AI-powered data intelligence solution helps consumer tech brands maximize ad performance, customer acquisition and retention

Proxima, a data intelligence software company that empowers consumer technology businesses to scale customer acquisition profitably, expand customer lifetime value and optimize full lifecycle marketing, today announces the closing of a $12 million Series A round led by Mucker Capital. Other investors in the round include Aglae Ventures (family office of LVMH founder), Great Oaks Venture Partners, Data Point Capital, Broadway Venture Partners, FirstLook Partners and Connexa Capital. 

Since launching in May 2022, Proxima has achieved over 400% revenue growth and increased its proprietary network of B2C connections to over 12,000. This powerful network harnesses over 65 million unique, anonymized shopper profiles, blending these with advanced AI models. This synergy empowers clients to elevate their marketing performance by unlocking deep, actionable insights and superior targeting. Their suite of offerings enables businesses to scale paid media efficiently across advertising platforms including Meta and TikTok, improve retention and customer lifetime value with predictive intelligence, and gain tactical insights with network-powered industry benchmarks.

Led by eCommerce and marketing technology veterans, Proxima was founded to address the challenges faced by many consumer technology companies from increasing privacy restrictions and challenging unit economic headwinds. Serial entrepreneur and Goldman Sachs alum, Alex Song, has built a data-driven solution designed to power the future of how brands accelerate and maximize marketing performance.

“Our team saw first hand the sense of apprehension and skepticism among brands spending on paid channels following the iOS privacy changes in 2021. But since our launch, we’ve seen the widespread embrace of data insights and enhanced targeting as our clients have become more successful with AI-powered experimentation, leading to our 4x growth,” said Alex Song, Founder and CEO of Proxima. “This investment will allow us to evolve our platform to enable our clients to achieve superior decision making in acquiring and retaining customers as well as leverage AI to execute marketing strategies with unparalleled performance.”

“Proxima is addressing one of the most important issues for marketers today - leveraging data effectively to drive profitable growth in the face of challenging market dynamics for both customer acquisition and retention,” said Omar Hamoui from Mucker Capital. “We’re thrilled to lead their Series A fundraise and are eager to collaborate with the leadership team on the exciting journey ahead.” Before joining Mucker Capital, Omar Hamoui was the Founder and CEO of AdMob which he sold to Google and a partner at Sequoia Capital.

The new funding will support the growth of Proxima’s technology platform, including AI-powered feature development, as well as further expansion of their technology and commercial functions.

Twilio, the customer engagement platform that drives real-time, personalized experiences for today’s leading brands, today announced that it has appointed Andy Stafman, a partner at Sachem Head Capital Management LP (“Sachem Head”), to the company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.

“Over the last year and a half, we have made important changes to accelerate our path to profitability and position Twilio to capitalize on the opportunities we see ahead,” said Jeff Epstein, Chair of the Board for Twilio. “We look forward to benefiting from the addition of Andy’s perspectives as an additional shareholder in the boardroom as we continue our strong oversight of the company’s strategy to enhance value for all our stakeholders.”

Khozema Shipchandler, CEO of Twilio, added, “We are operating Twilio with greater focus, rigor, and discipline than ever before, and remain focused on our commitment to drive durable, profitable growth. As we look ahead, we are confident that Twilio is well positioned to unlock the power of AI by converging our data capabilities with our powerful Communications solutions. The Board and I will partner with Andy as we continue to advance our strategy to realize the full potential of the business.”

Twilio plans to hold an investor day within the next twelve months to discuss the company’s strategy in greater detail and to share medium-term financial targets. Twilio will provide more details on the investor day once a date for the event has been set.

“I am excited to join the Twilio Board during an important time for the company,” said Mr. Stafman. “Sachem Head invested in Twilio because of its strong leadership position in the customer engagement market and the significant upside potential from the application of AI. The company has already taken meaningful actions to strengthen Twilio’s profitability and growth trajectory, and I look forward to working with the rest of the Board and management team to build upon that progress and enhance value for shareholders.”

Twilio has entered into a cooperation agreement with Sachem Head. Pursuant to the agreement, Sachem Head has agreed to customary standstill, voting and confidentiality commitments, among other provisions.

With the appointment of Mr. Stafman, Twilio’s Board will increase to 10 directors, nine of whom are independent.

About Andy Stafman

Mr. Stafman is a partner at Sachem Head Capital Management LP, a value-oriented investment management firm based in New York. Prior to Sachem Head, Mr. Stafman worked as an Associate at Silver Lake Partners, a global private equity firm focused on technology-enabled investments. He received a B.S. in Economics, with a concentration in Finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Combined Company Will Connect the Programmatic and TV Ecosystems, Unifying Audience-Based and Performance-Focused Advertising for Buyers and Sellers 

Cadent, one of the largest independent solutions providers for converged TV advertising, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of AdTheorent Holding Company, Inc., a machine learning pioneer and industry leader delivering measurable value for programmatic advertisers, for a cash consideration of $3.21 per share.

The combination of Cadent and AdTheorent will create one of the largest independent omnichannel audience activation platforms for buyers and sellers of advertising. The newly formed entity will focus on providing expanded performance advertising solutions that cater to both digital and traditional TV markets, powered by advanced machine learning and a unified media and data marketplace.

"Together, Cadent and AdTheorent will enable our customers to drive performance across all strategic audiences, no matter where they consume media or where they are in the sales funnel," said Nick Troiano, CEO of Cadent. "We will connect the worlds of programmatic and TV, providing solutions across our partner ecosystem that will drive next-generation omnichannel reach and performance results."

Upon closing, the combined company will serve nearly 1,000 advertisers, and partner with leading holding companies, agency groups, independent agencies, and premium publishers.  In addition, AdTheorent's leadership in ID-independent machine learning and algorithmic audience solutions, combined with Cadent's cookieless household identity graph uniquely positions the combined company to be at the forefront of unifying fragmented audiences.

"AdTheorent's customer-focused culture, award-winning technology and commitment to innovation has helped our team build a strong brand that is a recognized leader in performance-first programmatic advertising," said James Lawson, CEO of AdTheorent. "In Cadent, we've found a partner with a shared commitment to delivering measurable results for customers, and a complementary vision for the future of omnichannel advertising. In an increasingly competitive and evolving adtech sector, we are excited to bring together our teams, technology, and solutions to drive continued value to our customers and our employees."

Novacap, the Montreal-based private equity firm which acquired Cadent in August 2023, provided strategic services and funding support to Cadent for the transaction.

"Novacap accelerates growth companies through strategic investments. We're pleased to empower the Cadent and AdTheorent teams to further their vision of building a leading omnichannel audience platform, by providing the foundational resources necessary to complete a transaction of this scale," said Samuel Nasso, Partner at Novacap, and Chairman of the Board of Cadent.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and completion of regulatory review and AdTheorent shareholder approval. The transaction has been approved by the AdTheorent Board of Directors and is expected to close in approximately 90 days.

Moelis & Company LLC is acting as lead financial advisor to Cadent. RBC Capital Markets also is acting as a financial advisor, and Baker Botts LLP is providing legal counsel. Canaccord Genuity is acting as financial advisor and McDermott Will & Emery LLP is acting as legal counsel to AdTheorent in connection with the proposed transaction.

Acquisition advances Clario's Respiratory Solutions portfolio, combining Clario's deep scientific expertise with ArtiQ's innovative artificial intelligence capabilities

• Clario's respiratory devices will integrate seamlessly with ArtiQ's AI models to provide instant feedback on test quality, delivering faster, more reliable data for sponsors and yielding a better patient experience.
• The addition of ArtiQ, coupled with Clario's recent acquisition of Inofab Health, expands Clario's leadership position in supporting respiratory clinical trials and broadens the existing AI capability which encompasses over 50 proprietary AI/ML algorithms.
• ArtiQ CEO Marko Topalovic will join Clario and continue to lead ArtiQ while simultaneously leading AI at the company.

Clario, a healthcare research and technology company that delivers the leading endpoint technology solutions for clinical trials, today announced the acquisition of the technology company ArtiQ. This acquisition expands the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in Clario's Respiratory Solutions portfolio and enhances the company's ability to further leverage and develop innovative uses of AI across its service lines.

"We're thrilled to welcome ArtiQ into our organization," said Chris Fikry, Chief Executive Officer at Clario. "Since 2018, Clario has been a pioneer in applying artificial intelligence to improve the quality and efficiency of clinical trial execution. This move significantly advances AI within our respiratory portfolio. With ArtiQ's technology, we are expanding our ability to rapidly scale AI for overreading while ensuring data quality and streamlining the clinical trial process for patients worldwide."

In addition to continuing to lead ArtiQ, Marko Topalovic will step in to lead Clario's overall AI strategy across the organization. Of the acquisition, he said: "Joining forces with Clario is a pivotal moment for ArtiQ. Our technology's integration into Clario's portfolio not only enhances the quality and efficiency of spirometry data analysis but also marks a sizable step toward minimizing the patient burden and improving trial outcomes. With Clario, our technology can scale worldwide to all clinical trials and sponsors, and we now have the chance to foster a positive impact beyond the scope of respiratory care."

In addition to the ArtiQ acquisition, Clario acquired Inofab Health, the manufacturer of easy-to-use ultrasonic sensor spirometer devices, in November 2023. Bringing these acquisitions together with Clario's deep respiratory scientific capabilities will strengthen Clario's Respiratory Solutions portfolio, serve as a launchpad for advancing AI within clinical trials, and increase its reach into the broader healthcare market.

"We're committed to pioneering AI models that help rapidly deliver high-quality data in clinical trials," said Jay Ferro, Clario's Chief Information, Technology and Product Officer. "This acquisition reinforces that commitment and ensures we continue to make good on our mission to help our customers transform patient lives around the world."

Ruder Finn's Chief Technology Officer, Tejas Totade, has been named Data Professional of the Year by Provoke Media as part of the 2024 Innovation SABRE Awards. The awards celebrate influence, innovation, and disruption across the public relations and communications industry.

"Winning the Data Professional of the Year Award is an incredible honor, and it's a testament to the data-driven mindset we have at Ruder Finn, championed by our CEO, Kathy Bloomgarden," said Tejas. "It's our shared belief that the real magic happens when we turn data into actionable insights and innovative solutions! This award truly highlights our collective dedication to excellence in data and analytics!"

With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Tejas is a trailblazer in the nexus of technology, communications, and marketing. He is a distinguished analytics leader, always channeling creative solutions to successfully merge communications with data-driven emerging technologies. He leads RF TechLab, Ruder Finn's innovative analytics and tech incubator that has played a critical role in growing and nurturing the agency's cutting-edge analytics tools suite. He also co-leads Ruder Finn's AI-powered creative studio, RF Studio53 which provides clients with full-service creative offerings from design, branding, and short and long-form video, to websites, apps, and immersive emerging tech experiences from AI/AR to the metaverse.

"Tejas' visionary mindset and expertise in both technology and communications has been instrumental in driving innovation within our agency," said Kathy Bloomgarden, CEO of Ruder Finn. "His forward-thinking leadership has been pivotal to keeping the firm at the industry's cutting edge."

The Innovation SABRE Awards winners will be honored during the PRovoke North America Summit in New York City on May 1.

Corporate Visions, a leading provider of revenue growth insights, services, and technology, is pleased to announce the appointment of Emily DiMiceli as its new Chief Executive Officer. DiMiceli brings with her deep strategic leadership experience and a proven track record of success in senior executive roles within the business services, information services, and fintech sectors.

Throughout her career driving operational transformations, digital enablement efforts, and major M&A transactions, DiMiceli has been consistently recognized for her strong leadership, customer and employee engagement, and strategic business acumen.

"As a former client of Corporate Visions, I have experienced the company's industry-leading proprietary insights and capabilities first-hand.  I am honored to now join as CEO and start working with this high-energy and innovative team to drive continued success and bring value for our customers, employees, and shareholders," said DiMiceli. "Corporate Visions has built long-lasting relationships with some of the most respected brands in the world, helping them shape how business conversations happen. This team has the track record, expertise, and technology capability that's going to be unstoppable as we move forward together." 

"We are thrilled to welcome Emily as the new CEO of Corporate Visions," said J.P. Fingado, chairman of the Board of Directors for Corporate Visions. "Her exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and track record of delivering results make her the ideal candidate to lead our company into its next phase of growth and innovation."

Prior to joining Corporate Visions, DiMiceli served as the COO and Chief Customer Operations Officer of the Data and Analytics Division at London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), where she led an organization of ~10,000 employees spanning 60+ countries at Refinitiv. She played a key role in integrating LSEG's $27B acquisition of Refinitiv. She also recently served as a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group.

Veteran SAP executive joins UiPath to drive developer-focused automation experiences and deliver new product initiatives

UiPath, a leading enterprise automation and AI software company, today announced Sebastian Schrötel is joining the company as Senior Vice President of Product Management. Schrötel reports to Chief Product Officer Graham Sheldon and will lead the company’s strategy for products including UiPath Autopilot™, UiPath Studio and developer experiences, and UiPath Integration Service. 

Schrötel will also lead the company’s development of business in the Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) market. Most recently, Schrötel served as Vice President, Head of Product for Application Development, Automation, and Integration at SAP, where he led product management for SAP developer and low-code/no-code tools, SAP Integration Suite (iPaaS), and Process Automation offerings. He was a founding member of SAP’s Machine Learning initiative, delivered the first AI-based automation solutions for SAP, introduced a series of automation products at SAP, and played a key role in establishing the UiPath and SAP partnership.

“I’m excited to welcome Sebastian to UiPath. His deep experience at SAP in building impactful solutions for the developer community will be invaluable as UiPath continues to innovate and find new ways to integrate AI and automation,” said Sheldon. “Sebastian will lead UiPath Autopilot, which combines generative AI and specialized AI to enhance productivity and democratize automation across the enterprise. Our Autopilot experience for developers and testers levels up efficiency in UiPath Studio, Apps, and Test Suite. In addition, his knowledge and skills will be critical in supporting customers with hybrid and multi-cloud strategies as UiPath enters the iPaaS market.”

“I’m most passionate about innovating within emerging products that are in high demand for enterprises worldwide and I believe UiPath is bringing to market AI and automation solutions that are changing work in global enterprises,” said Schrötel. “UiPath is the perfect fit for the newest chapter of my career. There are incredible possibilities to enable further AI, generative AI, and automation adoption for every knowledge worker through the UiPath Business Automation Platform.”

Schrötel earned a Master of Business Administration from Mannheim Business School and an undergraduate degree in computing and information systems from DHBW Mannheim.

Envoc, a leading software design and development company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Lipe as Vice President of Revenue Operations. With over 20 years of experience in marketing strategy, branding, and leadership roles, Lipe will be responsible for driving business success for Envoc's clients and contributing to the company's continued growth.

In addition to this new role, Envoc's CEO Calvin Fabre and Michael Lipe will form Turnpoint Media Group, a marketing consultancy practice aimed at serving the go-to-market planning needs of Envoc's customers and providing strategic marketing services to new clients.

Lipe's history with Envoc dates back more than 15 years when he co-founded Maxon Media, a marketing agency acquired by Envoc in 2012. Most recently, Lipe served as Managing Director of Brand & Marketing Strategy at Insperity, a nationwide human resources services and technology company based in Kingwood, TX, where he led the company's brand awareness, advertising, field marketing, thought leadership, and performance analytics teams.

As Vice President of Revenue Operations at Envoc, Lipe will bring his extensive background in marketing and leadership to oversee the company's growth goals and collaborate closely with the executive team to drive its continued success. He will leverage his experience in building and implementing marketing strategies to help Envoc's clients achieve their business goals and contribute to the company's ongoing expansion.

"We are thrilled to have Michael join Envoc, ushering in a new era of growth and client success," said Calvin Fabre, founder and CEO of Envoc. "Combining Envoc's 20 years of innovative technology experience with our new enterprise-level strategic marketing services will create unparalleled opportunities for greater impact."

"Client success is at the core of Envoc's mission," added Lipe. "Our goal is to provide transformative business solutions that drive tangible results, and this partnership will further solidify Envoc's reputation as a trailblazer in the industry and a pillar of the local community."

Lipe holds a Bachelor's degree in Design and Communications from Louisiana State University and a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Belhaven University. He will be based in Envoc's Baton Rouge headquarters.