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Lionize Announces Initial Closing of $2 Million Funding Round Led by Cultivation Capital to Fuel Continued Growth in the Influencer Marketing Sector

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8 months ago

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NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Lionize, an innovative AI-driven influencer search tool and influencer marketing platform, today announced the initial closing of a funding round of up to $2M led by Cultivation Capital. This investment marks a significant milestone in Lionize’s mission to revolutionize influencer marketing through the use of AI.

Lionize scales influencer marketing with ease by using AI to make recruiting and managing creators your new superpower.

In the evolving landscape of digital marketing, managing a high volume of influencer partnerships has traditionally been a resource-intensive endeavor, often requiring substantial time and financial investment to scale effectively. Lionize’s platform addresses this challenge head-on, providing an all-encompassing solution that manages every aspect of influencer marketing. The additional support from Cultivation Capital will further fuel the development of Lionize’s groundbreaking platform as the company aims to make influencer marketing a more manageable and effective strategy for any brand or agency regardless of their expertise in the space.

“Our platform isn’t just about connecting brands with influencers; it’s about redefining the management of influencer relationships,” said Chris Buetti, CEO of Lionize. “We take the heavy lifting out of the process – from sourcing and recruitment to contracting, tracking, reporting, and even payment. This comprehensive approach is especially crucial when dealing with large numbers of micro-influencers, where the complexity can escalate quickly. We are grateful for Cultivation Capital’s support as we continue to expand our product capabilities and drive value for clients.”

Heather Wood, Partner at Cultivation Capital, commented, “Lionize is not just innovating; they are solving a significant pain point in the influencer marketing industry. Their approach to managing micro-influencer communities efficiently is what sets them apart, and we’re excited to support their growth.”

Lionize’s value proposition is clear: it addresses the significant pain points marketers face in activating and managing micro-influencers. The platform’s proprietary search engine automates the sourcing and qualification process, enabling the efficient management of influencer partnerships at scale and even turning non-influencers into influential voices for brands. By tackling the time-intensive recruitment and communication challenges with micro-influencers, Lionize ensures genuine interest and collaboration. Moreover, its systematic approach streamlines diverse processes across the industry, overcoming the inefficiencies of traditional influencer marketplaces and simplifying complex marketing campaign setups. Leveraging experience from over 600 influencer campaigns, Lionize offers a data-driven, automated setup for optimal campaign outcomes, making it a budget-friendly option that allows working with larger quantities of influencers.

This news follows the launch of Lionize’s self-service model and will further democratize the influencer marketing space by allowing businesses of all sizes to effortlessly tap into the power of influencer networks. This innovation is a direct response to the industry’s demand for scalable, efficient, and cost-effective influencer marketing strategies.

About Lionize

Lionize is leading the evolution of influencer marketing with its innovative AI-driven platform, designed to simplify and enhance the efficacy of influencer campaigns, especially in managing large communities of micro-influencers. Founded in 2021, Lionize is headquartered in New York City. For more information about Lionize and its revolutionary approach to influencer marketing, visit www.lionize.ai.

About Cultivation Capital

Cultivation Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in software technology, life sciences, agriculture technology, and geospatial technology companies. Since its founding in 2012, the firm has invested in over 150 companies and is recognized as one of the most active early-stage investors in the United States. For more information, visit https://cultivationcapital.com.

Media Contact:
Austin Rosenthal
Co-founder
Lionize
austin@lionize.ai

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lionize-announces-initial-closing-of-2-million-funding-round-led-by-cultivation-capital-to-fuel-continued-growth-in-the-influencer-marketing-sector-302073520.html

SOURCE Lionize

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Winners Announced in 12th Globee® Awards for Leadership

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45 mins ago

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October 10, 2024

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The winners have been honored for their exceptional leadership, significant contributions to innovation, driving business growth, and fostering positive change within their fields.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The Globee® Awards, organizers of premier data-driven business awards programs with worldwide acceptance and industry-wide participation, are excited to announce the winners of the 12th Annual Globee® Awards for Leadership. These awards honor exceptional leaders, innovators, and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding leadership across various industries.

Globee Awards honor exceptional leaders, innovators, and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding leadership across various industries from all over the world.

For the full list of winners, visit https://globeeawards.com/leadership/winners/

The winners have been honored for their exceptional leadership, significant contributions to innovation, driving business growth, and fostering positive change within their fields. The rigorous peer-to-peer and industry expert review process ensured that the most impactful and noteworthy leaders were selected and celebrated for their outstanding achievements.

This year, over 1,800 executives, professionals, and business owners from around the world applied to participate in the judging process, representing a diverse range of industries and regions. Their collective expertise ensured that the judging was thorough and that the most worthy leaders were recognized for their extraordinary contributions.

For the full list of judges, visit https://globeeawards.com/leadership/judges/

ABOUT THE GLOBEE AWARDS

The Globee Awards present recognition in ten programs and competitions, including the Globee® Awards for Artificial Intelligence, Globee® Awards for Business (International), Globee® Awards for Customer Excellence, Globee® Awards for Cybersecurity, Globee® Awards for Disruptors, Globee® Awards for Innovation (also known as Golden Bridge Awards®), Globee® Awards for Technology, Globee® Awards for Leadership, Globee® Awards for USA (previously known as Globee® Awards for American Business), and Globee® Awards for Women In Business. To learn more about the Globee Awards, please visit the website: https://globeeawards.com.

#GlobeeAwards #BusinessAwards #Artificial-Intelligence #Technology #Cybersecurity #Excellence #Leadership #AI

All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Media Contact

San Madan, Globee Awards, (408) 689-2203, help@globeeawards.com, https://globeeawards.com

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SOURCE Globee Awards

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New Report: ‘The Second Wave of K-Beauty’

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45 mins ago

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October 10, 2024

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Landing International Releases The Complete Primer for K-Beauty in Retail

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Since the U.S. launch of BB cream in 2011, Korean beauty (K-Beauty) has revolutionized skincare routines across the globe, emerging as a powerhouse in the beauty industry. This surge is not merely a trend but a cultural phenomenon fueled by the rising global influence of Korean culture (K-Pop, K-Drama, and K-Kood).

Today, one of the pioneers of K-Beauty’s first wave, Landing International Founder and CEO Sarah Chung Park, is releasing a new report called “The Second Wave of K-Beauty” to highlight the current dynamics of the K-Beauty, its impact on North American consumers and growth opportunities for retailers.

Based on proprietary insights from industry leaders like Spate, ClearForMe, and Landing’s own platform, this report offers exclusive, data-driven analysis not found anywhere else. It covers everything you need to know about K-Beauty’s rapid global expansion, from the rise of K-Culture to the dominance of K-Beauty on platforms like Amazon and TikTok.

The Rise of K-Beauty
K-Beauty has captivated consumers with its innovative formulations and emphasis on natural ingredients, attracting consumers (particularly millennials and Gen Z) who prioritize effective, affordable beauty products. The global K-Beauty market has skyrocketed in recent years. In 2022, it was valued at approximately $91.99 billion, with North America contributing around $3.8 billion. The U.S. market is expected to grow significantly, with forecasts predicting it will surpass $9.9 billion by 2032.

Inside the Report:

Defining K-Beauty: Exploring what makes K-Beauty unique and why it has captivated global audiences.
The U.S. K-Beauty Market: Analyzing market dynamics and the potential for future growth.
The Influence of K-Culture: How K-Food, K-Dramas, K-Movies, and K-Pop have driven K-Beauty’s worldwide appeal.
Opportunities in the Second Wave: Exploring growth areas in haircare, color cosmetics, body care, and fragrance.
Trends in the U.S. vs. Korea: Comparing what’s popular in K-Beauty across both markets.
Top K-Beauty Brands on Amazon and TikTok: Highlighting leading brands and products in digital marketplaces.

Download the report here.

About Landing International Inc.
Landing International is beauty’s global growth partner. With our deep retail relationships, we launch global beauty brands into new markets through storytelling, sales and services. Named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in Beauty, we are the leading K-Beauty category builder in the U.S. and beyond.

About Sarah Chung Park
Sarah Chung Park is the founder and CEO of Landing International Inc. and a pioneer of K-Beauty’s first wave.  Once called the “Godmother of K-Beauty,” Sarah founded Landing in 2012. Since then, she has successfully launched 180+ Korean beauty and wellness brands—such as COSRX, Isntree, Hanskin, and Klairs—into major retailers, including Ulta, Target, Dermstore, Nordstrom and JCPenney.

In April 2016, Landing introduced COSRX to the U.S. market and led its expansion into 15+ retailers. And in 2017, Landing launched the K-Beauty prestige section at Ulta Beauty. With a keen eye for identifying the next big thing, Sarah’s expert curation and connections have made her a formidable force in the industry, driving more than $160 million in sales.

Contact:
Nadia Suttle
949-431-6846

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-report-the-second-wave-of-k-beauty-302273105.html

SOURCE Landing International

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Tim Draper leads $3.1 million CAD Round in Dreamwell AI, Influencer Automation Software started by ex-influencer Kazzy Khazaal

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45 mins ago

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October 10, 2024

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Influencer-marketing startup Dreamwell AI raised $3.1 million CAD from Tim Draper and others as it seeks to automate creator prospecting and other tasks.

TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Billionaire VC Tim Draper (via Draper Associates) has led a $2.3 million pre seed in Dreamwell AI, an influencer marketing automation platform. Also participating in the funding round is Panache Ventures, BDC Capital Seed Venture Fund, and prominent early investors in companies like Uber and Xero.

Too often, brands are overcharged by influencers with inflated engagement metrics that don’t translate to real value. Our platform offers transparency and automation to help brands increase their ROAS and cut the fluff from their budgets.

The newly secured funding will accelerate Dreamwell’s growth, allowing the company to further develop its technology to support major clients in the CPG and technology space, as well as expand its team. Dreamwell has already worked with some of the top A.I. startups such as Perplexity and Copy AI, as the influencer space expands. Dreamwell aims to redefine influencer marketing by helping brands identify influencers who offer genuine ROI, solving a persistent industry problem: overpaying for influencers who don’t convert.

“We are solving one of the biggest pain points in the influencer marketing industry,” said CEO and founder Kazzy Khazaal. “Too often, brands are overcharged by influencers with inflated engagement metrics that don’t translate to real value. Our platform offers transparency and automation to help brands increase their ROAS and cut the fluff from their budgets.”

Tim Draper, who led the funding round through Draper Associates, commented on the investment: “Dreamwell is addressing one of the toughest challenges in influencer marketing—finding the true value of influencers. What impressed me most was Kazzy’s unwavering dedication and vision for the company. With his deep knowledge in the space and domain expertise, as well as the team’s innovative approach, I’m excited to support their mission to make influencer marketing smarter and more transparent for brands.”

Khazaal’s journey into influencer marketing began when he moved to Los Angeles with nothing but a camera and lived on his friends’ Yes Theory’s couch in 2017, who now boast over 15 million followers themselves. Over time, he grew his own following to over 1 million followers and had one of the fastest growing YouTube channels in Canada. He then managed top creators, and hosted major influencer events in Hollywood Hills for some of the largest creators and celebrities. His hands-on experience with brands revealed the critical gaps and pain points in influencer pricing models, leading him to build Dreamwell in 2023 alongside CTO and co-founder Anthony Bobsin, a former core engineer at AdParlor and staff engineer at Instacart.

A Growing Creator Economy

This funding comes at a time when the creator economy is projected to approach $480 billion by 2027, according to a recent report by Goldman Sachs. With an increasing number of influencers and platforms emerging, Dreamwell is positioned to help brands maximize their return on investment by connecting them with the right creators based on accurate, real-time data.

What Sets Dreamwell Apart

Unlike traditional influencer marketing platforms, Dreamwell’s software focuses on the real-time performance tracking of influencer campaigns, integrating with ecommerce platforms to track critical metrics such as revenue, AOV, conversions, and clicks. The system also provides real-time alerts when opportunities arise, allowing brands to adjust their campaigns mid-cycle for better results.

The Road Ahead

With this new round of funding, Dreamwell will continue expanding its capabilities to support more notable clients while doubling down on its mission to help brands avoid influencer overcharges. The platform aims to become the go-to tool for brands looking to optimize their influencer spend with transparency and efficiency.

Media Contact

Kazzy Khazaal, Dreamwell AI, 1 6131111111, kazzy@dreamwell.ai, dreamwell.ai

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SOURCE Dreamwell AI

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