Tavus, a leader in generative AI video technology, has announced strategic additions to its executive team as it gears up for the growth of its Conversational Video Interface (CVI). Effie Goenawan has joined as Head of Product, while Julia Szatar takes on the role of Head of Marketing, each bringing extensive expertise and fresh perspectives to Tavus as it leads the evolution of conversational AI video.

Meet the New Leaders Shaping Tavus’s Future

• Effie Goenawan – Head of Product

  • Effie brings over a decade of product-building experience from tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Roblox.
  • Known for her work on innovative, expressive features like facial recognition and voice interaction, she’s poised to push Tavus's technology into new, transformative realms.
  • Past projects include Nest camera algorithms and Google Assistant in emerging markets and automotive settings.

• Julia Szatar – Head of Marketing

  • Julia, an award-winning marketing strategist, previously served as Head of Product Marketing at Loom, where she drove 50x growth and pioneered the video messaging category.
  • She has deep expertise in early-stage technology and video, having worked with major U.S. tech brands on international launch strategies and innovative marketing campaigns.
  • Julia is passionate about expanding Tavus’s reach and positioning its CVI as a transformative tool for businesses and consumers.

Vision for Conversational Video Interface (CVI) and the Future of AI Video

• Advancements in Conversational AI Video

  • CVI enables businesses and consumers to leverage interactive, AI-driven video to enhance communication and create immersive experiences.
  • Tavus aims to set a new standard in the AI video sector with applications across industries, from customer engagement to personalized content.

• Statements from the Leaders

  • Hassaan Raza, CEO and Co-founder of Tavus
    • Raza highlights the potential of conversational AI video, stating, “Effie and Julia bring tremendous talent, vision, energy, and experience to Tavus. We are thrilled to add them to our team.”
  • Effie Goenawan
    • Effie shared her excitement: “After 10+ years in big tech, I am ready for the challenge of helping an early-stage startup grow and be widely adopted by teams building immersive video experiences.”
  • Julia Szatar
    • Julia echoed the enthusiasm, noting her commitment to redefining how businesses and individuals communicate through video.

The Impact of Effie and Julia’s Backgrounds on Tavus’s Growth

• Effie’s Expertise in Product Innovation
  • Effie’s background in natural user expression (voice, facial recognition) aligns with Tavus’s mission to create engaging, intuitive video experiences.
• Julia’s Marketing Acumen for Emerging Technologies
  • Julia’s experience with fast-scaling video tech companies is expected to accelerate Tavus’s market presence and adoption in the growing generative AI video landscape.

The appointment of Effie Goenawan and Julia Szatar marks an exciting chapter for Tavus as it leads advancements in conversational AI video. With these new leaders, Tavus is well-positioned to scale its CVI technology, driving impactful and innovative changes in how businesses and consumers interact through AI-powered video.

Litmus, a leader in email marketing, has announced a series of exciting new product features and platform updates designed to enhance the email marketing experience. These additions include Sender Authentication in Litmus Email Guardian, Animated Video and Image Carousels in Litmus Personalize, and more. With these tools, marketers can monitor emails for rendering issues, include engaging video previews, and create dynamic inbox experiences, solidifying Litmus's position as a comprehensive solution for email optimization.

1. Sender Authentication in Litmus Email Guardian:

   • With an average email deliverability rate of only 83.1%, ensuring emails reach the inbox is crucial. Litmus Email Guardian provides always-on authentication monitoring, proactively alerting users to deliverability issues and ensuring compliance with sender requirements from platforms like Google and Yahoo.

2. Animated Video Previews:

   • In a marketing landscape where over 90% of recipients desire more video content, Litmus simplifies video integration. Marketers can now include automatically playing video previews directly within their emails, engaging audiences without added complexity.

3. Animated Image Carousels in Litmus Personalize:

   • These carousels help marketers create captivating and interactive email experiences that boost engagement and personalization, making it easier to capture subscribers' attention.

Enhancements to Existing Features

• Litmus Extension:

  • This Google Chrome extension allows marketers to conduct thorough email testing across 100+ clients while adding open-time personalization elements seamlessly across various ESPs, including Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Oracle Eloqua, and Mailchimp.

• Scratch-Offs:

  • Enhanced customization options for scratch-off and reveal images allow for improved branding and call-to-action optimizations, making landing pages more effective.

• Template Organization:

  • New folders in Litmus Personalize Pro streamline template management, making it easier to locate and update templates as needed.

Insights from Leadership

"In today's complex email landscape, marketers historically have had to juggle multiple technologies to create exceptional emails. At Litmus, we've simplified this process," said Erik Nierenberg, CEO of Litmus. “Our email optimization platform addresses core email marketing challenges, empowering marketers to optimize every send, save time and money, and drive better results. We enable marketers to deliver impactful customer journeys that start in the inbox and extend throughout the marketing lifecycle."

These product updates and enhancements were announced during Litmus Live 2024, the premier annual conference for marketers. With over 6,000 attendees and more than 25 live and on-demand sessions, this year’s event highlighted the latest trends and technologies in email marketing.

Tookey.io, a Tinder-like platform designed to facilitate partnerships within the Web3 ecosystem, has raised $375,000 in pre-seed funding, valuing the platform at $5 million post-money. Led by Blockchair, a leading private blockchain search engine, the funding will fuel Tookey.io's mission to create a collaborative Web3 marketing hub where startups can form strategic alliances and expand blockchain adoption.

• Support from Industry Leaders:

  • The news of Tookey.io’s funding was first reported by Cryptonews and later confirmed by Blockchair’s Chief Research Officer, Yedige Davletgaliyev, on their official Twitter/X account.
  • Davletgaliyev praised Tookey.io's approach to Web3 collaboration, emphasizing its potential to foster an accessible, partnership-driven ecosystem for blockchain adoption.

• B2B “Tinder” for Web3 Partnerships:

  • Co-Founder Alex Batrachenko, a former Ethereum Foundation and Alchemy strategist, describes Tookey.io as a B2B "Tinder" for the Web3 space, empowering startups with options to control and customize collaborative campaigns.
  • The platform enables secure and transparent connections, allowing Web3 companies to split marketing costs, brainstorm co-marketing campaigns, and utilize shared tools for giveaways and cross-promotion.

• An AI-Powered Collaborative Marketing Hub:

  • Tookey.io was founded by Web3 entrepreneurs Aler Denisov and Vasiliy Shilov to simplify the partnership process through intelligent matching.
  • This AI-driven system identifies synergies between Web3 projects, fostering co-creation opportunities for businesses to combine resources and target shared goals.

• Polygon Labs’ Support for Enhanced Web3 UX:

  • Victor Estival, Head of Product Marketing at Polygon Labs, highlighted Tookey.io’s commitment to enhancing Web3 user experience and compatibility across Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) environments. According to Estival, platforms like Tookey.io can help merge on-chain and off-chain interactions, critical for a seamless user journey.

Platform Launch and Future Plans

• Initial Launch and Onboarding:

  • Starting October 16, 2024, Web3 startups can sign up to access Tookey.io’s private Co-marketing Club on Telegram and initiate their first campaigns.
  • The platform aims to onboard 5,000 startups by using the funds to expand Tookey.io's reach and accelerate its growth in the Web3 ecosystem.

• Platform Enhancements and Future Features:

  • Tookey.io is gearing up to introduce new platform functionalities, including a dedicated token and a referral program, to optimize marketing efficiency for Web3 companies.
  • The team recently hosted a Demo Day, featuring Blockchair’s Davletgaliyev, Polygon’s Estival, and Batrachenko, addressing key startup concerns about building and scaling Web3 projects.

Tookey.io is pioneering a collaborative platform for Web3 projects to connect, co-market, and streamline strategic partnerships. With its innovative approach and strong industry support, Tookey.io aims to bridge gaps in Web3 marketing and foster a marketplace experience that makes collaboration more accessible, efficient, and impactful for the blockchain community.

Advertible, the leading native-as-a-service platform, has announced a significant leadership transition with the appointment of Co-Founder and COO Priti Ohri as its new Chief Executive Officer. This change marks a pivotal moment in Advertible's journey toward redefining native advertising within the programmatic ecosystem.

• New Leadership: Priti Ohri succeeds Tom Anderson, who played a crucial role in launching Advertible’s innovative platform and establishing key partnerships with Tier 1 Supply-Side Platforms (SSPs).
• Industry Recognition: During Anderson's tenure, Advertible received an honorable mention for “Best Industry Startup” at the 2024 AdExchanger Awards.
• Priti Ohri's Background:
  • Over 20 years of experience in adtech, media, and retail.
  • Recognized as one of the Top Women in Media and Ad Tech by Ad Monsters & AdExchanger.
  • Co-founded DesiUS, a community for South Asians in adtech, promoting diversity and opportunity in the industry.

Priti Ohri's Vision for Advertible

• Gratitude for Leadership: Ohri expressed her appreciation for Tom Anderson's contributions in steering Advertible to its current position.
• Evolving Native Advertising: Ohri emphasizes the rapid evolution of native advertising and Advertible’s unique position to lead this transformation.
• Focus on Innovation: With a commitment to delivering impactful results, Ohri plans to push boundaries and enhance the platform's capabilities.

Advertible’s Native-as-a-Service Platform

• Meeting Demand: The platform is designed to address the increasing demand for native advertising, which offers higher engagement and profitability than traditional formats.
• Cutting-Edge Tools: Incorporating AI-driven placement design, Advertible empowers SSPs to unlock new revenue streams and optimize ad performance.

Commitment to the Future

• Navigating Change: This leadership change highlights Advertible's commitment to innovation, especially as the digital advertising landscape moves towards a cookieless future.
• Positioned for Growth: Under Ohri's leadership, Advertible is set to lead the next phase of innovation in native ads, ensuring that SSPs of all sizes can seize emerging growth opportunities.

Priti Ohri's appointment as CEO of Advertible marks a transformative moment for the company and the native advertising industry. With her extensive experience and visionary approach, Advertible is well-positioned to continue its trajectory of success and innovation, adapting to the evolving needs of the digital advertising ecosystem.

Frameplay, a leading intrinsic advertising platform, has announced the appointment of Sandy Shanman as the new Chief Executive Officer and Jonathan Troughton as President, effective October 2, 2024. This transition comes amid significant growth for the company, which Troughton co-founded in 2018 to revolutionize advertising within the gaming industry.

Leadership Changes

• New Appointments: Sandy Shanman takes on the role of CEO, while Jonathan Troughton becomes President.
• Effective Date: Both appointments are effective from October 2, 2024.

Company Overview

• Foundation: Frameplay was established in 2018 to serve as a marketing technology provider for the advertising and video game industries.
• Core Offering: The platform allows brands, agencies, and platforms to integrate advertisements seamlessly into video games, enhancing player experience without disruption.

Vision and Strategy

• Jurgen Post’s Statement: The Chairman of the Board, Jurgen Post, emphasized the importance of combining Troughton's vision with Shanman's advertising expertise to drive Frameplay's growth.
• Focus on Optimization: Post highlighted the principle of "min-maxing," optimizing every resource for maximum efficiency in leadership.

Insights from Leadership

• Jonathan Troughton: As an enthusiastic gamer, Troughton has always focused on enhancing advertising opportunities. He stated, "Our mindset from the start has been simple: 'git gud'—constantly improving and leveling up."
• Sandy Shanman’s Background: Shanman joined Frameplay in 2023 as COO and implemented successful monetization strategies, previously leading revenue transformations at other companies.

Industry Context

• Gaming Engagement: According to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the U.S. gaming industry has over 191 million active gamers as of 2024. This diverse player base makes gaming an attractive space for advertisers.
• Future Outlook: Shanman believes in-game advertising will become a vital part of the media mix for major brands.

With Sandy Shanman and Jonathan Troughton at the helm, Frameplay is poised to leverage its innovative advertising strategies and capitalize on the growing engagement in the gaming industry, positioning itself as a leader in the in-game advertising space.

The SaaS unicorn welcomes a new CMO, CRO, and CSO to build on its go-to-market strategy and growth in the industry

ActiveCampaign, a leading marketing automation platform, has announced the appointment of three key executives: Amy Kilpatrick as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Carine Roman as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), and Shay Howe as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). These leadership changes aim to drive innovation, fuel growth, and deliver greater value to businesses by helping them build stronger, more meaningful customer relationships at scale.

• Amy Kilpatrick – Chief Marketing Officer (CMO):

  • Kilpatrick joins ActiveCampaign after serving as CMO of Contentful and as VP of Integrated Marketing at Mailchimp.
  • With extensive experience in cybersecurity, telecommunications, and content marketing, she will focus on scaling ActiveCampaign’s brand with small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) globally.

• Carine Roman – Chief Revenue Officer (CRO):

  • Previously Mailchimp’s first Chief Customer Officer, Roman built the company’s sales team and integrated customer success with sales.
  • At ActiveCampaign, Roman will concentrate on growing new and existing business efforts, driving revenue, and enhancing the customer experience across the platform.

• Shay Howe – Chief Strategy Officer (CSO):

  • A seven-year veteran of ActiveCampaign, Howe transitions from his role as CMO to CSO.
  • In this new capacity, he will guide corporate strategy, oversee new product lines, and lead strategic partnerships and corporate development initiatives.

• CEO’s Vision:
  Jason VandeBoom, Founder and CEO of ActiveCampaign, expressed confidence in the new appointments, emphasizing that the combined expertise of Kilpatrick, Roman, and Howe will elevate the company’s ability to innovate and meet customer needs. He highlighted their passion for helping businesses succeed and their ability to drive impact for ActiveCampaign’s growing global customer base.

• Recent Company Developments:
  Over the past year, ActiveCampaign has:

  • Added Joy Whinery as Chief Financial Officer.
  • Reimagined its product direction with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI).
  • Opened two new hub locations in Costa Rica and Poland.
  • Acquired OneSend, a suite of tools designed for franchise, multi-location brands, and reseller agencies.

These leadership appointments mark a pivotal moment in ActiveCampaign's growth. The addition of Kilpatrick, Roman, and Howe to the leadership team will help the company deepen its understanding of customer needs, drive innovation, and scale its global operations. With a focus on personalized customer experiences and AI-driven solutions, ActiveCampaign is poised to continue redefining how businesses connect with their customers.

Source, amplify, convert, and optimize shopper, creator and community-generated content and manage campaigns, all from one place.

At GroceryShop today, Bazaarvoice, the leading platform for full-funnel user-generated content (UGC) and social commerce, announced Bazaarvoice Vibe—a revolutionary solution designed to source, amplify, convert, and optimize UGC and creator-generated content across multiple channels from one centralized platform. The global release is set for November 1.

• Unified Solution for UGC and Creator Campaigns:
  With AI-powered automations and one-click distribution features, Bazaarvoice Vibe simplifies managing UGC and creator campaigns from a single platform, streamlining workflows that previously required multiple tools.

• Comprehensive Content Strategy Management:
  Vibe integrates Creator Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Social Commerce, and Product Sampling into one platform, allowing brands to source and amplify compelling, community-driven content across all consumer touchpoints, driving both engagement and conversions.

• Real-time Analytics and Insights:
  Vibe provides real-time metrics for campaign performance, creator effectiveness, and revenue contribution, offering detailed insights for optimizing content strategies at every stage of the customer journey.

Executive Insights:
Colby Smith, Executive Vice President at Bazaarvoice, highlighted the platform’s impact:
"Bazaarvoice Vibe makes it easy for brands to power their UGC and creator campaigns from a single solution. With AI-powered automations and insights that optimize campaign spend, brands can bridge the gap between social engagement and e-commerce success."

Customer Success Story:
Dave Plowden, VP of Marketing at FITCRUNCH (Pervine Foods), shared how Vibe has transformed their business:
"With Bazaarvoice Vibe, it feels like we’ve gained the power of five essential tools in one, streamlining workflow, reducing costs, and enhancing efficiency. It’s a game-changer for our business."

Key Benefits of Bazaarvoice Vibe:

1. Accelerated Speed to Market:
   Vibe enables brands to execute and measure campaigns faster, helping them gain a competitive advantage by reducing time to market.

2. Real-time Data for Informed Decisions:
   With end-to-end reporting, brands can track real-time metrics throughout the customer funnel, making data-driven decisions that support measurable growth.

3. Scaling Business Objectives:
   Vibe helps brands deliver the right content at the right time across key channels, improving content performance and conversion metrics, and driving scalable growth.

4. Optimizing Omnichannel Strategies:
   Vibe streamlines content distribution across channels, ensuring that high-quality content reaches consumers wherever they are—be it on social media or product detail pages—maximizing both reach and revenue.

Industry Insight:
Ananda Chakravarty, VP of Research at IDC Retail Insights, commented on Vibe’s innovation:
"Bazaarvoice Vibe is a revolutionary shift in content management. Marketers can now access a vast network of influencers and communities, with clear results shifting from estimates to actual metrics."

Bazaarvoice Vibe marks a new era in UGC and social commerce, providing brands with a powerful tool to drive engagement, streamline workflows, and ultimately, increase revenue.

The company will also participate in a panel discussion with Orange Apron Media and Pentaleap at this year’s Advertising Week

Vantage, the orchestration layer for retail and commerce media, has announced that its comprehensive retail media platform, previously available in limited release, is now accessible to all retailers. This platform aims to enhance retail media businesses, unlocking high-margin revenue opportunities and driving growth in an evolving media landscape.

• Unified Orchestration Layer:
  Vantage serves as a central hub that integrates various teams across the retailer, simplifies workflows, and connects siloed technology systems. This unified approach addresses longstanding challenges in the retail media space, enabling efficient scaling and optimization of media operations.

• Real-time Insights and Analytics:
  The platform empowers brand and retail teams by providing real-time sales and market insights, facilitating better decision-making and action across multiple marketing channels, whether on-site, offsite, or in-store.

Executive Insights:
Aran Hamilton, CEO of Vantage, emphasized the transformative potential of retail media:
"Retail media is not just the latest fad in the industry; it's an opportunity to transform the relationship between retailers and their vendor partners. Vantage helps retailers launch and scale retail media networks to their full potential by integrating disjointed teams and technologies."

Collaboration with The Home Depot:
Vantage is powering the launch of Orange Access, the new analytics, insight, and advertising platform for The Home Depot’s retail media network, Orange Apron Media. This integration allows advertisers and Orange Apron Media associates to plan, activate, and optimize campaigns seamlessly through a single, intuitive interface.

Melanie Babcock, VP for Orange Apron Media and Monetization at The Home Depot, stated:
“Collaborating with Vantage has allowed us to be the first in the industry to streamline all of the work of all of our teams into one platform. Vantage empowers The Home Depot to scale our retail media business, meet advertiser needs, and deliver significant results.”

Strategic Leadership Appointment:
In a bid to bolster its growth, Vantage has appointed Drew Cashmore as Head of Strategy. Cashmore brings invaluable expertise, further reinforcing Vantage's leadership in the retail media industry.

Upcoming Participation at Advertising Week:
Vantage will participate in a panel discussion titled "Unlocking Best-in-Class Service, Scale, & Experience in Retail Media" at this year’s Advertising Week. Aran Hamilton will join Melanie Babcock and Andreas Reiffen of Pentaleap to explore how innovative partnerships are reshaping the retail media landscape. The panel is scheduled for Monday, October 7, at 4:10 pm ET at the Insights Stage.

With its comprehensive platform and strategic partnerships, Vantage is poised to redefine the retail media landscape, enabling retailers to optimize their operations and drive meaningful results.