Braze, the customer engagement powerhouse, is entering fiscal year 2026 with a sharp uptick in revenue, positive free cash flow, and a reinforced C-suite. The company reported a 19.6% year-over-year increase in quarterly revenue, hitting $162.1 million, driven by a healthy mix of new customers, renewals, and upsells. Non-GAAP profitability also made its debut this quarter, with $2.8 million in operating income.

Braze is also betting big on leadership and product evolution to sustain its momentum. The company will welcome Ed McDonnell in July as its new Chief Revenue Officer—an industry veteran with a track record of scaling SaaS revenue engines. And with the recent acquisition of AI decisioning platform OfferFit, Braze is signaling an aggressive push toward personalized, machine-driven customer journeys.

Financial Highlights: Growth Meets Discipline

• Total revenue: $162.1 million (up from $135.5 million YoY)

• Subscription revenue: $154.9 million

• Non-GAAP net income per share: $0.07

• Free cash flow: $22.9 million, nearly doubling from $11.4 million YoY

• Total customers: 2,342, with 262 generating over $500K in ARR

While GAAP net loss stood at $0.34 per share—reflecting $30.4 million in stock-based compensation—non-GAAP metrics showed a clear turnaround, with positive operating income and net income.

Dollar-based net retention, a key SaaS health metric, softened slightly to 109% (down from 117% YoY), and even more notably among large customers (ARR $500K+), which dropped to 112% from 119%. Still, overall customer count rose by 11% year-over-year.

Product & Platform: The OfferFit Advantage

Perhaps more telling than the financials is Braze's recent acquisition of OfferFit, a next-gen AI decisioning engine. This move reflects an industry-wide trend: automation and real-time personalization are no longer optional—they’re mission-critical. Integrating OfferFit allows Braze to expand beyond orchestration and messaging into machine learning-led decisioning, helping marketers optimize what, when, and how they communicate at scale.

Also fresh on the product front are new messaging capabilities, including RCS (Rich Communication Services), in-app Banners, and enhancements to its Canvas journey builder—all designed to help brands create more responsive and immersive experiences.

Sustainability and Staffing: Building for the Future

The company isn’t just investing in tech. Braze continues to build its bench with McDonnell joining to steer global revenue operations, a strategic addition aimed at accelerating go-to-market alignment. On the ESG side, Braze’s carbon emissions targets were approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), reinforcing its commitment to sustainability.

Outlook: What’s Next

Braze projects Q2 revenue in the range of $171M to $172M and full-year revenue of up to $706M. Non-GAAP net income for FY2026 is forecasted between $17M and $21M.

That’s a bold outlook, but not without challenges. Economic headwinds, tightening marketing budgets, and increasing competition in the customer engagement space (think: Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Iterable, Twilio Segment) will test Braze’s ability to deliver. Still, with a solid product foundation, strategic AI plays, and financial discipline, Braze is clearly positioning itself to do more than keep pace—it’s aiming to lead.

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In a move that underscores the growing convergence of wellness trends and pet care, top-ranked communications firm 5WPR has been named the agency of record for PetAg®, a legacy brand in pet wellness and nutrition. The partnership is aimed at amplifying PetAg’s voice in a crowded market through a hybrid approach of media outreach, influencer engagement, and event marketing.

Founded in 1930, PetAg is no stranger to innovation—its Esbilac formula was the first commercially available puppy milk replacer. Today, it’s the dominant name in newborn kitten and puppy nutrition and continues to lead with a science-driven portfolio of supplements, grooming solutions, and wellness products.

From Bottle to Brand Voice

5WPR’s new role will include a broad communications strategy to elevate PetAg’s entire product lineup, which ranges from market leaders like KMR® and Dyne® to grooming staples like Fresh 'n Clean®. The agency will focus on securing media coverage, activating pet-centric influencers, and supporting the brand’s presence at major trade events like SUPERZOO.

“Our team is eager to elevate PetAg’s innovative products through comprehensive pet product marketing strategies,” said Leigh Ann Ambrosi, EVP at 5WPR. “This is about more than awareness—it’s about creating long-term emotional connections between pets, their people, and the products that support their health.”

That’s a significant goal in a category that continues to boom. U.S. pet industry expenditures topped $147 billion in 2023, with wellness-focused products accounting for a major share. As pet parents increasingly seek science-backed solutions, brands like PetAg are poised to resonate with a more informed, proactive audience.

Building on Sector Strength

For 5WPR, this isn’t uncharted territory. The agency has built a reputation in the consumer lifestyle and pet care sectors, crafting campaigns that span from traditional PR to digital storytelling. The PetAg account further deepens that expertise and showcases 5W’s ability to position heritage brands within a modern marketing landscape.

Notably, the partnership comes amid a wave of brand reinvention across pet care. Startups are flooding the market with DTC products, while legacy players are investing in holistic wellness and personalized nutrition. PetAg’s long-standing credibility, coupled with fresh communications horsepower, may offer a competitive edge.

The Bigger Picture

This alignment is more than a PR win—it’s a strategic move to future-proof a brand that has served generations of pet owners. As health-conscious trends continue to reshape consumer behavior, pets are increasingly viewed as family—and treated as such. For PetAg, the challenge is no longer about just being trusted; it’s about staying visible, relevant, and top-of-mind.

And with 5WPR behind the messaging wheel, PetAg looks set to not just bark—but lead the pack.

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In a digital world where milliseconds determine engagement success, Hightouch has just raised the bar. The Composable CDP and AI decisioning platform announced Same-Session Personalization, a breakthrough that lets marketers fuse in-the-moment user behavior with rich customer profiles—all in under a second.

This launch signals the end of a long-standing trade-off in digital marketing: speed versus context. Traditionally, brands have had to act fast with limited information, or wait for deeper customer insights that arrive too late to be useful. Hightouch’s new feature bridges that gap—offering the best of both worlds.

No More “One-Size-Fits-Now” Messaging

Here’s the problem Same-Session Personalization solves:
Someone visits your site, searches flights to Los Angeles, and sees promos for tours and rental cars. Great, right? But what if that person lives in LA and already has a go-to car service? Without access to broader customer history, even “real-time” personalization risks being tone-deaf.

With Hightouch, marketers can now pull from a brand’s full data warehouse—subscription details, past purchases, browsing history, traits—and combine it with real-time signals like clicks, pageviews, and searches within the same session. The result: laser-precise experiences that feel like magic to customers.

Tejas Manohar, Hightouch Co-Founder and Co-CEO, puts it simply:

“Imagine the amount of time it takes to press the lever on a toaster. That’s how fast our same-session personalization bridges the gap.”

What Makes It a Game-Changer

• Sub-Second Response Time: Combines live session data and deep customer context in <1 second
• Limitless Data Access: Pulls from full warehouses—no need to choose between behavior and history
• 250+ Integrations: Personalize across email, web, mobile, ads, and more in real time
• Composable CDP Model: No black box—brands control where and how data is activated
• Customer Journey Sync: Not just moment-based—unified experiences across channels and sessions

This isn't just about converting a single click—it's about orchestrating multi-channel customer journeys in real time. With over 250 downstream integrations, Hightouch allows marketers to act instantly and contextually—on websites, in emails, through paid media, and beyond.

The Industry Backdrop

Hightouch’s latest move lands at a critical time. As third-party cookies crumble and privacy laws tighten, brands are scrambling to leverage first-party data more effectively. But most still face technical debt: siloed data, latency issues, and rigid martech stacks.

Same-Session Personalization fits squarely within the Composable CDP movement—where agility and modularity trump one-size-fits-all platforms. It also echoes a broader trend: AI and data tools collapsing the gap between insight and action.

Who Stands to Benefit

• Performance Marketers: Gain speed without sacrificing audience insight
• Digital Product Teams: Build smarter UX/UI flows powered by behavioral data
• Growth Leaders & CMOs: Create seamless customer journeys that adapt in real time
• Data Teams: Leverage existing warehouse investments without duplicating infrastructure

It’s already earning trust from brands like Autotrader, Calendly, Monday.com, and PetSmart. And for companies tired of staring at dashboards instead of engaging customers, Hightouch might have just made the marketer’s version of the toaster oven: fast, consistent, and always ready.

Final Thought
Hightouch’s Same-Session Personalization doesn’t just tweak the speed of marketing—it rewrites the playbook. In a world where users expect relevance right now, the ability to act on full customer context within milliseconds may soon become table stakes.

For now, it’s a clear competitive edge—and a signal that the future of real-time marketing is finally catching up to its promise.

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In a bold step toward reshaping the ecommerce landscape, Pattern, the global leader in ecommerce acceleration, announced a groundbreaking suite of AI-driven tools at its 2025 Accelerate Summit. These tools are designed to offer brands unprecedented intelligence and agility in the digital marketplace—across search, product optimization, creative development, and social commerce.

With AI rapidly changing how consumers discover and purchase products, Pattern’s new solutions — GEO Scorecard, Chessboard, TrendVision, and The Portal — position brands not just to adapt, but to lead in a future where data precision and content intelligence drive every sale.

1. GEO Scorecard: Visibility in the Age of AI Shopping Assistants

• Consumer behavior is evolving as users increasingly rely on AI assistants like ChatGPT and Gemini to get product recommendations, bypassing traditional search engines.

• GEO Scorecard offers a new lens into this behavior, analyzing how a brand’s products appear in AI-generated responses.

• The tool enables content and SEO teams to optimize product visibility for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), ensuring brand presence in next-gen shopping queries.

“Consumers aren’t just searching—they’re trusting AI to decide,” said Pattern CEO Dave Wright.
“GEO Scorecard gives brands the data they need to adapt to this seismic shift.”

2. Chessboard: Smarter Content Decisions Through Data Precision

• Traditional conversion metrics treat all consumer interactions equally. Chessboard changes this with attribute-level analysis, pinpointing exact product features that drive conversions.

• This visibility modeling allows brands to prioritize key attributes, optimize listings, and spend marketing dollars more efficiently.

“Chessboard separates signal from noise,” Wright explained.
“It’s a microscope for purchase behavior—highlighting what really converts.”

3. TrendVision: Winning Social Commerce with Scalable Insights

• TrendVision is Pattern’s answer to the rise of TikTok and Instagram commerce. It analyzes trending themes, viral hooks, and emotional triggers in real time.

• Brands get ready-to-use video scripts and creative frameworks to scale social media performance without reinventing content from scratch.

• It bridges the gap between social trends and actual sales drivers, letting marketers focus on content that converts.

4. The Portal: AI-Assisted Product Imagery That Sells

• The Portal introduces a new level of automation and precision to product photography:

  • Combines high-res image capture with AI-generated contextual scenes

  • Maintains true-to-product detail, unlike standard generative image tools

  • Optimizes images using Pattern’s proprietary conversion data

• Brands can rapidly generate conversion-optimized, lifestyle visuals that feel authentic—at scale.

“It’s not just faster content; it’s smarter content,” noted Wright.
“The Portal ensures your product looks the way it performs — high-quality and conversion-ready.”

AI Isn’t Just Accelerating Commerce—It’s Rewriting It

At Accelerate 2025, Pattern made it clear: AI isn’t just a tool, it’s the new competitive edge. Each innovation introduced—GEO Scorecard, Chessboard, TrendVision, and The Portal—reinforces the company’s vision of data-driven, AI-powered commerce where precision, performance, and creativity coexist.

In an era where consumers let algorithms inform their buying decisions, brands that understand why people buy—not just what they buy—will win. And with Pattern’s suite of intelligent tools, they can do so with speed, clarity, and confidence.

“These aren’t just tools—they’re a foundation for the next chapter of digital retail,” Wright concluded.

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As generative AI redefines information discovery, ProRataAI Inc. is blazing a new, ethical path with Gist.ai — the world’s first AI search engine built entirely on licensed content. In a significant milestone, ProRata announced that Gist.ai now sources information from more than 500 licensed publications, with recent partnerships including top-tier media brands such as Fast Company, New York Magazine, The Nation, Reader’s Digest, and Boston Globe Media.

This announcement reinforces ProRata’s commitment to proving that AI doesn’t need to exploit content creators to provide high-quality user experiences — and that, in fact, publishers can benefit from generative AI as a new and sustainable revenue channel.

1. A Publisher-First AI Model

• Gist.ai delivers answers using 100% licensed content, setting a new benchmark in the AI and search industry.

• Each response is based on real journalism, with full attribution and revenue-sharing for participating publishers.

• New content partners include:

  • The Philadelphia Inquirer, Newsday, Future (Tom’s Guide, Who What Wear), Vox Media, PRISA Media, and Frommer's.

2. AI That Honors Copyrights

• ProRata uses patent-pending attribution technology that:

  • Tracks which sources contribute to a response

  • Quantifies their influence

  • Calculates proportional compensation on a per-use basis

• This approach transforms AI from a copyright risk into a copyright revenue engine.

“AI-driven search does not have to be based on theft.” — Pauline Frommer, Co-President, Frommer Media LLC

3. Real Journalism Still Matters

• Frommer emphasized that AI cannot replace human experience:

“No machine can sleep in a hotel bed or taste a meal. That’s why travel journalism — and all journalism — must remain human-driven and compensated.”

• Gist.ai’s model safeguards the future of human journalism while empowering users with trustworthy, AI-enhanced answers.

4. Industry Validation from Global Leaders

• Future plc, a publishing giant with niche brands like Tom’s Guide and Homes & Gardens, joined the platform to extend its content reach:

“We’re committed to connecting audiences with expert content. Gist.ai gives us an innovative distribution platform.” — Andrew Min, VP, Global Partnerships, Future

• Vox Media, Cherry Road Media, Johns Hopkins University Press, and Spain’s news agency EFE are also now featured in Gist.ai’s growing content ecosystem.

5. Launch of ProRata Ads – Ethical Monetization Layer

• ProRata also introduced ProRata Ads, an innovative advertising solution that:

  • Places contextually relevant ads within AI answers in real time

  • Utilizes LLM-powered agents for precise targeting

  • Early results show a sharp increase in CTRs and user engagement

• This further aligns monetization with ethical content use — another move toward building a sustainable AI ecosystem for publishers.

6. Proving Generative AI Can Be Ethical, Accurate, and Profitable

• According to Bill Gross, CEO of ProRata:

"We prove that generative AI can both honor creators and deliver an outstanding user experience.”

• This “radically ethical model” is not just a differentiator — it's a requirement in a world increasingly aware of digital rights, misinformation, and journalistic sustainability.

ProRataAI’s success with Gist.ai reflects a new chapter in the evolution of generative AI — one where innovation respects intellectual property, compensates journalists fairly, and enhances information quality for users. As more top-tier publishers join the platform and features like ProRata Ads gain traction, Gist.ai is setting the gold standard for responsible AI search and monetization.

With its mission-driven vision and rapidly growing ecosystem, ProRata isn’t just redefining AI search — it’s reshaping the relationship between technology and journalism.

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In a competitive and fast-evolving lending market, ARDRI is distinguishing itself with a technology-first approach to Non-QM and business-purpose lending. At the heart of its brand and digital transformation is Julio Zambrana, who joined the company in December as Vice President of Marketing. With a legacy of delivering high-impact marketing strategies across top financial institutions, Zambrana is now helping shape ARDRI’s identity and growth trajectory in a pivotal phase of its evolution.

1. A Veteran in Financial Marketing

• With over 20 years of experience in digital marketing for the financial services industry, Julio’s credentials include:

  • Option One Mortgage (started in 1996)

  • First American Financial

  • AmeriHome Mortgage

• His strategic focus blends:

  • Digital innovation

  • Customer-centric messaging

  • Brand positioning for modern lending solutions

2. Strategic Focus at ARDRI

• Julio is tasked with building a best-in-class marketing ecosystem that amplifies ARDRI’s core value: simplifying Non-QM lending through smart technology.

• Core goals:

  • Build a cohesive brand experience across all digital touchpoints

  • Empower brokers through transparent, effective communication

  • Position ARDRI as a trusted, modern lender in the Non-QM space

3. Combining Tech + Human-Centric Messaging

• Zambrana’s approach is data-driven yet emotionally intelligent:

  • Uses real-time analytics to shape marketing strategies

  • Enhances user experiences via personalization and intuitive design

• His MBA in eCommerce (2012) further bolsters his expertise in:

  • Digital channel optimization

  • Cross-platform integration

  • Scalable lead generation strategies

4. Recognition for Versatility and Impact

• Known for his hands-on leadership, Julio was awarded a companywide “Jack of All Trades” recognition at his previous role—reflecting his:

  • Cross-functional agility

  • Tactical execution abilities

  • Ability to solve complex business challenges with creative solutions

5. CEO Perspective: Marketing as a Growth Engine

• Brian O’Shaughnessy, Founder & CEO of ARDRI, underscored the critical nature of Julio’s role:

“Marketing isn’t just support—it’s a driving force behind success.”

• ARDRI’s mission is bold: to redefine Non-QM lending through:

  • Simplified digital experiences for brokers

  • Technology-backed efficiency

  • Trust-building content and communications

6. Vision for ARDRI’s Marketing Future

• According to Julio:

“We’re not just building a brand—we’re reshaping how Non-QM lending is delivered.”

• Marketing focus areas under his leadership:

  • Website optimization for usability and lead conversion

  • Omnichannel communication that educates and engages brokers

  • Clear, compelling storytelling that reinforces ARDRI’s value proposition

Julio Zambrana’s appointment as VP of Marketing comes at a pivotal time for ARDRI, as the lender looks to scale rapidly in the Non-QM space. His decades of experience, tech-savvy approach, and reputation for hands-on execution align perfectly with ARDRI’s commitment to building a simpler, smarter, and more human-centric lending experience. As ARDRI grows, its marketing foundation—anchored by Julio—will be key to making Non-QM lending not only more accessible, but also more trustworthy.

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As the lines between entertainment, finance, and technology continue to blur, LiveOne is strategically evolving to stay ahead. The creator-first, music and entertainment platform has announced the appointment of Steve McClurg—a renowned figure in crypto, tokenization, and capital markets—as Chief Advisor. This move signals LiveOne’s commitment to pushing deeper into digital asset innovation, expanding podcast monetization, and bridging the gap between institutional finance and creator ecosystems.

1. Why Steve McClurg and Why Now?

• McClurg is the CEO of Canary Capital and a recognized authority in:

  • Blockchain and crypto innovation

  • Institutional financial strategy

  • Token-based business models

• His advisory role marks a strategic inflection point for LiveOne as it looks to:

  • Integrate digital asset technologies

  • Monetize podcast content using blockchain-based platforms

  • Appeal to institutional investors seeking innovative entertainment assets

2. CEO Vision: Scaling Creatorship Through Crypto

• Robert Ellin, Chairman and CEO of LiveOne, emphasized McClurg’s dual expertise:

“His track record in both traditional finance and crypto is unmatched... He’ll help us enter digital markets more aggressively.”

• McClurg will guide:

  • Development of new revenue models

  • Potential crypto-based creator incentive programs

  • Tokenization of podcast and music assets

3. Strategic Goals of the Appointment

• Digital Asset Innovation:

  • Exploring NFTs, creator tokens, and new monetization layers

  • Building infrastructure for transparent royalties and licensing

• Institutional Market Integration:

  • Structuring creator content as investable products

  • Attracting funding and partnerships from traditional capital markets

• Monetization of PodcastOne Assets:

  • Aligning monetization with blockchain for micro-transactions

  • Creating long-tail value from archived content

4. About LiveOne: A Creator-First Entertainment Powerhouse

• LiveOne’s ecosystem includes:

  • Slacker, PodcastOne (Nasdaq: PODC), PPVOne, LiveXLive, DayOne Music Publishing

  • Platforms accessible via iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Spotify, and more

• Its strategy emphasizes:

  • Creator monetization

  • Live and virtual events

  • Streaming + content syndication

5. Forward-Looking Strategy: Tech Meets Entertainment

• McClurg’s appointment suggests LiveOne is not just a media company, but a tech-forward platform preparing for the next era of:

  • Decentralized media ownership

  • Creator token economies

  • AI-enhanced distribution and revenue modeling

• Future initiatives could include:

  • Blockchain-based membership models

  • Web3-powered event ticketing

  • Partnerships with crypto-native platforms

LiveOne’s appointment of Steve McClurg is more than a leadership addition it’s a strategic signal. As the company scales its presence in digital entertainment, the integration of crypto, tokenization, and capital market expertise positions LiveOne to redefine how creator content is produced, monetized, and owned. With McClurg on board, LiveOne is now equipped to navigate and lead in the convergence of entertainment and Web3, setting the tone for the future of content platforms in a decentralized world.

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Data is the cornerstone of modern decision-making across sectors from market research to artificial intelligence. Yet, as data collection expands, so do concerns around quality, bias, and reliability. Research For Good (RFG), a pioneer in people data, addresses these challenges head-on with its latest innovation: QuIP (Quality Interception Point). Built on the foundation of RFG’s DataForce platform, QuIP is an AI-powered solution that redefines the way organizations ensure data quality across market research, AI development, and large language model (LLM) training.

1. What Is QuIP?

• QuIP is an AI-powered quality control solution designed to intercept low-quality or misaligned data at the point of collection.

• It enhances accuracy, relevance, and trustworthiness of data used across sectors like:

  • Market research

  • Customer insights

  • AI training datasets

  • Large Language Model development

2. A New Benchmark in Data Quality

• According to RFG, QuIP has reduced their data rejection rate to 3–4x lower than the industry average.

• This directly translates to:

  • Reduced resource waste

  • Faster insights delivery

  • Increased confidence in downstream analytics and model training

3. How QuIP Works

• Persona-Driven Interception: Uses in-depth respondent profiles to match participants to research or AI training needs more effectively.

• Adaptive Algorithms: Machine learning dynamically filters out low-quality responses in real time.

• Human-AI Collaboration: The tool respects and protects participant identity while leveraging AI to increase data rigor.

4. The Foundation: DataForce Platform Integration

• QuIP is embedded within RFG’s DataForce participant recruitment engine, ensuring that data quality begins before survey or input collection starts.

• This integration guarantees:

  • Better participant targeting

  • Higher response relevance

  • Fewer false positives in data sets

5. Industry Impact Across Disciplines

• Market Research: Brands and agencies gain faster, more reliable insights for product and campaign decisions.

• AI Developers: Cleaner training data for more accurate models, including LLMs.

• Academia & Policy Research: Better respondent alignment improves validity and replicability.

• Customer Experience (CX): Ensures feedback loops are based on true customer sentiment, not noise.

6. Thought Leadership from RFG

• Rich Silva, President at RFG, emphasizes:

“QuIP represents a transformative step forward… We’re addressing a critical challenge while respecting the human providing their data.”

In an age where data drives everything from brand strategies to AI decisions, QuIP emerges as a timely and essential innovation. RFG is setting a new industry standard by addressing the long-standing pain points of data quality, relevance, and participant fit. With QuIP, researchers and developers can operate with renewed confidence in their inputs—whether building a model, launching a product, or understanding human behavior. This AI-powered leap not only enhances efficiency but also respects the people behind the data, ensuring ethical and meaningful progress in data science.

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