• Aditude, a leading programmatic advertising platform, has acquired Hashtag Labs (HTL), a provider of enterprise-level UI and automation systems for publishers.
• This strategic move aims to empower publishers by combining Aditude’s scalable SaaS solutions with HTL’s advanced ad tech control systems, offering a comprehensive platform that enhances monetization strategies and maximizes revenue.

1. Strategic Acquisition and Industry Impact

   • The acquisition represents a significant shift in the digital publishing and advertising landscape, marking the fusion of advanced ad tech solutions and scalable SaaS-based systems.
   • By joining forces, Aditude and HTL are positioned to offer publishers a superior alternative with enhanced control over their monetization strategies, addressing the evolving needs of the industry.

2. Enhanced Capabilities and Product Integration

   • Aditude plans to integrate HTL’s products into its platform, enhancing its offerings with robust and scalable technologies including client and server-side Prebid solutions, real-time analytics, automated flooring, and comprehensive UI support for wrapper changes.
   • This integration is designed to provide a seamless experience for publishers, delivering a one-stop solution that combines top-tier performance with comprehensive control.

3. Commitment to Publisher Success

   • Aditude’s acquisition of HTL underscores a commitment to delivering innovative solutions that help publishers retain more revenue and thrive in a competitive market.
   • The entire Hashtag Labs team will join Aditude, ensuring consistent and continued support for all publishers and technologies, facilitating a smooth transition and ongoing assistance.

4. Leadership Insights

   • Jared Siegal, CEO of Aditude, highlighted the strategic importance of the acquisition, emphasizing the combination of technologies as a game-changer for publishers seeking scalable solutions that enhance margin and control.
   • John Shankman, CEO of Hashtag Labs, noted that the merger sets a new standard in the ad tech landscape, where quality publishing and sophisticated monetization tools are becoming increasingly interconnected.

• The acquisition of Hashtag Labs by Aditude signals a transformative approach in the digital publishing and ad tech sectors, offering publishers a powerful, integrated platform to better manage their monetization strategies.
• This partnership reflects a broader industry trend toward combining high-quality publishing with advanced monetization solutions, ultimately benefiting publishers by providing the tools needed to excel in an evolving digital environment.

LiveRamp's Solution Improves Data Security and Accuracy for Cineverse's Advertisers and Will Be Available to All Matchpoint™ Customers

• Cineverse Corp. a leading streaming technology and entertainment company, has fully integrated LiveRamp's Authenticated Traffic Solution (ATS) into its Matchpoint™ OTT platform.
• This integration provides a cookieless infrastructure that enhances advertisers' ability to leverage first-party data securely and effectively, ensuring privacy and personalization across Cineverse's platforms.

1. Enhanced Advertising Capabilities with LiveRamp's Authenticated Traffic Solution

   • LiveRamp's ATS enables Cineverse's advertisers to authenticate users across multiple platforms, allowing them to activate, personalize, and measure advertising efforts with high-performing signals.
   • The integration utilizes LiveRamp's RampID, a pseudonymous and durable identifier, which allows advertisers to securely activate first-party data without sharing sensitive information with third parties.
   • This solution helps advertisers reach authenticated audiences at scale, delivering personalized experiences that resonate with consumers in a rapidly evolving CTV landscape.

2. Benefits of Cookieless Infrastructure for Advertisers

   • By adopting LiveRamp's ATS, Cineverse provides advertisers with an edge in today's competitive online marketplace, where first-party data is critical for targeted and personalized advertising.
   • The cookieless infrastructure supports privacy-centric solutions, allowing brands to connect with audiences without compromising on consumer data protection or advertising effectiveness.

3. Impact on Cineverse's Matchpoint™ OTT Solution

   • Matchpoint™, Cineverse's proprietary OTT solution, enables content distribution at reduced costs and time, without sacrificing quality.
   • The integration of ATS enhances Matchpoint™ by adding robust identity solutions that improve advertiser capabilities and audience reach, making it an attractive proposition for current and potential advertisers.

4. Industry Perspectives and Future Opportunities

   • Pete Erickson, Head of Publisher Development, North America at LiveRamp, highlighted that authenticated identity enables advertisers to connect with more valuable audiences, creating new collaboration opportunities within the CTV sector.
   • Terry City, Senior Vice President of Direct Ad Sales at Cineverse, emphasized that LiveRamp’s ATS aligns with Cineverse's commitment to privacy and data protection, offering a compelling value proposition for advertisers seeking personalized, privacy-focused advertising solutions.

• Cineverse’s integration of LiveRamp's Authenticated Traffic Solution into its Matchpoint™ OTT platform positions it as a leader in delivering privacy-centric, personalized advertising solutions.
• This partnership not only enhances Cineverse’s capabilities but also provides a competitive advantage to advertisers by leveraging first-party data securely and effectively, ensuring the protection of consumer information while maximizing advertising impact.

• Braze, a leading customer engagement platform, is launching two new initiatives to support brands in enhancing customer experiences. The new programs include "Braze for Startups," offering four months of free access to Braze for VC-backed startups, and a 14-day free trial of the Braze platform for brands of all sizes.

1. Braze for Startups Program

   • Overview:
     • The "Braze for Startups" program, in collaboration with VC partner Left Lane Capital, offers VC-backed startups four months of free access to Braze’s platform.
   • Key Benefits:
     • Free Access: Startups receive access to Braze for up to 2 million monthly active users (MAU) and 120 million emails.
     • Growth Onboarding Services: Includes free onboarding services, a personal onboarding manager, live and on-demand learning resources, and access to the Braze Bonfire community.
     • Continued Use: Startups can continue using Braze after the free period, supporting long-term customer relationship building and growth.
   • Quote from Chris Taylor, Chief Growth Officer at Left Lane Capital:
     • "Braze for Startups helps companies validate their product-market fit and launch revenue-generating campaigns at no cost, enabling scalable growth and deeper customer insights."

2. Braze Free Trial

   • Overview:
     • The Braze Free Trial provides non-customers with 14 days of free access to the Braze platform, allowing them to test its features and capabilities.
   • Key Features:
     • Guided Product Tours: Interactive tours showcasing key features and capabilities of the Braze platform.
     • Industry-Specific Templates: Pre-built campaign and journey templates tailored to specific industries.
     • Hands-On Platform Use: No-code editors and templates for creating messages, with options to use demo data or import your own, and tools powered by BrazeAI™.
   • Availability:
     • The free trial is set to be broadly available on September 24. Early access is available on September 23 through registration for Forge Digital.

3. Impact and Strategy

   • Braze’s Goals:
     • Spencer Burke, SVP of Growth at Braze, emphasizes the aim to simplify access to Braze’s platform and demonstrate its ease of use and capabilities, driving increased engagement and customer retention.
   • Program Sign-Up:
     • For more information on the Braze for Startups program, startups can email startups@braze.com.
     • To register for the Forge Digital event and gain early access to the free trial, visit Forge 2024 Digital.

• Braze’s new initiatives, including the "Braze for Startups" program and the 14-day free trial, are designed to support brands of all sizes in optimizing their customer engagement strategies. These offerings aim to provide easy access to Braze’s robust platform, foster growth for startups, and allow marketers to explore and experience Braze’s capabilities.

Green Leaf Consulting Group is excited to announce the launch of GreenView™, a groundbreaking interface designed to transform the user experience with Power BI. GreenView™ simplifies the complexities of Power BI, offering a clean, intuitive, and customizable interface that empowers business users to access and analyze data with ease.

• Clean, Intuitive Interface: Streamlines navigation, enabling users to retrieve data effortlessly without the usual complexity.
• Customizable Experience: Allows for configurable, white-label reports that align with your company’s branding and visual identity.
• Flexible Deployment Options: Offers the choice to host GreenView™ either on-premise or in the cloud, based on your organization’s needs.
• Role-Based Access: Ensures secure data management with user-specific roles, granting access only to the appropriate stakeholders.
• Accessibility for All Stakeholders: Enhances collaboration and decision-making by facilitating seamless data sharing with both internal teams and external clients.

Why GreenView™?

GreenView™ redefines the Power BI experience by addressing its navigational complexities and making data insights more accessible and actionable. By reducing the dependency on IT resources and minimizing the need for extensive training, GreenView™ accelerates the decision-making process and enhances overall efficiency.

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“Our goal with GreenView™ is to put the power back into the hands of business users,” said Kevin Bucher, Partner at Green Leaf. “GreenView™ allows non-technical users to navigate intuitively and efficiently, accessing the information they need without IT intervention, expensive training, or unnecessary frustrations.”

GreenView™ empowers business users to fully leverage the capabilities of Power BI while overcoming its inherent challenges. With its user-friendly design and flexible options, GreenView™ is poised to revolutionize how organizations interact with their data, driving success and improving decision-making.

CEO Andy MacMillan to Step Down; Eric Johnson, Seasoned Enterprise Software Executive, Appointed CEO

UserTesting, a leader in experience research and insights, has appointed Eric Johnson as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Johnson succeeds Andy MacMillan, who led the company for over six years and will continue to support UserTesting in an advisory role while remaining an investor.

• Leadership Transition: Eric Johnson takes over as CEO of UserTesting from Andy MacMillan, who will now serve as a Senior Advisor.
• Eric Johnson’s Background: Johnson brings over 20 years of leadership experience in enterprise software. He previously served as CEO of Nintex, where he led the company through a strategic transformation and several successful acquisitions.
• Achievements at Nintex: Under Johnson’s leadership, Nintex achieved top customer satisfaction scores, a Great Place to Work certification, and expanded as a strategic enterprise platform for process automation.
• Vision for UserTesting: Johnson aims to build on UserTesting’s strong foundation, enhancing the company’s ability to provide end-to-end insights and feedback in product creation and execution.
• Support from Andy MacMillan: MacMillan expressed pride in UserTesting’s growth under his leadership, including the significant merger with UserZoom, and is confident in Johnson's capabilities to drive further success.
• Comments from Thoma Bravo: A.J. Rohde, Senior Partner at Thoma Bravo, praised MacMillan's contributions and expressed excitement about Johnson’s role in advancing UserTesting’s mission.

The appointment of Eric Johnson as CEO marks a new chapter for UserTesting. With Johnson's extensive experience and strategic vision, UserTesting is poised to further revolutionize how companies leverage human insights and feedback to create better products.

Seasoned Financial Exec Will Drive New Market Growth for Leading Multi-Channel Advertising Platform

StackAdapt, a leading multi-channel advertising platform, has announced the appointment of Cassandra Hudson as Chief Financial Officer. Hudson brings extensive experience in growing tech companies and leading public organizations, positioning StackAdapt for continued success in programmatic advertising and martech.

• New CFO Appointment: Cassandra Hudson joins StackAdapt as CFO, bringing a strong background in financial leadership and growth.
• Previous Experience: Hudson has a notable history with high-growth companies, including her recent role as CFO of EngageSmart, where she enhanced profitability and led strategic finance.
• Career Highlights: She has held significant roles at Carbonite, The Davenport Companies, RSM US LLP, and Henderson and Associates. Hudson has a track record of scaling businesses and guiding financial transformations.
• Impact on StackAdapt: Hudson’s expertise will be crucial in navigating emerging markets, reinforcing StackAdapt’s leadership, and driving growth.
• Comments from Leadership: Vitaly Pecherskiy, co-founder and CEO of StackAdapt, expressed enthusiasm about Hudson’s addition and its positive impact on the company’s future. Hudson also shared her excitement about joining StackAdapt and leveraging her financial skills to drive strategic initiatives.
• Recent Hires: Hudson’s appointment follows the recent hiring of Darcie Henry as CPO and Ryan Nelsen as CMO, along with Pecherskiy’s elevation to CEO.

The addition of Cassandra Hudson as CFO represents a significant milestone for StackAdapt. Her extensive experience and leadership are set to play a pivotal role in the company’s ongoing growth and innovation in the multi-channel advertising sector.

Identifies website visitors, provides exclusive intelligence, and activates data automatically

Ninety-seven percent of traffic to B2B websites remains anonymous, yet these visitors are interested in learning about your solutions and team. Bombora’s next-generation ‘Visitor Insights’ (VI) provides the tools to identify who is visiting your site and why, enabling personalized website experiences that cater to each visitor's needs instantly.

• Importance of First-Party Data: In today's shifting identity landscape, having a robust first-party data strategy is crucial. Bombora’s Visitor Insights transforms anonymous website visitors into actionable data that supports go-to-market (GTM) strategies.

• Features of Visitor Insights:

  • Identity & Enrichment: Identifies target accounts visiting your website and enriches their profiles with key demographic, firmographic, and behavioral attributes. This enables businesses to:
    • Build comprehensive first-party datasets
    • Shape content, events, and go-to-market strategies
    • Measure campaign and site performance
  • Digital Activation: Provides real-time identity and enrichment, integrating seamlessly with existing tools and systems to enhance:
    • Site personalization and chatbot experiences
    • Retargeting campaigns
    • Intelligent audience segmentation and optimization

• Partner Testimonials: According to Tess Mercer, Head of Marketing Operations at Box, Bombora’s Visitor Insights has significantly enhanced their first-party data strategy, providing valuable insights and seamless integration with their customer data platform (CDP).

• CEO's Perspective: Mark Connon, CEO of Bombora, emphasizes the importance of leveraging first-party data to understand site visitors' interests and improve engagement strategies both during and after their visit.

Bombora’s Visitor Insights offers a game-changing approach to B2B website engagement, providing critical insights that drive personalized interactions and optimize marketing efforts. As companies strive to maximize their first-party data strategies, Bombora’s VI solution stands out as a powerful tool for understanding and engaging with site visitors effectively.

Muck Rack customers will gain access to deeper insights into how their brand is perceived on social media

Muck Rack, a leading provider of public relations (PR) and communications management software, has announced its acquisition of Keyhole, a social listening and analytics platform. The acquisition, finalized on August 31, 2024, marks Muck Rack’s first acquisition and aims to enhance its PR solutions with advanced social media insights.

• Acquisition Details: Muck Rack has acquired Keyhole, expanding its PR and communications software to include real-time social media insights. The integration will begin immediately, enhancing Muck Rack’s platform with Keyhole’s social listening tools.

• Enhanced Features: The integration will allow PR and corporate communications teams to:

  • Add social listening to their existing Muck Rack subscription
  • Access social media insights directly within the Muck Rack platform
  • Monitor brand mentions, hashtags, influencers, and keywords across major social media channels including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook

• Complementary Capabilities: Keyhole’s social media monitoring will complement Muck Rack’s existing global media monitoring, which covers over 600,000 news sources and 3.5 million articles daily across various media formats, powered by AI technology.

• CEO Statements: Gregory Galant, co-founder and CEO of Muck Rack, highlighted the importance of integrating social listening tools to provide PR professionals with insights that can spot potential crises, inform media strategies, and analyze social media KPIs. Saif Ajani, co-founder of Keyhole, expressed excitement about the partnership and its potential to enhance PR practices.

• Company Background: Muck Rack and Keyhole, both founded in 2009, have been partners since 2023 and share a commitment to innovation in social media data. Muck Rack received its first institutional investment of $180M in 2022 and remains founder-controlled and profitable.

The acquisition of Keyhole by Muck Rack represents a significant advancement in the PR and communications sector, combining comprehensive media monitoring with cutting-edge social listening tools. This move enhances Muck Rack’s platform, offering PR professionals a more integrated approach to managing and analyzing their media presence.