Announcing InfluenceIQ Labs
Publitics is launching InfluenceIQ Labs, a new strategic investing arm that is focused on supporting early stage technology startups that are operating in the communications, media and advertising spaces. InfluenceIQ Labs has so far made two initial pre-seed investments in early stage companies, OnesScreen.ai and Vako.ai.
“Two years ago, we launched our InfluenceIQ platform, which is a unique approach to shaping the conversation around issues that matter most to our clients. We have developed a suite of methods and tools for identifying and reaching nodes of influence with key messages, testing creative, modeling and building audiences, and developing effective messaging,” said Publitics founder and principal Matt Krayton. “Now, we’re taking the next step,” he said.
OneScreen.ai is disrupting the out-of-home advertising industry by providing a data-enabled one-stop platform for real-world advertising. The company has raised $4.7 million from Asymmetric Capital Partners, Techstars, Impellent Ventures and others, and is currently profitable. Greg Wise, Founder of OneScreen.ai said, "We're not just changing the way businesses advertise; we're redefining the entire industry with our comprehensive platform that brings unprecedented efficiency and effectiveness to real-world advertising.”
Vako.ai is building a next-generation conversational AI for advocacy, campaigns, and communications. Vako’s technology has developed customizable, lightweight-language-models that can be deployed for a variety of applications in communications, advocacy and campaign contexts.
“We recognized early on that technology, data, and analytics were going to play an increasingly important role in developing effective strategies and communications campaigns for our clients,” said Publitics principal Henry de Koninck. “InfluenceIQ Labs is a logical next step in ensuring that not only do we have access to cutting edge technologies, but we can also help shape them based on the on-the-ground expertise we’ve developed in running campaigns and developing communications strategies for our clients,” he continued.
InfluenceIQ Labs is providing early stage capital and counsel to portfolio companies. “The practice of running campaigns and public affairs is changing more rapidly than ever before,” Krayton said. “InfluenceIQ Labs is a further commitment to giving our clients an edge in an extraordinarily noisy and competitive communications and strategic environment.”