Axios HQ, the leading internal communications software powered by Smart Brevity® and AI, exceeded $10 million in ARR in 2023. Only 13% of startups reach $10 million in their first 10 years. On average, it takes them five. Axios HQ — not yet three — continues to press the gas.

Two more announcements will help fuel the startup’s next phase:

• Welcoming its first CMO: Chris Willis joins as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing more than 20 years of experience guiding tech and AI companies through accelerated growth and building best-in-class teams as CMO of Acrolinx, Perfecto Mobile, Verivo Software, and Pyxis Mobile.
• Launching Slack and Teams integrations: Axios HQ customers can now distribute their highly engaging Smart Brevity updates directly to Slack and Microsoft Teams. Organizations can meet their employees where they are, streamline the flow of information, and keep their data story intact. Reader engagement insights can still track back to HQ dashboards.

Roy Schwartz, CEO of Axios HQ: “I say it all the time: Good communications are audience-first. In 2024, every executive’s and every organization’s most important audience will be their employees, and you’re going to need a stronger multi-channel strategy to engage them. Axios HQ does that. And it’s the only internal comms software with our patented Smart Brevity Guidance system that makes messages clearer and more memorable. Chris will be key in helping more leaders see that Axios HQ is their answer.”

Over 600 organizations have already brought Axios HQ’s tools, templates, and AI-powered writing help in-house. With Slack and Teams integrations, Axios HQ will help more leaders reach more readers on the platforms they use every day. Among customers:

• 88% say Axios HQ has a positive impact on internal comms.
• 90% say it’s helped improve engagement.
• 82% say it’s helping them collect employee feedback.
• 50%+ say it’s saving them time.

Chris Willis, CMO of Axios HQ: “It feels like breathing rare air. Before I met the HQ team, I thought my next stop would be at a big company with big challenges. Since meeting them, I saw I had it backward. It’s at a small company with big opportunities, and if we do our jobs right, it’s the next unicorn. I’m focused on using my AI and marketing experience to expand our brand awareness, scale our demand engine, and ensure Axios HQ continues to execute on its ambitious growth strategy.”

The bottom line: Axios HQ can help any organization punch above its weight class, build better internal communications, and strengthen employee engagement. Now, it can help those same organizations make sure their most vital updates are quickly accessible on today's most popular collaboration hubs.

Futuri Media, a leading innovator in AI-driven audience engagement and sales intelligence solutions for broadcasters, proudly announces the appointment of Mary Rogers as Senior Vice President of Sales.

With over two decades of experience in sales and marketing, Mary brings a wealth of knowledge in strategic planning, client account management, and revenue generation. Her passion for Futuri's products is rooted in her six-year experience as a client across different companies and markets. "One of the reasons why I'm so excited to join Futuri is because I've witnessed first-hand the vital role Futuri products, like TopLine and TopicPulse, play in client research, creating category expertise, and building credibility with buyers," said Rogers.

Mary's journey in media sales began on the other side of the table, as a marketing director at a pioneering medical practice. After successfully branding her client using both traditional media and various digital platforms, she was recruited by Cox Media Group to deliver the same successes to Cox clients. Her transition to a sales leader at Cox Media Group marks the beginning of an illustrious career. Mary has led teams to many successes in four markets, most recently in Dallas with Audacy.

Living in San Antonio with her family, Mary is excited to join Futuri's mission to revolutionize broadcast radio, TV, and digital publishing. "Futuri's known for always innovating, keeping a close eye on the current and future needs of broadcasters and digital publishers," says Rogers. "Last year's launches of SpotOn (AI-generated spec spots) and POST Automatic Publishing (instantly turning broadcasts into podcasts) only further exemplify their commitment to the industry." Mary's expertise in digital multi-platform strategies and streaming options positions her perfectly to lead Futuri's sales initiatives.

"Mary understands the nuanced needs of today's media landscape," said Daniel Anstandig, CEO of Futuri. "Our suite of AI solutions are designed to tailor to the specific needs of every station and media company. Futuri clients will greatly benefit from Mary's creative and strategic thinking for gaining market share and company-wide efficiencies."

Adds website accessibility, website optimization, and compliance solution to Acquia’s industry-leading digital experience platform (DXP)

Acquia, the digital experience leader, today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of the Monsido platform, a website accessibility and optimization solution. The SaaS-based Monsido platform helps customers of all sizes, across industries, to monitor and perfect website accessibility, content quality and governance, search engine optimization (SEO), data privacy, and performance. The acquisition expands the capabilities of the Acquia digital experience platform, Acquia DXP, making it the only leading DXP that offers a full solution for supporting the creation of digital experiences that are accessible to all website users.

Acquia acquired the Monsido platform from CivicPlus, a leader in public sector integrated technology solutions. CivicPlus retains and continues to serve its U.S. local government customers as a reseller of the Monsido platform. Monsido team members in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Denmark, including two co-founders of Monsido, have joined Acquia.

“Making accessibility and compliance core to Acquia DXP supports our mission of building an inclusive digital future, and enables our customers to provide web experiences that serve all of their users,” said Steve Reny, President and CEO of Acquia. “We are delighted to welcome the Monsido team to Acquia and look forward to bringing the Monsido platform and its capabilities to more organizations globally.”

Accessibility a prerequisite for an open DXP

In a recent report, IDC found that fewer than 10% of websites are fully accessible across visual, auditory, and cognitive disabilities (1). Legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the upcoming European Accessibility Act mandates that vendors address digital accessibility. Marketers are also recognizing that they broaden the number of customers they reach by making websites accessible.

Today providing a productive digital experience means meeting consumer expectations for accessibility. Doing so enhances brands, builds customer loyalty and, in a busy digital world, can be an organization’s main competitive advantage. Acquia now offers a complete solution for building, managing, and delivering websites that are fully optimized to meet modern standards and digital content guidelines and that comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and web accessibility legislation.

Monsido works with any content management system (CMS), including Drupal, the open source CMS that is the foundation of Acquia DXP. It is available as part of Acquia DXP or as a standalone offering.

Testing capabilities enable greater understanding and accountability for how campaigns perform in a cookieless world

Yahoo today announced first-to-market testing capabilities for its identity suite, Yahoo Identity Solutions, directly in the Yahoo DSP. The move helps advertisers gain valuable media insights and prepare their businesses today to properly optimize and measure campaigns amid third-party cookie deprecation.

Advertisers can now easily test their campaign future-proofing strategies in a simulated environment directly within the Yahoo DSP across all web browsers and in-app inventory. The test enables advertisers to remove cookies across all identity-related use cases such as frequency capping, targeting, conversion attribution, and reach metrics to understand how Yahoo Identity Solutions can support their programmatic media.

In a simple A/B test, advertisers can view a control line running on web and in-app inventory as it exists today - inclusive of all third-party cookies and identifiers - and a test line that runs across the same environments without third-party cookies and device IDs, which leverages Yahoo Identity Solutions for targeting and buying. By juxtaposing control and test campaigns, advertisers can get a better sense of future advertising trends, thereby optimizing campaigns and enhancing overall outcomes. Identity testing can be run using a variety of audiences, including demographic, income, interest, lookalike, and predictive.

Klick Health is the first life sciences agency to test the capabilities, driving greater understanding and accountability for how their campaigns perform in a cookieless world.

“As we continue to help life sciences clients prepare for the changing digital landscape, we’re committed to partnering with companies like Yahoo that have cutting-edge identity solutions and capacity to execute campaigns emulating the cookieless future,” said Kristy Quagliariello, VP, Programmatic, Klick Health. “We work in a very data-driven sector and the learnings from this testing enable our team to improve and optimize buying strategies, and give us a competitive edge.”

"As cookie deprecation quickly approaches, advertisers are looking to easily and accurately test solutions without having to change the way they buy or introduce friction into their campaigns,” said Elizabeth Herbst-Brady, Chief Revenue Officer at Yahoo. “These new testing capabilities and our continued enhancement of Yahoo Identity Solutions reflect our unwavering dedication to providing advertisers with accurate insights and measurable business outcomes."

Yahoo takes an integrated approach to identity across every digital environment. Yahoo Identity Solutions, which include Yahoo ConnectID and Next-Gen Solutions, account for both addressable and non-addressable inventory. Yahoo ConnectID for addressable inventory is powered by consent-based, first-party and partner data from Yahoo, and today reaches nearly 200M authenticated users in the U.S. Next-Gen Solutions is an AI-built identity solution that leverages Yahoo ConnectID users as a panel audience and drives relevance and reach within non-addressable environments.

Yahoo will continue to support the future of identity, enabling advertisers to meet their business objectives and drive a privacy-centric ecosystem. Along with Yahoo Identity Solutions, Yahoo will adopt industry solutions to drive a holistic approach and strong results for clients. Yahoo advertisers will be able to test Google Privacy Sandbox APIs, which will offer additional signals for reaching their customers on Chrome as third party cookies are deprecated.

GlocalMe, a leading mobile data connection brand under UCLOUDLINK, is proud to showcase its newest advancements in providing comprehensive mobile data solutions at CES 2024, the world's biggest tech exhibition, currently taking place in Las Vegas. This year's CES theme, "ALL ON", emphasizes advancing technology for the benefit of humanity, and perfectly aligns with GlocalMe's vision of offering a diverse range of data connectivity options tailored to the unique demands of global markets.

A Leap in Mobile Data Connectivity

GlocalMe's innovative data connection services as well as its wide range of hardware and software products enable users to freely access the internet, without the need to shop for local SIM cards when travelling or incur the high costs of roaming data in over 150 countries.

Recognizing this, GlocalMe has expanded its product and service portfolio, transcending beyond its SIM-free mobile Wi-Fi hardware. GlocalMe now offers a comprehensive marketplace of mobile data solutions, including convenient eSIM and OTA SIM card services, as well as business-grade high performance connection options that cater to the evolving needs of consumers and enterprises alike.

Introducing GlocalMe Life: Better Connection for A Better Living

At CES 2024, GlocalMe is excited to introduce GlocalMe Life, a visionary step in the company's business development. GlocalMe Life is not simply a product — it's a philosophy that embodies the belief that enhanced connectivity leads to an enriched life. With this initiative, GlocalMe is set to redefine the intersection of technology and daily living, delivering innovative solutions that promise to make life more connected, convenient, and fulfilling.

The recent strides made by GlocalMe represent significant milestones for the company, which has built its reputation on providing reliable and efficient mobile data connection solutions. These developments are a testament to GlocalMe's commitment to innovation and its continuous efforts to adapt and grow within the fast-paced tech industry. By widening its offerings to include a full spectrum of mobile data connection solutions, GlocalMe is not only responding to the market's current needs but is also shaping the future of how we stay connected with the good network.

"In an IoT-dominated future, the quality of connections underpins the very essence of life. While everything is built on the internet, few companies prioritize the continuous excellence of these connections. That's why at GlocalMe, 'Always Better Connected' isn't just a slogan—it's our commitment to innovation. At CES 2024, we are proud to demonstrate how our latest advancements embody this promise, ensuring that GlocalMe users enjoy a better digital life in an increasingly interconnected world," said Chaohui Chen, CEO of uCloudlink.

Experience GlocalMe at CES 2024

CES 2024's focus on connectivity resonates with GlocalMe's mission to bridge gaps and forge connections across the globe. GlocalMe's participation in this premier event highlights its role as a key player in driving forward the conversation on the role of technology in improving everyday life and enhancing business operations.

Visitors to CES 2024 are invited to explore GlocalMe's Eco Lifestyle range and comprehensive array of innovative mobile data solutions at booth #50562 at the Venetian Expo. Here, GlocalMe will demonstrate how its visionary products and services are setting new benchmarks for what it means to be always connected, whether at home, in the office, or on the move.

Data from over 500 app marketing professionals finds 58% of marketers are chasing more aggressive KPI targets, while 80% expect their ad spend to stay the same or increase in 2024

Liftoff, the leading growth acceleration platform for the mobile industry, has published the findings of its 2024 App Marketer Survey, which analyzes responses from app marketing professionals across a number of top companies worldwide. It compiles input from more than 500 marketers working with monthly ad budgets ranging from $50,000 to over $1,000,000 across multiple regions and app verticals.

The 2024 App Marketer Survey provides a preliminary look into how app marketing professionals are responding to pivotal challenges to the mobile ecosystem, such as user privacy, cost, and macroeconomic factors. It also reveals future ad spend expectations and perceptions of channel and ad tech innovations, while additionally offering a comprehensive look at campaign performance in 2023.

Key findings include:

KPIs are more vigorous due to an uncertain economic climate 
Nearly 60% of respondents are chasing more aggressive KPI targets compared to 12 months ago, and 42% of respondents are working with a larger number of partners to reach those KPIs. That said, 47% of respondents said they are reaching or overperforming KPI targets, an increase of 6% from last year's survey.

Budgets and resources are growing to meet these KPIs
43% of respondents based in EMEA and 44% of respondents in APAC said their budgets have increased, compared to just 35% in the Americas. Overall, 80% of respondents said they expect their ad spend to stay the same or increase next year, with self-attributing networks (SAN) and ad networks as their top spend priorities. Over half of respondents listed organic/viral and influencer as channels where they plan to increase resources.

Despite a year of ups and downs, marketers are generally optimistic about the future
While growth is slowing, we found that app marketers are slightly more likely than last year to feel neutral or upbeat about the industry's current state. 60–70% of respondents in all regions feel 'the same' or 'better' than 12 months ago when asked about their outlook for the industry in 2024. That said, there are still challenges in gaming, with 38% of game marketers saying they feel 'somewhat' or 'significantly' worse than 12 months ago.

Challenges from ATT still loom – but marketers are adapting 
In Liftoff's 2022 App Marketer Survey, 64% of respondents reported a negative impact from ATT on their UA efforts, and only 12% reported a positive impact. This year marked a notable difference, with only 44% of respondents reporting a negative impact and nearly 25% of respondents reporting a positive impact. When asked about the common challenges ATT presented, 42% of respondents were neutral or disagreed about ATT causing rapid changes to strategy, a sign that marketers may be adapting to the challenges posed by ATT.

Over a third of respondents are unfamiliar with SKAN 4
When we asked respondents in last year's App Marketer Survey about how familiar they were with Apple's spec for its SKAdNetwork (SKAN 4), only 47% of app marketers reported they were 'somewhat' or 'very' familiar with it. This year's survey marks an improvement, with 66% of respondents reporting understanding – but it still means over a third of respondents aren't versed in SKAN 4!

Joey Fulcher, Global VP, Accelerate at Liftoff, said:

"The app marketing industry has faced unprecedented challenges in the past two years, but we're also seeing innovations in tackling them. Our 2024 survey offers an indispensable look at how mobile marketing professionals are responding to industry changes and where they plan to allocate ad spend in 2024."

OpenText™, today announced the strategic appointment of Denise Miura as SVP & President of OpenText Japan for the Canadian-based information management and AI company. Ms. Miura will lead a charter focused on spearheading the company's growth in the region.

Miura has deep experience working in the Japan region for global software leaders in enterprise data and insights management, having ran the Japan operations at both MarkLogic and Medallia. In recent years, OpenText has grown significantly to bring a wide range of information management solutions to Japan including content management, business network, digital operations management, application delivery management, and more. 

"I am excited to be part of OpenText. Information management is more relevant today than ever especially as the prerequisite to AI. The more we can help our customers ensure their data sets are secure, organized, and ready to take advantage of AI, the more our customers will realize the productivity gains they are seeking. OpenText's focus on customer success and long-term partnerships with the clients in Japan resonated with me, and I look forward to bringing our advanced technology solutions to even more customers," said Denise Miura.

"We are pleased to have Denise join the sales leadership team at OpenText," said James McGourlay, EVP of International Sales. "Our APAC business across Japan, Australia, Singapore, Korea, and Southeast Asia is a strategic growth vector for OpenText. With the OpenText Cloud, we are serving key industries including manufacturing, financial services, and public sector. Denise's experience in Japan as well as strong knowledge of the enterprise software space are extremely valuable. Under her leadership, I am confident that OpenText Japan will continue to scale and deliver business impact to our important customers and partners in Japan."