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Veltris Partners with Vectra AI to Provide Proactive, AI-Driven Threat Detection and Response

Veltris

Veltris announced a strategic partnership with Vectra AI to deliver AI-driven threat detection and response across network, identity, and cloud environments.

Veltris, an AI-first digital product engineering partner, announced a strategic partnership with Vectra AI, the cybersecurity AI company that protects modern networks from modern attacks. The collaboration enhances Veltris’s Managed Security Services with Vectra AI’s attack-signal intelligence, enabling enterprises to detect, investigate, and respond to hybrid threats across network, identity, and cloud ecosystems.

By combining Veltris’s Vertical AI and digital engineering expertise with Vectra AI’s patented AI detection capabilities, clients gain a unified defense strategy that enables them to anticipate, prioritize, and neutralize threats across business environments. This partnership enables embedding security and cyber resilience into core micro-industry workflows and secure modernization to accelerate AI readiness as customers scale in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.

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With the Vectra AI Platform embedded into Veltris’s security operations, organizations benefit from end-to-end protection for their most critical environments:

  • Network & Infrastructure: Advanced detection for cloud, data center, and enterprise networks (NDR).
  • User Identity: Real-time threat detection for Microsoft Entra ID (IDR).
  • Cloud Applications: Comprehensive security for SaaS platforms like Microsoft 365 (CDR).

“By partnering with Vectra AI, we are strengthening our promise to empower clients to build, modernize and run secure, digital AI-powered platforms. Together, we bring the AI-driven visibility and cyber threat response that enterprises need to stay resilient as they scale,” said Hiral Chandrana, CEO & Board Member, Veltris

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Vectra AI CEO & Founder, Hitesh Sheth said, “Today’s attackers are faster, stealthier, and more persistent than ever — and traditional defenses simply can’t keep up. True resilience now means being ready for the inevitable — when an attacker slips past preventive measures. By combining Veltris’s managed industry-specific expertise with Vectra AI’s AI-driven detection and response, we’re empowering security teams to identify and stop active threats before they become breaches.”

Together, Veltris and Vectra AI help enterprises strengthen their security posture as they modernize platforms and scale AI adoption.

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Envera Systems to Accelerate Innovation in Community Safety and Access Control Solutions with Appointment of Devon Watson as CEO

Envera Systems - Community Security Solutions

Envera Systems, a leader in community security solutions, has appointed experienced technology executive Devon Watson as its new President and CEO. Watson will prioritize customer experience and innovation as he leads the company in delivering its suite of integrated security solutions, which include Virtual Gate Guard, Active Video Surveillance, and Smart Access Control.

Envera Systems, the leader in gate automation and security solutions for community associations, announced the appointment of Devon Watson as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Watson, an experienced technology executive, will focus on customer experience and innovation while strengthening the company’s commitment to unparalleled reliability and security in community protection.

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Watson brings a proven track record of driving customer experience, operational excellence and technology advancement. His prior experience includes executive leadership roles in similar always-on, high security technologies including bank ATMs, retail payment systems, cloud computing and self-storage access control.

“Envera Systems has a proven track record providing smart, cost-effective security solutions that offer peace of mind and 24/7 coverage to residents, developers and property managers,” said Devon Watson, CEO of Envera Systems. “As the market leader, we will continuously strengthen our products and operations to provide innovative technology and an elevated experience our clients can count on.”

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In his new role, Watson will lead Envera Systems in delivering its suite of integrated security solutions, including Virtual Gate Guard, Active Video Surveillance, and Smart Access Control, all monitored 24/7 using technology to enhance Envera’s high-performing team of trained professionals. A core part of his mandate will be to emphasize the essential qualities of reliability and security that are paramount to Envera’s clients, which include HOAs, condominiums, property managers, and residential real estate developers.

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Intellibright Partners with Peekaboo to Redefine Modern Search Marketing

Intellibright | CallTrackingMetrics

As hundreds of millions of consumers turn to LLMs for recommendations, a critical question emerges: which brands get mentioned, and which get left behind?

Intellibright, a performance-driven digital marketing agency based in Austin, Texas, has partnered with Peekaboo, a leading AI-search platform that measures brand visibility across large language models (LLMs), specifically ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. This collaboration equips businesses with clear insight into how LLMs surface brands and how that visibility shapes customer discovery.

The stakes are significant. A brand may rank consistently in ChatGPT while remaining invisible in Perplexity. Others appear only for niche queries while competitors capture broader visibility. Some brands are not surfaced at all. This partnership addresses a growing gap in marketing intelligence as AI-powered search reshapes how customers discover and evaluate companies.

By partnering with a data-focused agency like Intellibright, we look forward to helping companies confidently scale their marketing efforts and services.”

— Filipe Lins Duarte, CEO at Peekaboo

“LLMs are shaping how customers connect with companies in a dynamic market, and Peekaboo is dedicated to equipping agencies and brands with the market intelligence they need to level up their content and outperform competitors,” said Filipe Lins Duarte, Chief Executive Officer at Peekaboo. “By partnering with a data-focused agency like Intellibright, we look forward to helping companies confidently scale their marketing efforts and services.”

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The partnership combines Peekaboo’s brand visibility tracking across ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity with Intellibright’s performance marketing expertise. Peekaboo reveals which queries trigger brand mentions, how often brands appear, and which competitors are positioned alongside them. Intellibright brings the strategic perspective needed to understand what that information means for performance and how to act on it.

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“AI gives you the signals. It’s the human element — interpreting those signals, understanding what they mean for the business, and turning them into action — that creates impact,” Michelle Matranga, Chief Digital Officer at Intellibright, said. “When we combine AI insights with real strategic judgment, our clients move faster, make better decisions, and stay ahead as AI becomes a larger part of how people discover and compare brands.”

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ServicePower Closes Transformative Year with AI-Driven Growth and Market Expansion

Double-digit growth, 50% team expansion, and accelerated innovation define 2025 momentum

ServicePower, a leading provider of field service management solutions, announced the close of a transformative year highlighted by strong growth, strategic acquisitions, and major advancements in AI innovation.

Throughout 2025, ServicePower achieved double-digit revenue growth while maintaining financial and operational excellence. As a result of the strategic acquisitions the company expanded its workforce by nearly 50 percent, with most new team members focused on research and development to drive continued progress in AI and platform innovation.

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“2025 was a breakthrough year for ServicePower,” said Frank Gelbart, chief executive officer of ServicePower. “We strengthened our product portfolio, welcomed exceptional new talent, entered high-growth service markets, and expanded our AI capabilities to support a more intelligent service lifecycle. I am incredibly proud of what our teams have achieved and energized by what comes next as we continue to evolve and lead the future of field service.”

Two strategic acquisitions, Inveniam and PlusOne Solutions, further advanced ServicePower’s leadership in computer vision–powered inspection and contractor compliance automation. These additions enhanced the company’s ability to deliver intelligence, accuracy, and trust across the service supply chain.

ServicePower also expanded its presence in major appliances, electronics, retail, warranty, insurance, and property management, while gaining new traction in utilities and telecom through growing demand for its computer vision technology and AI-enabled automation.

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This year included the introduction of the On-Demand Home Services Cloud, a new platform initiative designed to reimagine how brands deliver service. As the first fully automated, AI-driven field service platform, it reflects ServicePower’s commitment to elevating every service experience from dispatch to completion.

With new enterprise wins, expanded deployments, and continued analyst recognition, ServicePower strengthened its position as a trusted partner for organizations modernizing their field operations. The company was named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape for AI-Enabled Field Service Management, recognizing its leadership in intelligent scheduling, blended workforce optimization, contractor reimbursement, and visual intelligence in the field.

ServicePower enters 2026 with strong momentum, a unified platform strategy, and a clear focus on advancing AI to deliver smarter, faster, and more connected service experiences.

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Bluehost Appoints Antonis Papatsaras as Chief Technology Officer to Lead AI-Driven Innovation for SMBs

Bluehost, a trusted partner to millions of entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) for their online presence, announced the newest member of its executive team, Antonis Papatsaras, as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective immediately. Antonis joins Bluehost’s recently expanded executive team during a period of growth and platform innovation, marked by Bluehost’s commitment to accelerating digital success for SMBs in the AI-powered world through the evolution of its web solution offerings and go-to-market strategy.

As CTO, Antonis will lead Bluehost’s technology strategy and innovation agenda, overseeing product architecture, customer experience technology, data strategy, and AI capabilities as the company continues to expand its portfolio across content, commerce, and discovery.

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“Bluehost is rapidly evolving into a next-generation, AI-native SaaS platform built for SMBs,” said Sachin Puri, CEO of Bluehost. “With a strong and expanding executive team, we are accelerating innovation to deliver secure, high-performing, and seamless digital experiences, at the simplicity and cost that SMBs need. Antonis brings deep expertise in cloud, AI, and scalable systems, and I’m thrilled to welcome him as we build the future of our platform for small businesses.”

Dr. Antonis Papatsaras brings more than 27 years of experience and expertise in distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, scalable architecture, and AI. Antonis is a customer-first technology leader who consistently connects engineering and product execution to customer-focused outcomes. Most recently, he served as CTO at Hootsuite, ingesting and analyzing the whole social media data space. Prior to Hootsuite, he was the CTO at DocuSign CLM, SpringCM and held engineering leadership roles at organizations including Hewlett-Packard Autonomy. Throughout his tenure, Antonis has showcased his ability to drive innovation aligned with accelerated growth.

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“Iconic brands aren’t built by technology alone, they’re built through millions of meaningful customer moments,” said Antonis Papatsaras, CTO of Bluehost. “As Bluehost enters the agentic AI era, our opportunity is to reduce friction, increase guidance, and deliver better outcomes; evolving AI from isolated tools into trusted partners that help small businesses succeed across their entire digital journey.”

With this appointment, Bluehost reinforces its commitment to empowering SMBs with technology that helps them move faster online, convert more effectively, and scale with confidence. Backed by a strengthened leadership team, Bluehost will continue investing in AI-driven innovation to support small business success in an increasingly digital and intelligent economy.

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Pattern Announces Acquisition of NextWave, Expanding TikTok Shop and Creator-Led Commerce Capabilities

Pattern Group Inc. , a global leader in accelerating brands on ecommerce marketplaces through proprietary technology and AI, announced that it has acquired NextWave, a fast-growing TikTok commerce agency specializing in creator-led product discovery, TikTok Shop operations, live selling, and affiliate acceleration.

Pattern Group acquires NextWave, expanding AI-driven TikTok commerce capabilities.

The acquisition accelerates Pattern’s ability to help brands reach new customers amid the rapid growth of TikTok Shop and social commerce. NextWave brings industry-leading TikTok Shop Partner (TSP) services, top-ranked Creator Affiliate Partner (CAP) capabilities, and a network of more than 1,200 managed creators and more than 300,000 affiliates on TikTok. Together, these capabilities will help Pattern scale creator-led content and tap into one of most powerful channels for product discovery and conversion.

“We are excited to welcome Grace Yang and the NextWave team to Pattern,” said Dave Wright, Co-founder and CEO of Pattern. “NextWave has built one of the most effective TikTok Shop and creator-commerce organizations in the industry. By combining their expertise with Pattern’s fast-growing social commerce offering and technology platform, we are uniquely positioned to become a leading force in social selling—helping brands grow faster as creators reshape how consumers discover and buy products.”

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Founded in 2022 by CEO Grace Yang, NextWave has rapidly emerged as one of the highest-performing partners in the TikTok ecosystem, supporting brands with creator management, high-velocity content production, and end-to-end TikTok Shop growth. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the company’s team spans Los Angeles and New York.

“NextWave was built to help brands win in the new era of social commerce, where creator-led content drives discovery and performance,” said Grace Yang, Founder and CEO of NextWave. “Joining Pattern allows us to scale what we do best, combining our TikTok Shop expertise, creator network, and operational speed with Pattern’s global reach, AI, and marketplace infrastructure, to help brands grow faster and more efficiently than ever before.”

The combined offerings will enable brands to unify creator-led demand generation with marketplace performance, providing integrated data, attribution, and operational support across TikTok Shop, Amazon, Walmart, and more than 60 global marketplaces.

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Cognizant and Microsoft Expand Partnership to Advance AI Transformation and Frontier Firm Experiences

The collaboration will co-innovate to deliver AI-powered solutions, combining Microsoft’s trusted cloud with Cognizant’s industry platforms to help organizations redefine work and scale innovation.

Cognizant announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Microsoft to help global enterprises become AI-powered frontier firms: organizations that redefine work, unlock new value, and scale innovation responsibly.

Under this agreement, Cognizant and Microsoft will co-build industry-grade AI solutions, jointly co-sell globally and collaborate on large-scale deals across key sectors including Financial Services, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Retail, and Manufacturing.

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The partnership will embed agentic AI and Copilot powered by Work IQ, Foundry IQ and Fabric IQ capabilities into mission-critical workflows, accelerating productivity, customer experience and operational resilience. This partnership also expands on the Cognizant Neuro® AI Suite of offerings Cognizant is bringing to the market which leverage Microsoft cloud and AI services.

“Today, AI underpins and shapes every transformation program we drive,” said Ravi Kumar S, CEO, Cognizant. “We will co-build scalable solutions, co-sell globally and partner on large deals that deliver measurable outcomes for our clients by aligning this partnership to our three-vector AI builder strategy.

Kumar continued, “By combining Microsoft’s trusted cloud and AI with Cognizant’s industry platforms, we are strongly positioned to help clients solve the last-mile challenge of scaling AI across the enterprise.”

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Cognizant will scale Microsoft 365 Copilot and GitHub Copilot adoption across delivery and consulting teams, while upskilling associates on Microsoft Azure, Azure AI Foundry, and related technologies, creating an agile, AI-fluent workforce. The collaboration will also harness Cognizant’s proprietary platforms, including TriZetto, Skygrade, and FlowSource™, to deliver sector-specific advancements and modernize software engineering at scale.

“Cognizant’s ability to marry deep industry expertise with bold innovation makes them an outstanding partner as we co-innovate to help enterprises become AI-powered Frontier Firms,” said Judson Althoff, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft’s commercial business. “By combining Microsoft’s trusted cloud and agentic AI capabilities with Cognizant’s platforms and delivery scale, we will accelerate the creation of industry-specific solutions that are embedded in the flow of work and unlock transformative value for our joint customers around the world.”

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RPM Acquires Dealers Choice Auto Transport, Delivering Enterprise-Grade Tech to the Dealership Market

RPM Freight Systems, LLC (“RPM”), an international non-asset-based logistics and supply chain solutions company, is excited to announce its acquisition of Dealers Choice Auto Transport (“Dealers Choice”). This strategic move is designed to bridge the gap between large-scale logistics and specialized dealership service, ensuring that customers on both sides of the transaction experience faster, more transparent, and high-quality vehicle transport.

This strategic acquisition combines two industry leaders, uniting RPM’s expansive logistics network and technology platform with the deep expertise and high-touch customer service Dealers Choice has cultivated over more than 20 years. For RPM’s customers, this partnership deepens the company’s reach into the dealer-to-dealer, auction, and personal sectors, providing the specialized, reliable “white glove” care required for high-line dealerships, exotics, classic cars, and personally owned vehicle moves.

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For over two decades, Dealers Choice has built a reputation for reliability and efficiency in moving specialized and luxury vehicles for dealership groups and auto auctions across North America. The integration of its specialized carrier network with RPM’s logistics expertise will now deliver greater operational efficiency and end-to-end visibility to these customers.

Dealers Choice Auto Transport will continue to operate under its established brand name, maintaining its strong identity and customer-first culture. Critically for customers, all day-to-day operations, service commitments, and contacts will remain the same. Customers of both companies will now benefit from seamless access to an expanded portfolio of services, including more nationwide capacity and enhanced technology, through a single, trusted partner.

Andrew Frank, Partner at Trive Capital, commented, “The acquisition of Dealers Choice Auto Transport further solidifies RPM’s position as a comprehensive, full-service logistics platform for the entire vehicle lifecycle. Trive is excited to continue supporting RPM as they continue to accelerate their leadership in the vehicle logistics industry.”

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“We are thrilled to have the support of Trive Capital and BlueJay Capital in welcoming Dealers Choice Auto Transport to the RPM team,” said John Perkovioch, President of RPM North America. “We believe 2026 is going to be our biggest year yet. This acquisition opens us up to yet another industry vertical and continues to propel our growth with our current dealership and auction partners. This combination will allow us to provide enhanced reliability and capacity during peak seasons, snowbird periods, and high-demand auction cycles. We are united in our commitment to solving the most complex logistics challenges.”

“Joining RPM is a fantastic opportunity for our team and our customers after more than 20 years of service,” said Steven Yariv, President & CEO of Dealers Choice Auto Transport. “Our deep roots in the exotic luxury dealership community and our focus on reliable, on-time delivery align perfectly with RPM’s values. Together, we will be able to offer an even more powerful set of tools and a broader network, all while maintaining the personal care and reliability our customers have come to expect from us.”

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Michael Kassan Joins Mediaocean Board of Directors as Vice Chairman

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One of the most influential figures in media and marketing joins Mediaocean to fortify advertising’s leading provider of software and AI solutions

Mediaocean, the foundational partner for omnichannel advertising, announced that Michael Kassan, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures, has joined its Board of Directors as Vice Chairman. Kassan will play a key role at a pivotal time for the advertising industry’s shift toward AI-powered and connected systems, helping to guide Mediaocean through its next phase of strategic growth as the independent technology uniting brands, agencies, publishers, and partners.

Kassan will play a key role at a pivotal time for the advertising industry’s shift toward AI-powered systems, helping to guide Mediaocean through its next phase of strategic growth as the independent tech uniting brands, agencies, publishers, and partners.

Widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in modern marketing, Kassan brings decades of experience advising the world’s largest advertisers, agencies, and media companies. Throughout his career, he has helped shape the direction of the industry through an unmatched ability to bridge innovation, technology, and business transformation. Prior to founding 3C Ventures in 2024 and MediaLink in 2003, Kassan was President/COO and Vice-Chairman of Initiative Media Worldwide, growing billings from $1.5 billion to over $10 billion.

Kassan was named one of the top media executives in America by Ad Age and was honored on Adweek’s “Power 100” list and on Variety’s index of the 500 most influential business leaders shaping the global entertainment industry. In 2019, Kassan was inducted into the American Advertising Federation’s Hall of Fame, which is considered the highest honor in advertising.

In recent years, Kassan has been a trusted advisor to Mediaocean’s leadership and board, providing instrumental guidance during the landmark investment and launch of a Certified Service Partner program with agency holding companies Interpublic Group, Omnicom Group, and WPP, as well as the acquisition of Innovid.

“Michael has an extraordinary understanding of how technology, creativity, and commercial strategy come together to drive growth,” said Bill Wise, CEO at Mediaocean. “His insights and influence have already helped shape Mediaocean’s evolution, and now as our Vice Chairman, his perspective will be invaluable as we usher in the next wave of expansion through interoperable AI solutions for the advertising industry.”

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“For much of my career, I’ve focused on building bridges across the marketing ecosystem,” said Kassan. “Mediaocean embodies that same mission, connecting every part of the industry with the technology and transparency that drive progress. I’m excited to support the company’s continued growth and help guide its strategy at such a critical inflection point.”

“Mediaocean is well-positioned to capitalize on market trends, and adding Michael to the board will provide additional firepower to future-proof the business,” said Chris Stadler, Managing Partner at CVC Capital Partners. “Whether it’s driving innovation or strategic deal-making, having Michael on our team will bring tremendous value to all stakeholders.”

Kassan joins Mediaocean at a time of strong momentum for the company, marked by milestones including Ad Age’s Best Places to Work, USA Top Workplaces, NYC Top Workplaces, and Remote Work Top Workplaces. Collectively, these distinctions underscore Mediaocean’s ongoing commitment to building a world-class environment that empowers its global team to deliver for customers and fuel innovation across the advertising industry.

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