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Markets EQ, a conversational AI platform, introduces an AI tonal recognition technology intended to evaluate and actively enhance executive communications. The company says that the platform is the first to make advanced tonal recognition analysis available to IR professionals and investors. Tonal recognition technology analyzes voice tonality and identifies emotional cues such as happiness, sadness, anger, or excitement—providing insight into a management team’s emotional and psychological states during earnings calls and other speaking engagements. “For the first time, IROs and investors can gauge not just what is being said, but the underlying confidence and certainty behind these statements, ushering in a new era of transparency and sophistication in corporate communication," said Markets EQ CEO Sean Austin.
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| Renee Rossi, Matt Jaffe |
Bleecker & Broad, a NY-based PR and communications consulting firm that will focus on investment funds, is launched by Relativity Ventures CEO and founder Renee Rossi, who has served in senior roles at Allison+Partners and Weber Shandwick, and Relativity PR specialist Matt Jaffe. Rossi and Jaffe have worked with various stakeholders including private equity, strategic investors, accelerators, and venture funds including Techstars, Celesta Capital, VentureFuel, Starburst Accelerator, Starburst Ventures, Mach37 and Venturescope. The new firm says it works with “leading funds of all shapes and sizes to enhance their brand reputation and spread the impact of their investments.” It operates independently from Relativity.
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Unlock Health, a healthcare technology and services growth platform, acquires SPM Group, a network of health and healthcare agencies including SPM, GLC, Dreamscape and Centretek, from Corridor Capital, LLC, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition will provide Unlock with new in-house omnichannel media planning and buying capabilities and strengthen its services across digital media, content strategy and production, analytics, and creative specialties. "By combining SPM Group's unmatched marketing talent and expertise with our technology and managed care capabilities, we will become the leading, single-source partner for our shared network of clients across the healthcare ecosystem," said SPM Group CEO Amanda Seaford.
The PHA Group, which has offices in London, Manchester and Leeds, is expanding to New York... The Next Solutions Group launches NSG Health... Rational 360, a DC-based firm, has relocated to an 18,000-square-foot space on the city’s K Street business corridor... KAOH Media, a firm specializing in clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, and ESG-driven investments, launches Fieldwise Civic Engagement.
SKDK merges with digital advertising firm Wavelength Strategy... Supreme Group launches Supreme Intelligence, an artificial intelligence platform designed to meet the commercial needs of healthcare and life sciences companies... Relevance International introduces Artificial Intelligence Amplification Optimization, a proprietary service designed to help brands create a competitive advantage for AI visibility... IMAGINE PR introduces a brand partnerships division, which will focus on ensuring that partnerships are meaningful and measurable, rather than transactional.
SourceCode Communications acquires Rally Point Public Relations... Ruder Finn launches its AI Accelerator, a set of tools and capabilities that will be embedded across client work, agency workflows, and talent recruitment and development, as a way of building AI-native expertise across disciplines... Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy, a communications, media strategy and public relations firm, is merging with Athena Global Advisors. 
MikeWorldWide launches a supply chain, logistics, and infrastructure practice... Kroll introduces two practices: Kroll Economics and Decision Intelligence... Orange Orchard founder Heather Ripley is hosting a free 60-minute live masterclass on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. EST to help animal sanctuaries earn meaningful earned media coverage and turn that visibility into stronger community support.
Stagwell agencies Doner and Colle McVoy form a “strategic alliance” that will operate as DonerColle Partners... Merryman Communications, a healthcare marketing and communications agency, rebrands as M+... Crowe PR launches Crowe Media platform... Tauth Labs, which provides content authentication solutions for clients in the communications, financial services and local government sectors, has been certified by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity.
