Niko Vuori

So we all know #Roblox didn't invent #ugc in gaming. However, I do believe that they are the lead market maker when it comes to defining the #creatoreconomy. I believe that in 2025, we will see the fruits of these efforts beyond the Roblox sandbox when traditional games publishers and UGC creators share revenues and unlock a new era in gaming. And it won't be driven by an ad-supported model. https://lnkd.in/gRvncRJQ

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DULCEDO Management bought Node App for $13M. This marks Dulcedo’s 5th acquisition since 2016. Let's break it down... ---SELLER: Node--- • AI-powered influencer marketing platform • Mission = bridge gap between small businesses and micro-influencers • Founded 2019 by Armin Faraji, Mackenzie Dérival ✌🏾 • Initially focused on restaurants, expanded to ecom brands • Focuses on Instagram, TikTok campaigns • 2021 raised $1M seed round from Techstars, Alchemist, strategic angels ---TECH OVERVIEW: Node App--- • In 2022 selected for Google for Startups Accelerator program • Pioneered a machine-learning technology to revolutionize agency workflows by improving influencer discovery and data reporting • “Creators can participate in brand campaigns in 3 clicks via Node, as opposed to pitching/negotiating with brands” • “Brands can create a campaign and begin interacting with influencers within 5-10 min of landing on Node's website” ---PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS: Node App--- • Over 2,000 clients across North America • Generated “tens of millions of social media impressions” • Clients incl Kraft, Samsonite, Jarritos, St-Regis, Marriott • Has activated 5,000+ content creators in campaigns • Creators include A-list models, elite athletes, actors, social influencers • During pandemic scaled from 30 to 800 brands five months ---BUYER: Dulcedo Group--- • Global talent mgmt and digital marketing agency • 4 divisions – Models, Sports, Gaming, Influencer • Offices in Montreal and Toronto • Founded 2008 by CEO Karim Leduc • 3 co-owners incl founder • 70+ team members ---M&A HISTORY: Dulcedo Group--- • 2022 acquired C4G, a startup esports marketing agency • 2016 acquired 4249, an influencer relations agency • 2023 acquired Influence + All Management • 2023 acquired Sundae Creative Agency • 2024 acquired Node ---DEAL DETAILS--- • $13M purchase price • No other details were disclosed ---DEAL VALUE PROP--- • Give Node added funding, resources for growth • Access to Dulcedo's 300M network following  • Access to Dulcedo’s diverse creator roster to support IM campaigns across various industries • Accelerate development of AI-enabled tools to enhance the IM campaign lifecycle ---POST DEAL OPS--- • Dulcedo CEO will serve as interim Node CEO • Node co-founder Armin Faraji moves to COO • Node co-founder Mackenzie Dérival remains as CPO ---WHAT ELSE I FIND INTERESTING--- I'll write more about the deal in my Friday newsletter. I'll estimate Node's revenue and EBITDA, and discuss valuation multiples and likely deal structure. Signup link in comments below 👇 -- I'm the founder of RockWater Industries. We do M&A and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My DMs are open.

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Understanding AppLovin In the latest episode of the Mobile Dev Memo podcast, I present a long-form analysis of AppLovin's business and its significant recent growth. But understanding AppLovin the company is fundamentally predicated on understanding the market in which it operates, mobile games advertising, and the direct response digital advertising landscape more broadly. And so the podcast is structured in three parts: - Understanding direct response advertising - Understanding mobile gaming advertising - Understanding AppLovin’s growth Link below.

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ACTION SHOT: Iconic Arts Chief Technology Officer Omar Abdelwahed breaking down to our investors how our proprietary AI World Builder works. "Think of what Wix or Squarespace did to empower anyone wanting to make websites without knowing how to code. Our tool enables creators to materialize worlds for UGC platforms such as Fortnite, Roblox or any multiplayer native environment, as if they were painting." What once took a dev team minimum 3 months, now takes anyone 3 days - all while remaining control of art direction. It's been a complete game-changer for us to market test our IP within multiple types of game formats, content strategies and merchandising plays on these UGC platforms while simultaneously building a participating community and fan-base. But this only works if the cost is ultra low and the speed is ultra high. Traditionally, market testing and validation for original IP happens after hundreds of thousands / millions are already spent to get something made that is good enough to test. But by then, it's usually too late when studios realize it's not going to work and all that money goes down the drain. We see this all the time with games, films and shows getting shelved or even worst, entering "development hell". And then we wonder why they say the "entertainment industry is broken". This is why. The economics simply do not make sense for a sustainable and scalable model. For this reason, we took a "Silicon Valley approach" when building Iconic Arts as the premier next-gen entertainment company that doesn't just embrace and leverage new technology, we build the very tools that solve the problems of a broken industry. I love our team and honored to be building very powerful tools that I know will also empower creators and storytellers around the world. Benjamin Grubbs Shane Kokkines Motoki Tani Alec Griffen Roth Matthew Medney Mo Yazdani Rob Carroll

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