Akia, the premier guest journey platform, has launched a powerful email and SMS marketing suite designed to increase direct bookings. This suite seamlessly integrates with leading property management systems (PMS) and Akia’s AI-driven journey platform, enabling hotels and vacation rentals to enhance guest engagement and retention.

Features of Akia’s Marketing Suite

Drag & Drop Campaign Builder – Easily create emails and SMS with pre-designed templates
Data-Driven Insights – Leverage PMS integration for personalized targeting
Dynamic Audience Segmentation – Reach guests based on preferences & behavior
Centralized Guest Profiles – Store phone numbers & unmasked email addresses
Real-Time Reporting Dashboard – Monitor campaign performance and key booking metrics

Building on SMS Success

Akia has already transformed guest engagement with its SMS tool, enabling properties to:
Capture & Store Guest Contact Information
Send Personalized Offers Based on Guest Data
Track Birthdays, Anniversaries & Special Occasions for Targeted Campaigns

Frederik Hermann, VP of Marketing at Akia, shares:

“Akia’s new Marketing Suite empowers hospitality teams to drive more direct bookings with ease. By combining email and SMS with real-time guest data, properties can engage guests effortlessly and maximize revenue.”

Email Marketing Capabilities & Automation

Dynamic, Real-Time Audience Lists – Automatically update based on guest attributes
Automated Rebooking Campaigns – Set up a 90-day follow-up email to past guests
Ongoing Email Sequences – Keep guests engaged with timely offers & promotions

With pre-designed components and automation tools, Akia’s Marketing Suite ensures that busy hospitality professionals can execute high-impact marketing without complexity.

With Akia’s AI-powered Marketing Suite, hotels and vacation rentals can now streamline their email and SMS marketing efforts, maximize direct bookings, and enhance guest engagement.

Voyantis, an AI-driven growth platform specializing in customer acquisition and lifecycle optimization, has secured $41 million in funding, bringing its total funding to $60 million. Led by Intel Capital, with participation from Square Peg, Target Global, Jibe, Redseed, Alicorn, 20Growth, Essential, and ICON, this funding will accelerate Voyantis' expansion and fuel innovation in AI-powered predictive growth solutions.

Intel Capital Investment Director Lisa Cohen will join Voyantis' board to support its rapid growth trajectory.

Voyantis: Transforming Growth in the AI Era

Tripled ARR for Two Consecutive Years
Expanded Customer Base with Clients Like Miro, Rappi & Moneylion
Predictive AI for Smarter Customer Acquisition & Retention

With businesses shifting from growth-at-all-costs strategies toward efficient and sustainable growth, Voyantis empowers teams to identify, engage, and retain their most valuable customers. The platform leverages predictive and prescriptive AI to eliminate guesswork and automate actions based on real-time customer value predictions.

AI-Powered Growth & Customer Lifecycle Optimization

Predictive AI – Determines the future value of customers in real time
Prescriptive AI – Automates actions & incentives via Salesforce & Braze
Data-Driven Growth Metrics – Aligns acquisition with long-term profitability

Ido Wiesenberg, CEO & Co-Founder of Voyantis, shares:

"Traditional growth playbooks are being re-written in the AI era. Our mission is to empower businesses to leverage AI for smarter, more intentional customer acquisition, nurturing, and retention."

Intel Capital’s Vision for AI-Driven Growth

Intel Capital’s Lisa Cohen highlights the industry shift toward maximizing customer lifetime value (LTV):

"Companies of all sizes are prioritizing smarter, more efficient campaigns. Voyantis’ AI-driven approach automates and optimizes this process, unlocking sustainable and predictable growth."

Global Expansion & Future Plans

With offices in the US, EMEA, LATAM, and Israel, and a growing team of 70+ employees, Voyantis plans to:
Expand hiring across sales, marketing & delivery teams
Enhance GTM strategy to drive deeper market penetration
Invest in R&D to refine AI-driven automation for growth

Voyantis is redefining customer acquisition and retention through AI-powered predictive intelligence, helping businesses optimize unit economics and drive sustainable profitability. With $41M in fresh funding, the company is poised for global expansion and innovation in growth automation.

Many organizations struggle to create effective dashboards despite having experienced teams. Often, dashboards are built based on available data rather than strategic objectives, limiting their impact on performance and growth.

To bridge this gap, Info-Tech Research Group has introduced a structured framework, Build Better Dashboards Across Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success. This blueprint provides actionable insights for designing dashboards that enhance cross-functional collaboration and data-driven decision-making.

The Role of Dashboards in High-Performing Teams

Dashboards serve as essential tools in marketing, sales, and customer success by offering real-time data visualization for performance tracking and strategic decision-making. However, poorly structured dashboards can result in outdated or incomplete insights, leading to inefficiencies.

According to Terra Higginson, Principal Research Director at Info-Tech Research Group:
"Organizations have vast amounts of data but lack a clear strategy to extract value. Our blueprint helps businesses transform raw data into actionable insights, ensuring dashboards align with goals that drive measurable impact."

Factors for Building High-Impact Dashboards

Info-Tech’s research outlines eight critical elements for developing effective dashboards:

1. Identify Business Goals

• Define clear objectives aligned with the company’s broader strategy.
• Ensure dashboards drive decision-making and measurable outcomes.

2. Outline the Metrics

• Establish SMART goals and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Focus on metrics that truly reflect business performance.

3. Evaluate Data and Select an Analytics Tool

• Leverage AI-powered analytics tools to clean and structure data.
• Ensure data accuracy and reliability before integration.

4. Identify Data and Sources

• Integrate multiple data sources, including CRM, marketing automation, and web analytics.
• Use APIs or manual processes to create a unified data view.

5. Design the Dashboard

• Develop visually appealing, user-friendly dashboards.
• Ensure dashboards provide real-time tracking for marketing, sales, and customer success.

6. Build Requirements Document

• Outline essential data sources, field mappings, and system workflows.
• Ensure alignment across marketing, sales, and customer success teams.

7. Establish Regular Reporting Intervals

• Set a structured schedule for dashboard updates and reporting.
• Maintain data relevance through consistent monitoring.

8. Iterate and Improve Dashboards

• Regularly test and refine dashboards for better insights.
• Adjust KPIs and metrics to align with evolving business needs.

By aligning dashboards with business objectives and specific user needs, organizations can turn raw data into a powerful strategic asset. A well-structured dashboard enables leadership teams to track performance, identify trends, and drive operational efficiency, ultimately leading to measurable business growth.

Fox Corporation has announced the acquisition of Red Seat Ventures, a leading company in the creator economy that helps talent build and expand their direct-to-consumer media businesses. The acquisition positions Red Seat Ventures as a standalone entity within FOX’s Tubi Media Group, with Paul Cheesbrough, CEO of Tubi Media Group, assuming the role of Chairman.

Strategic Growth in the Creator Economy

The creator economy is a rapidly growing media sector, with consumers increasingly seeking direct access to trusted voices and brands. FOX aims to leverage this trend by integrating Red Seat Ventures’ expertise in content creation, subscription products, and live events.

According to Paul Cheesbrough, CEO of Tubi Media Group:
"The creator economy is one of the fastest-growing media categories, and we see tremendous opportunities to drive additional scale in sports, news, and entertainment with Red Seat Ventures."

Red Seat Ventures' Continued Leadership and Expansion

• Red Seat Ventures, led by founding partners Chris Balfe and Kevin Balfe, will continue operating independently within FOX.
• The company has a proven track record in managing and scaling creator-led media businesses across multiple platforms.
• Its portfolio includes 17 creator-led shows that generated over 200 million monthly active views in November 2024.

Benefits of the Acquisition

• Expanded Media Reach: Strengthens FOX’s presence in the creator-driven content space.
• Diverse Content Offerings: Enhances cross-platform distribution of podcasts, video, and live events.
• Creator Support & Growth: Enables Red Seat Ventures to offer more services while maintaining brand independence.

Chris Balfe, CEO of Red Seat Ventures, emphasized:
"Aligning with FOX allows us to expand our services while ensuring creators retain their independence and brand integrity."

With this acquisition, FOX aims to scale its presence in the creator economy, leveraging Red Seat Ventures' expertise to expand its direct-to-consumer media offerings. The move strengthens FOX’s position in sports, news, and entertainment while empowering creators with enhanced resources and distribution opportunities.

Monks, the global digital and data-driven brand of S4 Capital plc, has announced the appointment of Karan Chetal as its new Chief Sales Officer for Technology Services. Recognized among the Top 25 Technology Consultants and Leaders of 2025 by The Consulting Report, Chetal brings over 25 years of expertise in business development, technology adoption, IT consulting, and sales leadership.

Driving Growth in Technology Services

In his new role, Chetal will lead Monks' Technology Services sales organization, focusing on:

• Software & Platform Development
• Cloud & Infrastructure Solutions
• Data, AI & Automation
• Consulting Services

His strategic focus will be on cross-pillar integration, ensuring seamless technology solutions for Monks' clients. Additionally, he will support the development and adoption of Monks.Flow, an AI-driven suite designed to enhance business transformation through advanced tech integrations.

Industry Leaders Welcome Chetal’s Vision

Nikki Gifford, Chief Operating Officer, Technology Services at Monks, stated:
"Karan’s expertise in enterprise technology sales will help Monks expand beyond marketing transformation into large-scale business transformation. His leadership will be invaluable as we grow our Technology Services division."

Karan Chetal expressed his enthusiasm:
"Technology is the foundation for all marketing. I’m excited to join Monks, a company that has redefined itself beyond traditional marketing and advertising to become a strategic technology solutions partner."

Proven Track Record in Technology Leadership

Before joining Monks, Chetal served as Global Head of Strategic Engagements at Wipro. His career also includes senior leadership roles at NTT and Atos, where he drove business growth, M&A initiatives, and digital transformation.

Chetal’s educational background includes:

• MBA from Oxford University
• Executive programs in Organizational and Digital Leadership from HEC Paris & Harvard University

Karan Chetal’s appointment signals Monks' commitment to enhancing its technology services offerings, further cementing its role as a leader in AI, cloud computing, and business transformation solutions. His leadership will drive Monks’ growth in enterprise technology solutions, helping clients navigate the evolving digital landscape.

Boostly, a leading provider of automated SMS marketing and feedback solutions for restaurants, has secured $22 million in Series A funding, led by PeakSpan Capital, with participation from Y Combinator, Trestle Partners, and Singularity Capital. This funding follows a $5.6M Seed round just six months ago, highlighting Boostly’s rapid growth and industry impact. The new investment will accelerate innovation and expand Boostly’s ability to help restaurants maximize first-party customer data for revenue growth.

Revolutionizing Restaurant Marketing Through AI-Driven SMS

The restaurant industry is evolving with digital engagement trends such as online ordering and delivery services. Boostly addresses these shifts by providing:

• AI-Powered Behavioral SMS Marketing – Achieves 10x higher engagement rates than standard text campaigns.
• Gamified Texting Experiences – Drives customer interaction through interactive promotions.
• First-Party Data Utilization – Accelerates SMS subscriber opt-ins 5x faster than traditional solutions.

With a patent-pending data aggregation process, Boostly enables restaurants to convert raw customer data into actionable insights, fostering long-term engagement and repeat business.

Expanding Market Adoption and Growth

Currently serving 1,200+ restaurant locations across the U.S. and Canada, Boostly is proving its platform’s effectiveness in automating marketing, generating customer reviews, and increasing revenue.

Founded by Shane and Mikey Murphy, Boostly benefits from their deep expertise in restaurant technology, having previously built and sold an online ordering platform and led a restaurant operations software firm.

Leadership Insights on Boostly’s Growth

Shane Murphy, Co-Founder & CEO, shared Boostly’s vision:
"Restaurant owners juggle countless responsibilities daily. They need a marketing system that operates on autopilot and delivers measurable ROI. We’ve gamified SMS marketing to drive superior engagement and revenue, ensuring our success is directly tied to our customers’ growth."

Matt Melymuka, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at PeakSpan Capital, emphasized Boostly’s market potential:
"With privacy regulations limiting traditional digital ads, first-party data is now a restaurant’s most valuable asset. Boostly provides an automated, compliant solution to transform this data into revenue-driving engagement."

As data privacy regulations reshape digital marketing, Boostly’s AI-powered, first-party data marketing platform positions it as a key player in restaurant technology. With $22M in new capital, Boostly is set to expand its offerings, enhance AI capabilities, and drive long-term growth for restaurants worldwide.

SiteSpect, a leader in digital optimization and experimentation, has launched Superfresh, a transformative user experience initiative designed to simplify workflows, enhance usability, and improve team collaboration. This update brings a modernized interface, new tools, and an upcoming redesigned Campaign Builder for seamless, cross-channel optimization.

"Superfresh is more than a visual update—it's a complete redesign focused on ease of use, simplification, modernization, and self-sufficiency," says Paul Bernier, VP of Product Management.

Features Already Released

Superfresh introduces several usability enhancements to streamline digital experimentation:

• Streamlined Navigation – A modernized menu for quick, intuitive access to key tools.
• Recently Viewed Items – Simplifies workflow continuity with easy project access.
• Enhanced Creation Tools – Reduces setup time with simplified test workflows.
• Global Triggers – Enables reusable triggers for consistent metrics and variations.
• Redesigned List Pages – Improves search, filtering, and custom views.
• New Metric Builder – A step-by-step wizard for seamless data capture and analysis.

Coming Soon: A Reimagined Campaign Builder

SiteSpect will soon release a fully redesigned Campaign Builder, featuring:
Multi-Channel Experimentation – Create experiences across web, mobile, and apps.
Visual & Code-Based Editing – Supports users of all skill levels.
Tab-Based UI – Enhances collaboration across teams.
Advanced Code Editing – Includes feature flagging and personalization tools.

"Superfresh underscores SiteSpect's commitment to evolving with customer needs," says Kate Orchard, Product Manager. Future updates will continue refining onboarding, experimentation tools, and cross-team collaboration.

With Superfresh, SiteSpect delivers a more intuitive, efficient, and powerful platform for digital optimization. As businesses demand seamless A/B testing and personalization, this initiative ensures teams can experiment with confidence and drive meaningful growth.

BigScoots proudly announces its role as a founding member of the i2Coalition’s Secure Hosting Alliance (SHA). This new coalition of 21 hosting providers and affiliated companies is dedicated to strengthening the hosting and cloud industry by fostering trust, advocating for fair policies, and ensuring an open and secure Internet.

"BigScoots has been in hosting for almost 15 years and has seen, first-hand, the impact of legislation on the industry, innovation, and client success. BigScoots is honored to be part of the SHA to participate in, and support, a bigger voice for advocacy and positive change in the hosting space."
— Tim Monner, CMO, BigScoots

SHA’s Mission and Goals

SHA aims to create a trusted, secure, and ethical web hosting environment. As part of this initiative, the alliance will:
Strengthen fraud prevention and abuse response through collaborative frameworks.
Establish common industry standards for security, privacy, and ethical practices.
Define unified terminology for better communication within the cloud industry.
Advocate for cybersecurity and data protection tailored to hosting and cloud providers.
Foster industry collaboration through events and networking opportunities.

"I'm excited to lead the Secure Hosting Alliance as we bring member companies together to build a more trusted, secure, and ethical web hosting industry," said David Snead, Director of SHA.

With SHA’s initiatives, BigScoots continues to reinforce its commitment to security, transparency, and industry-wide collaboration. As web hosting evolves, SHA’s trust-driven approach will play a critical role in shaping a safer and more resilient online ecosystem.