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| Jessica Schaefer, Jeffrey Herzog |
The Avenue Z Network, launched in June by iCrossing founder Jeffrey Herzog, acquires Bevel, a communications consultancy for tech and venture capital. Bevel founder and CEO Jessica Schaefer will join the board of Avenue Z and serve as chief commercial officer. She will also remain CEO of Bevel for the next year. Bevel has worked with such clients as Acorns, Better.com, BlockTower Capital, RX3 Ventures (a consumer-focused investment fund backed by Aaron Rodgers) and the Sundance Film Festival. It says the new capabilities from the Avenue Z acquisition, will enable it to offer greater influence through search and social media. “By leveraging technology and data, we’ll drive brand visibility, build stakeholder engagement and provide clients with measured ROI,” said Herzog.
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PAN Communications, which works with B2B technology and healthcare brands, announces new services in conjunction with the firm's brand-to-demand marketing strategy and approach. The agency says that the services fuse brand awareness with demand creation by building and activating one narrative and strategy across the full customer journey. "We have seen over and again that without brand recognition and trust, B2B buyers are much less likely to respond to demand gen tactics," says PAN chief of integrated marketing and strategy Megan Kessler. "By leading with awareness and building a cohesive, timely narrative that threads a clear message and value proposition throughout the customer journey, we are able to help our clients build brand affinity and motivate action simultaneously."
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ICR releases its July 2023 SPAC Market Update & Outlook report, which shows a slowdown in SPAC activity during Q2 2023. Six SPAC IPOs raised just over $1 billion, down from 11 in the first quarter and the slowest quarter by deal count since the first quarter of 2017. However, SPAC IPO proceeds rose with the six SPAC IPOs completed raising an average of $186 million, up from an average IPO size of $82 million in Q1. The number of completed SPAC mergers also tool a slide, with just 10 companies completing mergers in Q2, down from 28 in Q1—the slowest quarter for closed SPAC mergers in nearly three years. But the report sees the slowdown as likely to be temporary. “Sponsors are still looking for deals, with 40 companies announcing SPAC mergers in Q2 and a backlog of over 150 pending mergers at quarter-end that should keep the SPAC market active in 2023,” said ICR Capital managing director Niren Nazareth.
Praytell expands its Influence Department—which unites media, creators and social under one team... LRJ PR & Communications and Canopy Brand Group form an alliance that the firms say will bridge the operational divide between high-end brand design and strategic public relations... Twin Minds Media, Hispanic market specialist, increases the scope of its services in an effort to help brands build deeper connections with audiences through culture, storytelling, media and experiences. 
The People Platform, part of Stagwell's The Marketing Cloud, rebrands as Numetrix... Zapwater Communications has earned 17 finalist honors across two PR competitions: eight at the 68th Annual Golden Trumpet Awards, presented by the Publicity Club of Chicago, and nine at the 2026 PRSA Chicago Skyline Awards.. The Florida Public Relations Association presented 122 awards to individuals and teams from across the state at its 69th annual Golden Image and 3rd Annual Pinnacle Awards gala.
The Motion Agency acquires Vehr Communications, a Cincinnati-based strategic communications firm, effective Oct. 1... Lyceus Group, which specializes in financial services, is named a finalist for Public Relations Campaign at the 2026 ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards... IPSY, a curated beauty membership platform, launches IPSY Marketing Solutions, a full-funnel marketing and sales acceleration engine. 
Fire on the Hill, which has offices in London, Manchester, New York and Paris, is providing pro bono communications support to the Intergenerational Foundation, the UK's leading authority on intergenerational fairness... The PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards Gala on Sept. 17 will have Gio Benitez, co-anchor of the weekend edition of “Good Morning America” and ABC News transportation correspondent, serving as emcee... CasePR, a boutique litigation communications firm, launches in Portland, OR.
inFocus, which works with entertainment, media and innovation brands in the US Hispanic market and Latin America, expands into Mexico... Modern Currency Public Relations, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2027, launches an AI visibility & generative engine optimization practice... Adfactors PR, India’s largest reputation and critical issues advisory, acquires Australian communication consultancy SenateSHJ.
