.