Sangita Verma

Azerion, a digital entertainment and media platform, has launched its Contextual Intelligence technology in the Azerion Marketplace. This innovative solution uses generative AI and large language models to classify web content into precise segments. By leveraging advanced transformer techniques and text vectorisation, Azerion's technology provides accurate and reliable content classification, revolutionising digital advertising and contextual targeting. This comes at a crucial time following Oracle's exit from the contextual advertising space, offering a superior alternative for advertisers and publishers. The impact on the generative AI industry is positive. Azerion's Contextual Intelligence technology fills a void in the market left by Oracle's exit, providing a robust and advanced solution for content classification. This advancement sets a new standard in the industry and drives significant value for partners. Question for discussion: How do you think Azerion's Contextual Intelligence technology will shape the future of digital advertising and contextual targeting? #AI #DigitalAdvertising #ContextualIntelligence

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VA Media has a smart YouTube-centric biz model. They combine premium content libraries with social AVOD distribution. HIGHLIGHTS - 20M YT subs - 26M hrs watched / month - 130M views / month They do this by buying AVOD rights to high quality Hollywood and library content. They also produce their own original content. Then they create profitable social-native O&O media brands via smart curation and audience development. Their O&O IP and licensed content can be extended to other AVOD distribution platforms, and can be monetized in a variety of ways outside YouTube Adsense. Further, they have a premium services team that can help rights holders better exploit their IP on YouTube and other socials through white-glove support. The business has a lot of growth headroom, and there's much more planned. We enjoyed working with the company's CEO Mark Ashbridge and his board. They're good people, and are asking the right quetions. If you're a rightsholder that wants to grow your audience reach and monetization through VA Media's global digital media network, they're worth a call. Or take a meeting with CEO Ash next time he's stateside (lives in AUS). -- I'm the founder of RockWater Industries. We do M&A and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My DMs are open.

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DULCEDO Management bought Node App for $13M. This marks Dulcedo’s 5th acquisition since 2016. Let's break it down... ---SELLER: Node--- • AI-powered influencer marketing platform • Mission = bridge gap between small businesses and micro-influencers • Founded 2019 by Armin Faraji, Mackenzie Dérival ✌🏾 • Initially focused on restaurants, expanded to ecom brands • Focuses on Instagram, TikTok campaigns • 2021 raised $1M seed round from Techstars, Alchemist, strategic angels ---TECH OVERVIEW: Node App--- • In 2022 selected for Google for Startups Accelerator program • Pioneered a machine-learning technology to revolutionize agency workflows by improving influencer discovery and data reporting • “Creators can participate in brand campaigns in 3 clicks via Node, as opposed to pitching/negotiating with brands” • “Brands can create a campaign and begin interacting with influencers within 5-10 min of landing on Node's website” ---PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS: Node App--- • Over 2,000 clients across North America • Generated “tens of millions of social media impressions” • Clients incl Kraft, Samsonite, Jarritos, St-Regis, Marriott • Has activated 5,000+ content creators in campaigns • Creators include A-list models, elite athletes, actors, social influencers • During pandemic scaled from 30 to 800 brands five months ---BUYER: Dulcedo Group--- • Global talent mgmt and digital marketing agency • 4 divisions �� Models, Sports, Gaming, Influencer • Offices in Montreal and Toronto • Founded 2008 by CEO Karim Leduc • 3 co-owners incl founder • 70+ team members ---M&A HISTORY: Dulcedo Group--- • 2022 acquired C4G, a startup esports marketing agency • 2016 acquired 4249, an influencer relations agency • 2023 acquired Influence + All Management • 2023 acquired Sundae Creative Agency • 2024 acquired Node ---DEAL DETAILS--- • $13M purchase price • No other details were disclosed ---DEAL VALUE PROP--- • Give Node added funding, resources for growth • Access to Dulcedo's 300M network following  • Access to Dulcedo’s diverse creator roster to support IM campaigns across various industries • Accelerate development of AI-enabled tools to enhance the IM campaign lifecycle ---POST DEAL OPS--- • Dulcedo CEO will serve as interim Node CEO • Node co-founder Armin Faraji moves to COO • Node co-founder Mackenzie Dérival remains as CPO ---WHAT ELSE I FIND INTERESTING--- I'll write more about the deal in my Friday newsletter. I'll estimate Node's revenue and EBITDA, and discuss valuation multiples and likely deal structure. Signup link in comments below 👇 -- I'm the founder of RockWater Industries. We do M&A and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My DMs are open.

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Can AI Chatbots Really Replace Your Favorite Creator? ByteDance Thinks So with the Introduction of AI Avatars in Douyin ByteDance’s Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) has launched the "V Project," enabling creators to develop AI avatars that resemble themselves for fan interactions. These AI avatars, created via Doubao (ByteDance’s large language model), can engage with fans continuously through group chats, live streams, and comment conversations. Similar initiatives are being explored in the U.S., with companies like Meta and Google developing creator AI programs for Instagram and YouTube. However, these programs are less sophisticated and less widely adopted compared to their Chinese counterparts. While individual creators like streamer Amouranth have successfully monetized AI chatbots���her "AI girlfriend" bot generated $34,000 in revenue within its first 24 hours—most creators are still observing these developments from the sidelines. ByteDance might eventually introduce V Project-inspired features to TikTok in the U.S., complementing existing AI avatar tools in TikTok’s Symphony Creative Studio. However, this is unlikely to happen until TikTok’s legal status in the U.S. is clarified. The development of AI avatars raises significant privacy and ethical concerns, as it requires creators to consent to having their likenesses scraped. Moreover, any creator who replaces themselves with an AI chatbot risks opening the door to being replaced by AI entirely. While ByteDance sees strong potential for these tools in China, it remains uncertain whether U.S. fans will view AI interactions as meaningful substitutes for genuine human engagement. 🤔 What do you think? Will AI chatbots revolutionize fan engagement, or could they signal the beginning of the end for creators? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 👇 #influencer #Ai #bytedance 📷 Caryn Marjorie

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