LQR House Reports 458% YOY Revenue Surge in December 2023, Fueled by Holiday Ecommerce Success

MIAMI BEACH, FL, Jan 5, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – LQR House Inc. (the “Company” or “LQR House”) (NASDAQ:LQR), a niche ecommerce platform specializing in the spirits and beverage industry, proudly announces a remarkable 458% YOY increase in revenue for December 2023 compared to December 2022. This achievement aligns with The National Retail Federation’s forecast, projecting record-breaking holiday spending between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion during November and December 2023.

In December 2022, LQR House recorded revenue at $74,053, and the Company has witnessed a significant growth to $339,713 in December 2023. We believe that this accomplishment is not isolated but part of a broader trend, evidenced by record-breaking sales over the Black Friday to Cyber Monday weekend where November’s monthly revenue surged over 300% year-over-year. In our view, these results indicate that this is not a one-time occurrence for LQR House, but rather, we believe it’s evolving into a recurring situation where LQR House is actively cultivating consistent momentum.

Sean Dollinger, CEO of LQR House, emphasized the significance of the holiday season in ecommerce, stating, “December consistently stands out as the most robust period for ecommerce. Holiday spending tends to escalate, and concurrently, alcohol sales witness a notable rise. We believe, that the year-over-year increase in sales truly attests to the value LQR House brings. Following its remarkable performance in November, the Company replicated its success in December. The aim is to sustain this growth trajectory as we unveil exciting plans ahead to further disrupt the industry and deliver increased value to our shareholders.”

We believe that LQR House continues to solidify its position as a trailblazer in the ecommerce landscape, showcasing rapid growth and innovative strategies to meet the evolving demands of consumers in the spirits and beverage industry.

About LQR House Inc.

LQR House intends to become a prominent force in the wine and spirits e-commerce sector, epitomized by its flagship alcohol marketplace, cwspirits.com. This platform seamlessly delivers a diverse range of emerging, premium, and luxury spirits, wines, and champagnes from esteemed retail partners like Country Wine & Spirits. Functioning as a technology-driven hub, LQR House utilizes software, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to elevate the consumer experience. CWSpirits.com stands out as the go-to destination for modern, convenience-oriented shoppers, providing a curated selection of alcohol products delivered to homes across the United States. Beyond its role as an e-commerce leader, LQR House is a marketing agency with a specialized focus on the alcohol industry. The company measures campaign success by directly correlating it with sales on CWSpirits.com, demonstrating a proven return on investment. Backed by an influential network of over 550 figures in the alcohol space, LQR House strategically drives traffic to CWSpirits.com, enhancing brand visibility. LQR House intends to disrupt the traditional landscape of the alcohol industry, driven by its dedication to providing an unparalleled online purchasing experience and delivering tailored marketing solutions.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Shareholders can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations that arise after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the initial public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.

Investor and Media Contact:

info@lqrhouse.com

STRATACACHE Partners With the National Retail Federation on New ‘What’s in Store for Retail Media Networks’ Event

DAYTON, OH, Jan 4, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Global retail media company STRATACACHE and the National Retail Federation have partnered on the first event devoted to the rapidly expanding role of the physical store in the $122 billion global retail media ecosystem. “What’s in Store for Retail Media Networks” takes place on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at the Jacob Javits center, kicking off this year’s NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show, being held January 14-16.

The day consists of 10 presentations and panels, with participants including executives from Albertsons, Kroger, and Unilever, leading experts in shopper marketing from the University of Arkansas Sam Walton College of Business, as well as thought leaders from McKinsey & Company, the IAB, and Solomon Partners.

“Digital retail media ad spending in the United States will soon exceed tv advertising revenue, accounting for more than 15% of total ad spend,” says Chris Riegel, CEO of STRATACACHE. “Most of this spend is still online, but in-store audiences are about 70% larger than digital ones. Because of this vast pre-qualified in-store audience, we’re seeing a rapid commitment from our retail partners around the world to digitize their brick and mortar stores and tie together their online and in-store retail media network efforts.”

“What makes this event unlike any others is that there is zero pay-to-play content in the day,” adds Riegel. “We wanted a highly curated day, and organized it around three foundational topics: in-store experience, in-store measurement and technology, and in-store monetization, each led by category captains, experts of their domains:

Andy Murray, Category Captain for Shopper Experience and Content sessions, will lead a discussion based on his experience as SVP over the in-store experience at both Walmart and ASDA, entitled “Creating a Total In-Store Communication Architecture: Harmonizing Shopper, Brand, and Retailer Needs,” featuring Evan Hovorka, VP Product and Innovation of Albertson’s Media Collective and Beth Ann Kaminkow, Global CEO of VMLY&R Commerce.

Kevin Carbone, CEO of PRN, will serve as Category Captain for the Monetization and Value sessions, one of which will feature Quinton George, Partner at McKinsey & Company and Leader of the Commerce Media Practice, sharing his insights on complex dynamics at play between brands and retailers – the supply and demand side of the retail media network landscape.

And Chris Riegel, CEO of STRATACACHE will serve as Category Captain for the Technology, Measurement, and Insights sessions. He will introduce a new IAB white paper focused on in-store metrics, presented by Jeffrey Bustos, VP Measurement and Addressability Data at the IAB. Later in the day, Riegel will lead a fireside chat about threats to loyalty programs from the current political and legislative landscape, with Paul Martino, Vice President and Senior Policy Counsel at the National Retail Federation.

Full event details and registration can be found at https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/special-programs/retail-media-networks. Learn more about STRATACACHE at www.stratacache.com and the NRF at www.nrf.com.

SOURCE: STRATACACHE

View the original press release on newswire.com.

WinZO achieves 40% growth in retention rate with CleverTap

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and MUMBAI, India, Dec 20, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – CleverTap, the all-in-one engagement platform today announced that mobile gaming platform, WinZO, has achieved 40% growth in retention rate following the CleverTap rollout.

Founded in 2018, WinZO is today at the forefront of India’s mobile gaming revolution; the company has over 175 million users, making it the country’s largest mobile social gaming platform. WinZO hosts 100+ games across multiple formats in more than a dozen regional languages.

WinZO is dedicated to providing product value and fostering user retention. The challenge was to quickly analyze data to enhance user retention. CleverTap’s integrated partnership with WinZO’s technology stack, helped nurture more robust customer relationships, bolster user engagement, and increase retention rates. Today, WinZO has 5 billion micro in-app transactions every month, and delivers highly personalized experiences to gamers.

“In the current highly competitive environment, where users have an abundance of options with numerous apps and brands competing for their attention, our goal is to craft experiences that are highly responsive and based on real-time interactions,” said Angad Sehdev, Strategy and Growth, WinZO. He further added, “CleverTap doesn’t just provide data; it equips us with the insights, segmentation, and tools needed to execute swiftly. In this kind of an ecosystem, if you’re not acting on the data in real time, you lose your user base. You need to understand what the user wants before the user has even expressed the need.”

CleverTap offers comprehensive tracking and analytics, enabling WinZO to gain insights into customer interactions with its products. This real-time feedback on new app updates aids in refining rollout strategies.

Sidharth Pisharoti, Chief Revenue Officer, CleverTap said, “Customer retention has always been at the heart of everything we do at CleverTap, and we’re thrilled to have helped WinZO increase their retention rates by 40%. It’s been an immense pleasure working with WinZO over the last 5 years. Today, they are one of India’s largest mobile gaming platforms. This is a result of their deep understanding of customer behavior and the team’s ability to deliver on those expectations. As WinZO embarks on an ambitious journey to expand its user base to 700 million and introduce new gaming formats, CleverTap remains a steadfast partner in this tech-driven gaming revolution.”

About CleverTap

CleverTap is the all-in-one engagement platform that helps brands unlock limitless customer lifetime value by helping them create personalized experiences to retain their most valuable customers. The platform empowers businesses to orchestrate experiences for individuals across their lifecycles and design personalized journeys that span a lifetime. It offers analytics that encompasses every aspect of the lifecycle, enabling businesses to measure and optimize each experience in real time. Its unique AI capability is insightful, empathetic, and prescriptive, facilitating smarter and faster decisions. The all-in-one platform unifies experiences from every touchpoint, paving the way for a new era of customer engagement.

The platform is powered by TesseractDB™ – the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale.

CleverTap is trusted by 2000 customers, including Electronic Arts, TiltingPoint, Gamebasics, Big Fish, MobilityWare, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa John’s, and Tesco.

Backed by leading investors such as Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, Accel, CDPQ, and 360 One, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with presence in San Francisco, New York, São Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Singapore, and Jakarta.

For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow us on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clevertap/
X: https://twitter.com/CleverTap

About WinZO

WinZO is the largest social gaming and interactive entertainment platform in India with over 175million users from T2-T5 Bharat. Launched in early 2018, the company partners with third-party developers to host games on its Android app, offering users personalized multiplayer gameplay experiences. The platform is available in 12 native languages. WinZO’s platform facilitates over 5 billion micro-transactions per month across a portfolio of 100+ games, contributing to 1 in 250 UPI transactions of India happening on WinZO’s platform. The company is dedicated to building an enthusiastic community of gamers and gaming influencers in India. WinZO envisions a future where its platform can deliver culturally relevant and enjoyable experiences to the global audiences, monetized through a unique micro-transaction model.

WinZO, a series-C funded venture, has raised $100 million from Marquee gaming and entertainment investors such as Griffin Gaming partners, Courtside ventures, Maker’s fund, all of whom made their first investment in the Indian start-up ecosystem through WinZO.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap’s belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.

Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.

For more information:
SONY SHETTY
Director, Public Relations, CleverTap
+91 9820900036
sony@clevertap.com

IPSHITA BALU
Consultant
Archetype
+91 9590111798
ipshita.balu@archetype.co

GPO Plus, Inc. (GPOX) Achieves Record Revenues with 25% Quarterly Growth

LAS VEGAS, NV, Dec 19, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – GPO Plus, Inc. (OTCQB: GPOX), a prominent distribution and manufacturing company specializing in consumer products for convenience stores, gas stations, and specialty retailers, has reported impressive Q2 financial results. The company’s gross revenue for the quarter ending October 31, 2023, reached a record $1.21 million, marking a substantial 25% increase from the previous quarter ending July 31, 2023, which reported $970,735 in gross revenues.

Key Highlights:

1. Quarterly Revenue Surge: GPOX achieved a remarkable 25% surge in top-line revenue, reaching $1.213 million in the second quarter, up from $970,735 in the preceding quarter.

2. Expansion of DSD Service: Approximately 154 stores received the new Direct Store Delivery (DSD) service with full product inventory by October 31, 2023. GPOX is on track to surpass the estimated 258 stores receiving the white glove DSD service by year-end, with an ambitious target of 475 stores expected to be online by May 2024.

3. Technological Advancements: GPOX Labs.ai, the technology division, has initiated the implementation of its proprietary MSRP software platform. This advanced technology incorporates AI mapping tools, live dispatch consoles, and comprehensive DSD inventory support, optimizing logistics and inventory management.

4. Strategic Partnership: GPOX Labs.ai has entered into a strategic partnership with an enterprise data exchange company to enhance Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). This collaboration aims to provide near-real-time inventory updates and advanced sales analytics, expected to go live this quarter.

About GPO Plus

GPO Plus (GPOX) operates as a product development, manufacturing, and distribution company, offering a diverse portfolio of high-quality innovative products directly to consumers and retailers. With a focus on product development, distribution, marketing, and sales, the company aims to expand its product line and distribution reach to meet market demand and customer needs.

Source: AmplifiPR
Dz@Amplifipr.com

Cleverbridge Appoints Malte Gabriel as Chief Product Officer

Cologne, Germany, Dec 14, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Cleverbridge, a growth engine for global technology companies, today announced that Malte Gabriel has joined Cleverbridge as Chief Product Officer to strengthen and expand the company’s innovative product portfolio. Gabriel will report directly to Radu Immenroth, Chief Technology Officer, and will serve on Cleverbridge’s leadership team.

Cleverbridge Chief Product Officer Malte Gabriel

With extensive product and business leadership experience from Microblink, Apptio, 7Park Data, and McKinsey & Company, Gabriel will be a strong asset to Cleverbridge in executing its ambitious product vision and fueling the next phase of company growth. Gabriel will oversee Cleverbridge’s global product organization and will be responsible for a diverse product lineup that includes global payment processing and subscription management capabilities, as well as lifecycle marketing automation and advanced revenue insights with the company’s two newest AI-powered products, CleverAutomations and CleverInsights.

“We’re excited to welcome Malte to Cleverbridge as our Chief Product Officer,” said Immenroth. “Malte’s proven track record of building and scaling products that excite customers, accelerate business growth, and deliver impact make him the perfect fit to lead our product team and drive innovation in the rapidly evolving eCommerce and customer success landscape. We are very grateful to have his leadership and powerful blend of technical depth, strategic thinking, and business operational experience as we continue to provide exceptional value to our clients.”

Gabriel is a results-driven executive with over a decade of experience building data-intensive and machine learning-powered software solutions. Most recently, Gabriel served as VP of Product at Microblink, a computer vision startup, where he helped deliver record sales growth for the company’s foundational card scanning product while successfully launching a disruptive card verification product in parallel. Gabriel has a bachelor’s degree from The University of Amsterdam, a master’s degree from The London School of Economics, and will work from New York City where he’ll join Cleverbridge’s growing East Coast team.

“It’s a privilege to join Cleverbridge, especially at this moment in the company’s history,” said Gabriel. “Throughout my career, I have made an effort to lead with empathy and operate with a customer-centric mindset. Based on my initial conversations with clients, it is clear that Cleverbridge has a compelling, differentiated solution that empowers organizations with the latest best practices in growing customer lifetime value. We have a real opportunity to deliver revenue growth on autopilot, and I’m honored to be a part of the journey.”

About Cleverbridge

Cleverbridge makes it easy to maximize customer lifetime value. We leverage deep eCommerce expertise to orchestrate and automate frictionless self-service transactions across the entire customer journey, empowering customers to purchase, renew, and expand subscriptions in 248 countries and territories globally. For more than 18 years, our Growth Engine has integrated payments with subscription management, lifecycle marketing automation, advanced analytics, and partner ecosystems to consistently deliver recurring revenue growth without added headcount. Learn more at grow.cleverbridge.com.

Contact Information
Gordon Knapp
Senior Director, Marketing
gordon.knapp@cleverbridge.com
+17573458523

View the original press release on newswire.com.

U.S. Polo Assn. Launches Field X Fashion, the Brand’s First-of-Its-Kind Global, Digital Magazine

West Palm Beach, FL, Dec 13, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), has launched its premier edition of Field X Fashion – presented by U.S. Polo Assn., an annual digital magazine about sport, fashion, and influencer events and how these connect for the global, multi-billion-dollar, sport-inspired, lifestyle brand.

Field X Fashion features U.S. Polo Assn.’s authentic connection to sport, fashion, events, seasonal collections, global photo shoots, sustainability initiatives, philanthropy, global brand recognitions, and much more. This first-of-its-kind magazine offers millions of loyal customers, sports fans, influencers, global ambassadors, and partners alike a global, immersive experience and a look into the world of U.S. Polo Assn. in 2023.

“Field X Fashion is a way to both update and thank the millions of loyal followers that the U.S. Polo Assn. brand touches every day across 190 countries, especially our amazing fans and consumers,” said J. Michael Prince, President & CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages and oversees the U.S. Polo Assn. brand. “We hope Field X Fashion gives a glimpse into the broader world of U.S. Polo Assn., from our authentic connection to the sport globally, seasonal collections, our extensive philanthropy, and beyond, there’s a great story that’s being told all over the world.”

Fans and customers around the world can read Field X Fashion here and expect to see new issues with exciting news, collections and updates annually.

About U.S. Polo Assn. & USPA Global

U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the non-profit governing body for the sport of polo in the United States and one of the oldest sports governing bodies, having been founded in 1890. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through over 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores and thousands of department stores, sporting goods channels, independent retailers, and e-commerce, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel for men, women, and children, as well as accessories and footwear in more than 190 countries worldwide. U.S. Polo Assn. was named as one of the top global sports licensors alongside the NBA, NFL, and MLB, according to License Global. Visit uspoloassnglobal.com and follow @uspoloassn.

USPA Global is the for-profit subsidiary of the USPA and manages the global, multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand, providing the sport with a long-term source of revenue. Through its subsidiary, Global Polo Entertainment (GPE), USPA Global also manages Global Polo TV, which provides sports and lifestyle content. A historic, multi-year, global arrangement between USPA Global and ESPN, now showcases many of the top championship polo games in the U.S., enabling millions of sports fans and consumers to enjoy the sport across ESPN’s broadcast and streaming platforms. For more sport content, visit globalpolo.com.

Contact Information:
Stacey Kovalsky
VP Global PR and Communications
skovalsky@uspagl.com
+001.561.790.8036

Kaela Drake
PR & Communications Specialist
kdrake@uspagl.com
+001.561.461.8596

U.S. Polo Assn. Supports Star-Studded ‘Boo-Yah’ Night for The V Foundation for Cancer Research

West Palm Beach, FL, Dec 7, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), proudly sponsored the V Foundation for Cancer Research®’s 30th Anniversary through the “Boo-Yah, A Celebration of Stuart Scott” cancer research event, which was attended by professional athletes, celebrities and other influencers. The V Foundation is named for legendary basketball coach Jim Valvano and was created with one goal in mind – Victory Over Cancer®.

As a Silver Sponsor, U.S. Polo Assn. provided financial support for the the V Foundation’s signature event as well as one of only a few high-profile live auction items, to help fund game-changing research and all-star scientists to accelerate Victory Over Cancer® and save lives. U.S. Polo Assn.’s strategic partner, ESPN, the sports media entertainment brand, is a founding member of the V Foundation, which has a long-standing commitment to resolving cancer health inequities by investing in extraordinary people and cutting-edge research.

U.S. Polo Assn.’s luxury auction item included an all-inclusive trip to the prestigious U.S. Open Polo Championship® in April 2024 with two first-class, round-trip tickets to Palm Beach County, home of the winter equestrian capital of the world, a two-night hotel stay at the iconic Ben Hotel, and two VIP tickets to the Champagne Brunch and VIP Championship After Party at the USPA National Polo Center. In addition, the auction lot included a one-of-a-kind private chef’s dining experience at the Vérité Estate in Sonoma County, California, for six people, which features a multi-course pairing of Vérité wines and delicious seasonal dishes prepared by the esteemed in-house chef at The Estate. The auction lot also included 18 bottles of 2007 Vérité wines, with each wine rated a perfect 100 Points by Rober Parker Wine Advocate.

“Boo-Yah, A Celebration of Stuart Scott” raised nearly $2.4 million, bringing the three-year total to over $5 million for game-changing cancer research. Several of the top live auction items were the U.S. Open Championship weekend in Palm Beach County presented by U.S. Polo Assn., a VIP Weekend for the Superbowl in Las Vegas, and an F1 Experience in Miami.

“The Boo-Yah event and the V Foundation for Cancer Research are perfectly aligned with U.S. Polo Assn.’s core values as well as our authentic connection to sport and inspiration,” said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages and oversees the multi- billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand. “I’ve admired Jimmy Valvano as a coach, known for one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history when he was with North Carolina State. Not to mention, we are extremely proud to support cancer research with the V Foundation and to have access to this incredible sponsorship opportunity through our strategic partnership with ESPN.”

The “Boo-Yah!, A Celebration of Stuart Scott” cancer research event was held at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City on December 4, 2023. Hosted by Sage Steele, the event honored the legacy of Stuart Scott, former ESPN SportsCenter anchor who passed away of cancer in 2015.

“I would like to offer my tremendous thanks to J. Michael Prince and U.S. Polo Assn. for putting together such a special auction item,” said CEO, Shane Jacobson, V Foundation. “It’s very generous contributions like these that help us invest in the best and brightest scientists who are working on cancer treatments of the future and saving lives.”

To learn more about The Boo-Yah! and the V Foundation, please visit: v.org

About U.S. Polo Assn. & USPA Global

About the V Foundation for Cancer Research

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach and ESPN commentator. The V Foundation has funded over $353 million in game-changing cancer research grants nationwide through a competitive process strictly supervised by a world-class Scientific Advisory Committee. Because the V Foundation has an endowment to cover administrative expenses, 100% of direct donations are awarded to cancer research and programs. The V team is committed to accelerating Victory Over Cancer®. To learn more, visit v.org.

Contact Information
Stacey Kovalsky
VP Global PR and Communications
skovalsky@uspagl.com
+001.561.790.8036

Shannon Stilson
VP, Sports Marketing & Media
sstilson@uspagl.com
+001.561.227.6994

CleverTap Unveils Signed Call(TM) for Trusted and Contextual Customer Engagement

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and MUMBAI, India, Dec 7, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – CleverTap, the all-in-one engagement platform, today announced the launch of Signed Call™, an industry-first, VoIP-enabled, in-app voice capability for trusted and contextual customer engagement. Signed Call™ equips CleverTap customers with an effective way to engage with end-users, leveraging VoIP-enabled in-app calling for real-time, secure, and contextual customer experiences.

In the current landscape, when a brand attempts to reach its users through voice-calls (via unknown phone numbers), there is a risk of being marked as spam or worse used for scam; potentially lowering the brand’s credibility and hampering the relationship with the end-user. Even in an optimal scenario, where the call is not flagged as spam or scam, the interaction lacks context, resulting in low conversions.

With Signed Call™, brands have the ability to personalize the in-app call screen by adding the brand name, logo, as well as providing context for the call. This provides the end-user with the requisite context, enhancing the call pick-up rates. Moreover, brands are not required to disclose end-user PII data (Personally Identifiable Information) to unauthorized individuals or agents while using Signed Call™, thus mitigating privacy concerns. This no-code solution also comes with pre-built use cases and call screens for easy implementation.

“Users often choose not to pick up calls if the caller isn’t a known contact. This can lead to dropped calls and missed opportunities for a business. When extrapolated to the scale of a user-base, it can lead to a significant loss in revenue, and erosion of trust. However, with Signed Call™, CleverTap customers can offer a personalized and secure experience, maximizing the chances of conversions and ultimately increasing revenue.

Signed Call™ has already seen success with a select group of our customers who were part of the Early Access Program wherein significant improvements were observed in call answer rates and engagement levels”, said Anand Jain, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, CleverTap.

The introduction of Signed Call™ is poised to revolutionize how brands connect with users through voice as a channel; especially within the Ride Hailing, BFSI, and Food Delivery app-categories, as well as in other industries looking to create more personalized customer experiences. It aims to transform customer engagement and elevate trust to a whole new level.

The Head of Product of a leading job search portal using Signed Call™ said, “Our customers are recruiting firms who previously would call candidates on their mobiles, with answer rates around 10-15%. Candidates were slow to act as they weren’t sure if the call was actually from the company they applied for. But since integrating Signed Call™, answer-rates even during periods of low-hiring have been at 33% while peak season has seen this figure climb to as high as 52%; 3 to 4 times higher than before.”

About CleverTap

The platform is powered by TesseractDB™ – the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale.

For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow us on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clevertap/
X: https://twitter.com/CleverTap

Forward-Looking Statements

For more information:
SONY SHETTY
Director, Public Relations, CleverTap
+91 9820900036
sony@clevertap.com

IPSHITA BALU
Consultant
Archetype
+91 95901 11798
ipshita.balu@archetype.co

Igloo closes US$36M Pre-Series C fundraise with 50% valuation increase

SINGAPORE, Dec 6, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Regional insurtech Igloo today announced that it has closed a US$36 million Pre-Series C funding round. Global investment firm Eurazeo, through its insurtech fund backed by the insurer BNP Paribas Cardif, led the investment. Openspace and La Maison, who previously participated in Igloo’s Series B and Series B+ fundraises, also joined in, reaffirming their confidence in the company’s strong business fundamentals. Eurazeo invested through its insurtech fund focused on innovative technologies and business ideas disrupting the insurance industry, whilst Openspace’s investment in this round comes via its mid-stage fund, OSV+, which is focused on the Series C and D rounds of transformative technology companies in Southeast Asia.

Matthieu Baret, Managing Partner – Venture at Eurazeo shared: “We are thrilled to invest in Igloo with the insurer BNP Paribas Cardif. With our investments in China, Indonesia, India, and Singapore, we’re extending our footprint with the ambition to become a leading player in Asia.”

“We have been following Igloo for some time now and have been impressed with their evolution into a diversified insurance platform across channels and products. The insurance market in Southeast Asia is still very underpenetrated and we believe Igloo is in a strong position to help solve this by making insurance more easily accessible and understandable for consumers,” shared Albert Shyy, Managing Director, Eurazeo.

This latest round comes just 10 months after Igloo’s previous Series B+ fundraise led by BlueOrchard-managed InsuResilience Investment Fund II. In total, the company has raised US$100 million. Notably, Igloo’s Pre-Series C round closed at an increased valuation of 50 percent from its Series B+ round in 2022, as the company moves closer to profitability in 2024. Igloo is on track to double its 2022 Gross Written Premiums (GWP) at a low burn rate; its robust engineering core and data focus, the company’s path to profitability in 2024 is set.

“We’re always thrilled when the opportunity arises to keep investing in a company at the mid-stage that we’ve previously backed – and Igloo’s recent growth and steps towards profitability have given us further confidence in the business’s ability to capture and expand the insurance market in Southeast Asia,” said Jessica Huang Pouleur, Partner, Openspace Ventures. “Our team has been actively involved in working with Igloo to this point, and those existing relationships will enable us to seamlessly continue adding operational and commercial value as the business integrates, acquires, and strengthens capabilities.”

Asia’s insurance market is brimming with untapped potential, especially in emerging economies like Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Despite the rising adoption of insurance, many remain underinsured. This vast, underserved demographic has caught the attention of investors, with companies like Igloo standing out due to their innovative approach to the evolving landscape in these markets – addressing pain points across the insurance value chain for insurers, sales intermediaries, retailers and consumers.

Igloo’s recent scores include two innovative offerings. In 2022, it launched Ignite by Igloo, a digital platform that enhances the productivity of sales intermediaries in Vietnam and Indonesia. Ignite by Igloo works with 22,000 sales intermediaries and agent partners and aims to close 2023 with 50,000 agents as it expands into other markets. In line with Igloo’s purpose of improving financial inclusion for underserved segments, over 60 per cent of Ignite by Igloo’s intermediary partners are female.

Another innovation for Igloo is its Weather Index Insurance, a pioneering blockchain-based parametric insurance for farmers. The product has drawn interest from partners in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia for its potential to greatly benefit the agricultural sector. Despite its novelty in a highly traditional sector, Weather Index Insurance has already been adopted by thousands of farmers since launching last November and covers 20,000 hectares of coffee and padi farms.

Igloo has facilitated over 500 million policies and aims to double its Gross Written Premium (GWP) from 2022. As of today, it has also actively established over 75 partnerships across six countries, expanding its product offerings to cover consumer finance, e-commerce, and logistics. In August 2023, Igloo was named ‘Insurtech of the Year’ by the Asia Fintech Awards.

The new funding will go towards both horizontal and vertical M&A opportunities – having added intermediary licenses across SEA this year, in addition to its license in Indonesia. It will also increase its workforce by 20% across engineering, commercial, strategy and insurance-focused verticals. On the product and value chain enhancement aspect, it looks to double down on motor, health, climate-related products, underwriting and claims digitization and AI and blockchain technologies.

Raunak Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO at Igloo, shared, “The support from our investors is a testament to Igloo’s steady growth and resilience amidst macro headwinds and a validation of our strategy. We are the only insurtech in Southeast Asia with a robust profit and loss (P&L) statement, a diverse multi-product portfolio, and an extensive distribution line.”

About Eurazeo

Eurazeo is a leading global investment group, with a diversified portfolio of €35.2 billion in Assets Under Management, including €25 billion from third parties, invested in around 600 companies. With its considerable private equity, private debt, real estate asset and infrastructure expertise, Eurazeo accompanies companies of all sizes, supporting their development through the commitment of its 400+ professionals and by offering deep sector expertise, a gateway to global markets, and a responsible and stable foothold for transformational growth. Its solid institutional and family shareholder base, robust financial structure free of structural debt, and flexible investment horizon enable Eurazeo to support its companies over the long term. Eurazeo has offices in Paris, New York, London, Frankfurt, Berlin, Milan, Madrid, Luxembourg, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore and Sao Paulo. Eurazeo is listed on Euronext Paris.

About Openspace

Openspace is a leading Southeast Asian venture capital firm, finding and backing companies creating a transformative impact where tech meets life. It has 6 funds with $800M in committed capital and has 39 dedicated employees, including full-time specialists within the Portfolio Success team. It is co-headquartered in Singapore and Jakarta, with active offices in Bangkok, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City. Its portfolio of 40+ companies includes GoTo, Pick Up Coffee, Halodoc, Kredivo Holdings. www.openspace.vc

About Igloo

Igloo is a regional full-stack insurtech firm headquartered in Singapore. It has offices in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia and tech centres in China and India. With a mission of making insurance accessible for all, the firm leverages big data, real-time risk assessment, and end-to-end automated claims management to create B2B2C insurance solutions for platform companies and insurance companies. Igloo’s insurance solutions enable companies to eliminate their exposure to operational risk, create new revenue streams, and optimise and enhance existing products and services. It has partnered with over 75 well-known brand names across the markets in various verticals, including insurance, telecommunications, e-commerce, hospitality, health tech and financial services. Recognised by the industry for its innovations and expertise in its space, Igloo was named ‘Insurtech of the Year’ in the 2023 Asia Fintech Awards. For more information, please visit https://www.iglooinsure.com/.

For Media Enquiries
PRecious Communications for Igloo,
igloo@preciouscomms.com

AJ Issenman Joins AELF FlightService as Director of Capital Markets

CHICAGO, IL, Dec 4, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – AELF announced today that it has welcomed Alexander “AJ” Issenman to the company as Director of Capital Markets. Issenman joins AELF from Seabury Capital, where he served as a Director at Seabury Capital Management focusing on merchant banking and capital markets transactions across the aviation, aerospace and defense sectors within the merchant banking and capital markets group.

“We are grateful to add AJ to our team as we seek to broaden the reach of our leasing business,” said Victoria Ricks, spokesperson for AELF. “AJ’s background and experience make him a great addition to the strategic growth of our portfolio of leased aircraft.”

AELF owns and leases a fleet of A330s which include a mix of high-density seating, dual-class seating, and light cargo configurations. This year the company has begun expanding its investment in 737-800s.

“I’m eager to get into the market with all that AELF has to offer,” said Issenman. “The company’s unique capabilities, creative and nimble approach, offer a lot to airlines and other partners in the industry. I’m excited by all that can be achieved in this new role.”

AELF reports it will seek to put capital resources to work with the acquisition of aircraft subject to lease. “For several years we have focused on acquiring dormant aircraft and sourcing new lessees. With AJ coming aboard, we’re expanding our focus, and leveraging the experience of our team and Board,” Ricks said.

“With significant available capital resources and comfort in acquiring “stub leases” or dormant aircraft, AELF is a perfect partner for fleet phase outs or the sale lease back of a specific aircraft type from an airline’s fleet plan,” Issenman said.

About the AELF Group

Aircraft Engine Lease Finance Inc. (“AELF”), which also conducts business as AELF FlightService, is an experienced leader in commercial aircraft leasing, finance, and air transport solutions for cargo and passengers. AELF is also a shareholder in widebody ACMI operator MalethAero AOC Limited. The group offers a full spectrum of services ranging from long-term operating leases, sale leasebacks and finance sales, as well as short and long-term ACMI contracts. It is unique in its ability to offer wet-to-dry leasing arrangements that enable airlines to test out new routes under Maleth’s operation before embarking on a dry lease with AELF, and unique ACMI partnerships allowing lessors to put their dormant aircraft into revenue service temporarily or long-term, among other custom solutions. Learn more at AELF-FlightService.com. For the latest updates, follow us on LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Contact Information
Helena Padilla Siles
Communications Manager
hpadillasiles@aelf-flightservice.com