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INFINITE, a New York-headquartered firm with offices in San Francisco and London, has partnered with and received a strategic investment from ParkSouth Ventures, a Charlotte, NC-based private investment firm. The investment will help to establish Infinite as a strategic communications platform and fuel the firm’s growth and expansion. Infinite's executive leadership team, which includes founder & CEO Jamie Diaferia, president Zach Olsen and chief operating officer Isabel Podda, will continue to lead the company. ParkSouth targets investments in knowledge-based service companies and focuses on partnering with founder- and entrepreneur-owned businesses. “We decided several years ago that to further fulfill our potential we would need the right investment partner,” said Diaferia. “In ParkSouth, we found an aligned partner that can add strategic value, as well as investment capital.”
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Sprout Social, a provider of cloud-based social media management software, is introducing a set of features and partnerships designed to help brands interact with several popular social media platforms. Spout’s new and upcoming capabilities include Bluesky publishing & reporting; TikTok listening; Instagram partnership ads and influencer marketing workspaces; and LinkedIn personal profile metrics and document publishing, as well as helping users integrate with Adobe Express, Canva and Salesforce. “Social is no longer just where conversations happen—it’s where buying decisions are made, brand perceptions are shaped, and loyalty is earned.” said Sprout Social VP of product marketing Josh Bean. “We’re equipping our customers with the intelligence and tools to transform social interactions into tangible business outcomes and shape the future of customer engagement.”
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Factua, an AI-powered marketing automation platform, acquires a majority stake in Wizco Media Inc., a Montreal-based AI media agency. Wizco’s technology and team will integrate into Factua's core infrastructure, enhancing campaign prediction accuracy, intelligent bidding and conversion path optimization across such verticals as finance, health, home services and education. Factua's marketing automation platform leverages machine learning and predictive analytics to deliver high-quality leads and customers across a wide array of verticals. Factua founder and chairman Gary Salmirs says that Wizco has “developed smart, scalable systems that perfectly complement our vision—one where data science drives every decision and every dollar of media spend.”
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York Public Relations, which works with fintechs and financial institutions, is partnering with digital marketing and website solutions provider OMNICOMMANDER in an effort to provide greater access to industry-specific marketing as well as public relations services to financial services organizations. York Public Relations clients will now have access to enhanced end-user digital marketing and communication services, and OMNICOMMANDER clients will have access to public relations, media relations, and crisis communications services. “By partnering with York Public Relations, we’re aligning two industry-leading experts with one common goal to increase visibility, engagement, and measurable impact,” said OMNICOMMANDER founder & CEO Eric Isham.
Brunner, a Pittsburgh-based integrated marketing agency, acquires AdSkate, an AI-powered creative analytics and marketing intelligence platform that helps brands and agencies optimize advertising performance... Augustine Agency launches Flavor Theory, a foodservice marketing practice aimed at helping restaurants, food manufacturers, distributors and institutional dining organizations grow their brands and businesses... The Acceleration Community of Companies releases a report finding that almost half (49 percent) of Gen Z sports fans say they have become interested in a new sport or athlete because of fan-created content or something entirely outside the sport. 
VPE Communications, which helps organizations authentically connect with diverse audiences, celebrates 38 years in business and announces a new ownership structure... Praytell expands into the Asian market with the opening of a new office in Singapore... The International Public Relations Network unveils a new visual identity and redesigned website. 
SourceCode Communications launches SourceCode Germany, establishing the agency's first office in continental Europe... Clario Group acquires Ted Miller Group, a Miami-founded agency focused on clients in the technology, travel & leisure and financial services sectors... Global Situation Room’s Global Risk Advisory Council is hosting a July 23 webinar that will go over the results of its new Reputation Risk Index.
Havas acquires MUT, a Barcelona-based firm focused on experiential marketing and sustainable events... IPREX lauches its AI Task Force...D S Simon Media, one of the first companies to produce a satellite media tour, celebrates its 40th anniversary... Washington Women in Public Relations is sponsoring an event that shows communications pros who work with associations how they can get their messages across clearly, credibly and courageously. “How Associations Lead with Strategic Storytelling,” at 6 p.m. on July 16.
TEAM LEWIS starts up its AI Practice... Thunderly launches a year-long storytelling campaign focused on how franchising can provide a pathway to business ownership... JIN, a European communications consulting group, introduces "AI Campaigning", a corporate offering designed to model and anticipate stakeholder behavior.
