Beyond Trending, a strategic public relations and communications firm, is celebrating five years of continued growth and client success. Serving tech companies, venture capital firms, and nonprofit organizations, the agency has built a reputation for securing meaningful exposure through impactful storytelling. With an 89% client retention rate and a 48% average year-over-year revenue increase, Beyond Trending is just getting started.

Five Years of Industry Success

As many large PR firms struggle to hit revenue targets, niche and emerging agencies like Beyond Trending stand out for their tailored, high-impact strategies. The agency has maintained a long-term client engagement average of 2-3 years, consistently delivering top-tier media placements that drive measurable business outcomes.

Beyond Trending’s clients have been featured in Fortune, Forbes, Business Insider, TechCrunch, Bloomberg Television, USA Today, Fox Business, and BBC. Clients have also earned industry recognitions such as:

• Forbes 30 Under 30 list placements

• RSAC Innovation Sandbox designation

• SINET16 Innovator Award

• Representation of its first publicly traded enterprise client in 2024

Edtech leader Amanda DoAmaral, founder & CEO of Fiveable, credits Beyond Trending with playing a key role in the company's success:
"Beyond Trending was a catalyst for helping Fiveable grow. The PR approach was always thoughtful and strategic, resulting in features in publications like Business Insider and TechCrunch."

A Foundation Built on Values and Differentiation

Unlike traditional PR agencies that prioritize scale over service, Beyond Trending remains committed to its core values, ensuring that every strategy is custom-built for long-term impact.

The agency’s approach is rooted in deep client collaboration and strategic media placement, rather than the industry-standard “pray-and-spray” method. Sergio Paluch, founding partner at VC firm Beta Boom, shared his experience:
"The Beyond Trending team took their time to truly understand our story and what made us unique. They created a multi-pronged PR plan executed with precision. The results speak for themselves."

Leadership and Industry Impact

Founder & CEO Liza Vilnits has positioned Beyond Trending as a thought leader in the PR space. She has shared insights on TechCrunch, gener8tor, and Lowcountry Local First stages while educating hundreds of founders and executives through private webinars and training sessions.

"Today's clients want more than a one-size-fits-all strategy. They need a PR partner as committed to their success as they are," says Vilnits.

Looking Ahead

As Beyond Trending enters its next phase of growth, the agency remains focused on elevating industry standards, building strong client relationships, and delivering PR strategies that make a real impact.

Stagwell, the challenger network transforming marketing, is hosting its 2025 Investor Day virtually, where executives will outline the company’s next phase of growth. The event will feature key strategic initiatives, including a plan to reach $5 billion in annual revenue by 2029, an $80 to $100 million cost savings initiative, and a simplified capital structure.

A livestream of the event begins at 10 a.m. ET on April 2, 2025, with a recording available later at Stagwell’s official website.

Announcements from Investor Day

"5 x 5" Initiative: $5 Billion Revenue Target by 2029

Stagwell is launching its "5 x 5" plan, aiming for:

• $5 billion in revenue

• $1 billion in adjusted EBITDA

• No increase in debt ratios

CEO Mark Penn emphasized the company's rapid ascent, stating,
"Three years ago, many doubted we would reach $3 billion in revenue. We proved them wrong. Now, we enter Phase II of our growth strategy to scale even further."

$80 to $100 Million Cost Savings Through AI Efficiency

Stagwell has identified AI-driven efficiencies that will save between $80 to $100 million over the next 18 to 24 months. Key milestones include:

• $60 to $70 million in savings by the end of 2025, reflected in FY26 results

• Remaining savings completed by 2026

These initiatives will significantly enhance adjusted EBITDA by streamlining workflows and optimizing employee productivity.

Simplifying Capital Structure for Market Appeal

To improve investment attractiveness, Stagwell is eliminating its two-class share structure by converting Class C shares into Class A publicly traded common stock. This move will:

• Simplify the company’s capital structure

• Enhance stock liquidity and attractiveness for institutional investors

Business Unit Restructuring for Greater Alignment

Stagwell is reorganizing its business units to better reflect how clients engage with its services. The company’s new structure will include:

• Marketing Services

• Media and Commerce

• Advocacy (political and nonpolitical communications)

• Digital Transformation

• Stagwell Marketing Cloud

The transition will also lead to a more streamlined financial reporting process later this year.

Strategic Partnerships for AI-Driven Insights

Stagwell is strengthening its data capabilities through a new partnership with Palantir. This collaboration will:

• Enhance performance media targeting by integrating Stagwell ID Graph with Palantir’s AI-driven analytics

• Complement Stagwell’s existing partnership with Adobe for advanced content management

• Enable clients to access a suite of new data and content services launching later this year

Appointment of Inaugural Chief AI Officer

Stagwell is reinforcing its commitment to AI innovation by appointing John Kahan as its first-ever Chief AI Officer. Kahan, who previously held leadership roles at Microsoft and IBM, will:

• Oversee AI integration across Stagwell’s global network

• Drive AI-powered solutions to enhance marketing effectiveness

Affirming 2025 Financial Guidance

Stagwell reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, reflecting a strong start to the year:

• 8% total growth in net revenue

• Adjusted EBITDA between $410M - $460M

• Free cash flow conversion above 45%

• Adjusted EPS between $0.75 - $0.88

This guidance accounts for anticipated acquisitions or dispositions in 2025.

Stagwell’s 2025 Investor Day underscores its position as the fastest-growing major advertising holding company. With a bold "5 x 5" growth strategy, AI-driven efficiencies, and a streamlined business structure, Stagwell is well-positioned for sustained expansion in the coming years.

Revuze has launched ActionHub, an AI-driven insights platform that transforms voice-of-consumer (VoC) data—from reviews, social media, and surveys—into concrete business recommendations. By leveraging large language models (LLMs) and advanced AI, ActionHub enables brands to improve product development, marketing strategies, consumer insights, and eCommerce performance.

Driving Better Decisions Across the Product Lifecycle

ActionHub provides brands with four core hubs, each designed to enhance decision-making and execution:

• Product Hub – Optimizes product innovation and development based on real consumer feedback.

• Marketing Hub – Provides AI-driven insights to refine campaigns, messaging, and branding strategies.

• Consumer Insight Hub – Delivers deep, category-wide analysis to improve customer engagement and satisfaction.

• eCommerce Hub – Enhances product positioning, listing performance, and online conversion rates.

"We're enabling smarter strategies and tactics with measurable results, helping our clients achieve their OKRs and KPIs," said Revuze CEO Guy Yair.

Turning Consumer Feedback into Strategic Actions

ActionHub uses AI and machine learning to process large-scale consumer feedback, delivering real-time insights that brands can act on. Key capabilities include:

• Competitive Intelligence – Benchmark against competitors and adapt to industry trends.

• Automated Content Optimization – Generate data-backed marketing materials and product descriptions.

• Targeted Product Innovation – Identify unmet customer needs and improve product features.

• eCommerce Performance Enhancements – Optimize product listings and enhance online customer experience.

"Brand loyalty is eroding, customer expectations are rising, and competition is fiercer than ever," said Mr. Yair. "By leveraging custom LLMs and comprehensive VoC data, ActionHub helps brands implement real-world solutions that drive measurable impact—not just high-level recommendations."

With Revuze’s ActionHub, brands can move beyond passive insights and take AI-powered actions that improve market intelligence, product innovation, marketing effectiveness, and eCommerce success. In an increasingly fragmented market, AI-driven consumer insights are key to staying ahead.

Krikey AI, a leader in AI animation software, has partnered with ElevenLabs, a pioneer in AI voice technology, to revolutionize animated avatar creation. This integration allows gaming studios, media companies, and content creators to incorporate lifelike AI voices into animations seamlessly, unlocking new possibilities in storytelling, education, gaming, and more.

Transforming Animation with AI-Generated Voices

The partnership brings advanced text-to-speech (TTS) capabilities to Krikey AI Animation, enabling users to:

• Create Talking Avatars: Generate realistic animations with natural-sounding AI voices.

• Streamline Content Creation: Automate dubbing and narration, eliminating manual voice recording.

• Access a Diverse Voice Library: Choose from a wide range of AI-generated voices or create custom AI voices.

• Enhance Accessibility: Make professional-quality voice creation more accessible to all users.

"With this partnership, we’re making it easier than ever for creators to bring animated characters to life with expressive AI-driven voices," said Krikey AI.

Seamless AI Voice Integration for Animation

ElevenLabs' TTS technology allows Krikey AI users to instantly sync AI-generated speech with animated characters, enhancing:

• Marketing & Explainer Videos: Quickly produce polished, AI-voiced animations.

• Gaming & Virtual Worlds: Generate dynamic, interactive characters with realistic dialogue.

• Education & Training Content: Develop engaging, voice-enabled learning materials.

This collaboration ensures that AI-generated voices sync seamlessly with Krikey AI’s animated characters, reducing production time while enhancing storytelling quality.

By integrating ElevenLabs' AI voice generator, Krikey AI Animation empowers users to create high-quality talking avatars faster and more efficiently. Whether for media, gaming, marketing, or education, this AI-powered solution redefines animation and voice creation.

QVC Group, a leader in live shopping entertainment, has announced a strategic agreement with TikTok to host 24/7 live shopping streams featuring QVC Group’s brands, products, and talent. This partnership expands QVC’s reach, offering interactive, discovery-driven shopping experiences to millions of TikTok users.

Revolutionizing Social Commerce

QVC Group, the original innovator in live shopping, brings:

• 40,000+ hours of live content per year across its platforms.

• 100+ celebrity partnerships and influencer collaborations.

• 400,000+ products from top brands, shipping 200+ million units annually.

"We are uniquely suited to bring our large-scale, high-volume, live social shopping experience to TikTok," said David Rawlinson II, President and CEO of QVC Group, Inc.

Live Shopping on TikTok: What to Expect

Since QVC launched on TikTok Shop in August 2024:

• 74,000+ TikTok creators have featured QVC products in their shoppable videos and livestreams.

• The new 24/7 live experience will showcase exclusive QVC and HSN content, tailored specifically for TikTok’s audience.

• QVC’s trusted hosts, celebrity personalities, and product experts will create engaging, real-time shopping experiences.

The Future of Social Commerce

With TikTok Shop’s rapid growth, this partnership is set to reshape social shopping by blending:

• Entertainment & Shopping: Engaging live streams featuring real-time product demos.

• Influencer Collaboration: Expanding QVC’s creator partnerships to reach new audiences.

• Seamless Shopping Experience: Viewers can purchase instantly while watching engaging content.

"Live shopping on TikTok blends entertainment, education, and commerce, redefining how people discover and purchase products," said Nico Le Bourgeois, Head of US Operations for TikTok Shop.

By bringing its decades of expertise to TikTok’s fast-growing social commerce space, QVC Group is setting a new standard for interactive, engaging, and scalable live shopping experiences.

Trustpilot, the world’s largest independent customer feedback platform, has unveiled new features designed to help businesses leverage customer trust for measurable growth. These tools go beyond collecting feedback, enabling brands to analyze, promote, and act on customer insights—leading to stronger relationships, increased conversions, and enhanced brand loyalty.

The Power of Trust in Business Growth

Customer trust is a critical factor in driving business success:

• 93% of executives agree that trust directly impacts the bottom line (PWC Trust Survey, 2024).

• 46% of consumers spend more with brands they trust, and 28% would even pay a premium.

• However, only 30% of consumers highly trust businesses, despite 90% of executives believing otherwise.

"Customer feedback isn't meant to just be collected—it’s meant to drive action," said Alicia Skubick, Chief Customer Officer at Trustpilot.

Features of Trustpilot’s New Update

Trustpilot’s latest enhancements help brands turn reviews into actionable insights across marketing and customer experience teams:

1. Advanced Customer Insights

• Review Follow-Up: Post-review questionnaires provide businesses with more detailed and actionable customer feedback.

• Visitor Insights: Brands gain a deeper understanding of review engagement and customer behavior to identify untapped growth opportunities.

• Analytics Explorer: A centralized dashboard that tracks all key performance metrics, including TrustScore, review volume, search impressions, and engagement trends.

2. Enhanced Review Promotion

• Trustpilot Widgets: Businesses can showcase curated reviews on their website, filtering by keywords, star rating, and recency.

• Custom Social Proof: Trustpilot-branded ads (logo and stars) are nearly 2.5x more persuasive than those without (London Research). The new asset builder allows businesses to easily create and customize trust signals for advertising and social media.

3. Competitive Edge in Customer Experience

These updates bridge the gap between marketing and customer experience teams, making trust-based engagement more effective.

"At Fiserv, we rely on Trustpilot to collect and analyze customer feedback," said Josh Cocciardi, Marketing Analyst at Fiserv. "With new insights capabilities, we can act on feedback and improve more efficiently."

Many businesses struggle to turn customer feedback into valuable action. Trustpilot’s new features empower brands to leverage trust as a business growth tool, enhancing customer relationships, driving conversions, and improving overall business health.

A recent survey by Ignite Visibility, a leading digital marketing agency, has revealed key consumer trends that will shape purchasing behavior in 2025. With responses from over 1,000 American consumers, the study highlights shifting spending habits and provides actionable insights for businesses to adapt their marketing strategies effectively.

Consumer Spending Trends for 2025

The survey found that consumers are prioritizing essential categories, including:

• Daily essentials (groceries, household items)

• Health & wellness (fitness, self-care, medical needs)

• Travel & experiences

• Home improvements (renovations, smart home technology)

At the same time, luxury goods and non-essential items are seeing a decline in consumer interest. With 39.7% of consumers planning to increase spending in essential categories, brands must focus on:

• Affordability and value-driven messaging

• Building consumer trust through transparency and quality

• Highlighting real-world benefits to justify purchases

Franchises Benefit from Brand Trust

The study also found that franchises have a competitive edge due to consumers’ preference for trusted, recognizable brands. Key takeaways for franchises include:

• Localized marketing efforts to connect with communities

• Value-driven promotions to reinforce affordability and reliability

• Transparent communication to strengthen brand loyalty

Expert Insights from Ignite Visibility CEO

"The data provides a clear picture of where consumers are heading in 2025 and how brands can optimize their marketing efforts," said John Lincoln, CEO of Ignite Visibility. "Consumers are prioritizing essentials like health, wellness, and home improvements while cutting back on luxuries. Brands that focus on affordability, trust, and transparent messaging will be best positioned to capture attention and drive loyalty in an increasingly competitive market."

How Brands Can Adapt to Changing Consumer Behavior

To stay ahead of evolving trends, businesses should:
Emphasize affordability without compromising on quality
Leverage trust-building strategies, such as user reviews and social proof
Invest in digital marketing to reach consumers effectively
Create personalized, value-driven campaigns

As consumer spending shifts in 2025, brands that adapt to evolving preferences will gain a competitive advantage. By focusing on essentials, trust, and affordability, businesses can drive stronger engagement and long-term customer loyalty.

Genuin, the AI-powered video-driven community engagement platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Carlist.my, Malaysia’s largest automotive media & classifieds portal. This collaboration enhances interactive, shoppable, and creator-powered video experiences within Carlist.my’s ecosystem, fostering deeper consumer engagement and brand monetization.

How Genuin is Transforming Carlist.my

Carlist.my, part of CARSOME Group, is committed to redefining automotive buying and selling experiences. With Genuin’s AI-powered platform, Carlist.my is:
Building a vibrant, brand-owned digital community
Enhancing trust through expert & user-generated video content
Empowering consumers with interactive, shoppable experiences
Unlocking new media revenue streams for advertisers and creators

The Power of Community-Driven Content

"Consumers today crave more than just content—they want interactive, immersive experiences that drive real connections," said Bhargav Patel, CEO of Genuin. "With these partnerships, brands can reclaim their audiences from Big Social, turning passive viewers into engaged participants while unlocking first-party data and monetization opportunities."

By embedding AI-personalized video feeds, Carlist.my will increase transparency, engagement, and trust, making car buying and selling more informed and community-driven.

Benefits for Automotive Brands & Advertisers

The Genuin-Carlist partnership also opens new revenue and brand engagement opportunities, such as:

• Sponsored community access for premium automotive brands

• Branded challenges & expert takeovers to engage audiences

• Creator-led content series for immersive storytelling

• Shoppable vertical video feeds for seamless product discovery

"Carlist.my is built on a commitment to seamless digital experiences," said KY Gan, Managing Director of iCar Asia. "By integrating Genuin’s video-powered community, we’re enabling a two-way conversation that empowers consumers to make smarter, more confident automotive decisions."

This partnership signals a shift in digital automotive engagement, proving that interactive, community-driven content is the future of media. With AI-powered video integration, shoppable experiences, and creator-led storytelling, Carlist.my is redefining how brands connect with car buyers and sellers in a trusted, digital-first environment.