Latest news with #salesautomation
RNZ News
a day ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Blackpearl tech firm moves to buy US company B2B Rocket
Blackpearl Group, seen here celebrating their stock exchange listing, are moving to buy an American AI sales automation company. Photo: NZx NZX-listed tech company Blackpearl Group has made a further leap into artificial intelligence, with plans to buy a US firm. It signed a conditional agreement to fully acquire B2B Rocket - an AI sales automation company for an initial US$4 million in cash and more than 1.7 million Blackpearl shares. There was scope for further performance-based cash and share payments worth more than US$8m over five years, taking the total potential value of the deal to just over US$13m or almost NZ$22m based on Friday's closing share price for Blackpearl of $1.13. The deal would be subject to certain conditions, including converting certain share interests in B2B Rocket and having Blackpearl shares quoted on the Australian stock exchange (ASX). Blackpearl chief executive Nick Lissette said B2B Rocket blended well with their other products that focused on finding new customers for small and medium firms, particularly in the US. "What was really interesting is that I try and start most days of the week speaking with a potential customer - I get up and jump on one of our rep demo calls or a customer success call," Lissette said. "And B2B Rocket was a company that came to my attention through the demands of our customers," he said. "People said, 'Oh, do you integrate with B2B Rocket, or how does this fit in with B2B Rocket? And I was like, oh, OK." B2B Rocket had approximately US$2.1m in annual recurring revenue according to Blackpearl's market announcement. Blackpearl expected the deal to be completed in August. The company was considering a full range of funding options for the acquisition, including a mix of cash, debt and share initiatives. It was preparing to file an application for a foreign exempt listing on the ASX, but planned to keep its primary listing on the NZX. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Geek Wire
25-06-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
Seattle startup Clarify lands $15M to take on Salesforce with AI-native ‘autonomous CRM'
GeekWire's startup coverage documents the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial scene. Sign up for our weekly startup newsletter , and check out the GeekWire funding tracker and venture capital directory . Clarify co-founders, from left: Austin Hay, Patrick Thompson, and Ondrej Hrebicek. (Clarify Photo) Sales teams should spend more time closing deals — and less time entering data. That's the pitch from Clarify, a Seattle startup founded last year that just raised $15 million to grow its AI-powered CRM software platform designed to automate busy work. Instead of relying on sales reps to manually log interactions, Clarify connects to email, calendar, and call data, and uses AI to summarize meetings, suggest field updates, track pipelines, and prep for customer calls. Clarify faces stiff competition from giants such as Salesforce and Hubspot, as well as newer CRM startups. Other Seattle startups such as Highspot and Outreach also tackle sales automation and enablement. But CEO Patrick Thompson said many platforms 'bolt on' on AI features, while Clarify was built with AI at the core. 'We've spent a lot of time rethinking what the core workflows look like from the ground up with ambient AI,' he said. Clarify is initially targeting early stage startups and venture investors. 'Most of the people coming to us are choosing to go with something that's a little bit more modern, easy to use, and effectively AI-native,' Thompson said. (Clarify Image) The company has onboarded hundreds of teams into a pilot program since launching last year and recently opened up its platform publicly. It did not disclose revenue metrics. 'The active usage numbers are doing very, very well,' Thompson said. Thompson previously co-founded Iteratively, a data tooling startup acquired by Amplitude in 2021. He said the lessons from that company helped inform Clarify's product approach. Thompson co-founded Clarify alongside Ondrej Hrebicek, former CTO of Iteratively, and Austin Hay, a former Iteratively customer. 'We really want to build a generational company,' Thompson said. 'We have all the makings of that already. We have a great team and great investors, and we're building a great product.' USVP and Gradient led the Series A round, with participation from Madrona, Recall, Ascend, Essence, New Normal Fund, and Fika. Tim Porter, managing director at Madrona, said Clarify is 'at the vanguard of the autonomous GTM movement.' Clarity has raised $22 million to date and employs 24 people.
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How To Use Automated Sales Outreach For High Response Rates
Samuel Darwin, CEO of helping SMBs boost customer acquisition efforts with a unified multichannel outreach platform. Having shaped outreach strategies for various brands, I've seen automation transform sales into a science. Automation amplifies your reach, but it's not a set-it-and-forget-it solution. High response rates demand strategy, precision and a commitment to human connection. Below, I share do's and don'ts, guided by my TRUST framework (Timing, Relevance, Utility, Sincerity, Transition), to drive high response rates and build partnerships that last. These insights, drawn from real-world successes, challenge the status quo of volume-driven outreach, prioritizing quality and connection. The Do's Of Automated Sales Outreach Executing a successful automated outreach strategy starts with the right habits. These lay the foundation for building trust, capturing attention and driving higher response rates—at scale. Personalization is the cornerstone of impactful outreach. Generic messages are dismissed as spam, but tailored content builds trust. Use data like names, roles, recent company milestones or industry challenges to craft customized emails. For example, referencing a prospect's recent product launch or a shared LinkedIn post demonstrates effort. Tools like HubSpot or Apollo enable scalable personalization, ensuring each prospect feels valued. This approach fosters trust that underpins enduring relationships. The subject line is your first chance to connect in automated sales outreach—a concise hook that must spark interest. It should be short (2-3 words when possible) and specific and tap into psychological triggers like urgency, curiosity or pain points. For example, '[Company] Losing Revenue?' grabs attention by addressing a fear, while '[Company] - 2x Growth?' sparks curiosity about potential gains. Avoid vague phrases like 'Game-Changing Solution!' that lack context and feel spammy. Always A/B test subject lines to identify what drives higher open rates. A sharp subject line sets the stage for authentic engagement. Email alone rarely cuts through today's digital noise. A multi-channel approach—email, LinkedIn, SMS—increases your reach. Automate these touchpoints thoughtfully, spacing them to avoid intrusion. For example, follow up an email with a LinkedIn connection request after a few days. This coordinated strategy signals genuine intent, boosting response likelihood. Every outreach must answer, 'Why should this prospect care?' Give them a reason to pay attention—share a compelling case study, a custom insight or a tool they can use today. When you lead with relevance, you can more easily start real conversations and earn trust. No campaign is perfect on day one. A/B test subject lines, email copy, or send times to uncover what maximizes opens and replies. Leverage analytics from platforms like Apollo to track response rates and refine your approach. Data-driven iteration transforms your outreach into a high-performing system. Timing can make or break your campaign. Schedule emails for optimal engagement—midweek mornings, like Tuesday or Wednesday at 9 AM, often perform best. Avoid weekends or late nights when prospects are less likely to engage. Use automation tools to align with recipients' time zones, ensuring your message lands when they're most receptive. The Don'ts Of Automated Sales Outreach Even the best automation tools can backfire without proper execution. These common missteps can damage credibility, reduce engagement and ultimately cost you valuable opportunities. Generic emails can erode trust instantly, making prospects feel like data points rather than valued individuals. To build credibility, segment your audience by industry, company size, or behavior and craft messaging that feels purposeful. Use dynamic fields to incorporate relevant context, ensuring each email feels tailored and human. This targeted approach transforms outreach from a cold, automated blast into deliberate communication that resonates and fosters engagement. Brevity is power. Prospects won't read a novel in their inbox. Focus on one compelling value proposition—how your solution tackles a specific challenge—and keep emails under 100 words. Include a clear call-to-action, like scheduling a consultation. Concise communication respects their time and sustains their attention. Overdoing outreach often results in a backlash. Daily emails or repetitive follow-ups can feel aggressive and erode goodwill. Set automated cadences with 3-5 day intervals, capping sequences at 4-6 touchpoints. Tools like streamline this, but restraint is critical. Persistence shows commitment; bombardment signals desperation. Well-timed automation doesn't just preserve trust—it boosts ROI. "Automated emails can generate roughly 320% more revenue than non-automated campaigns." Compliance is non-negotiable. Ignoring regulations like GDPR or CAN-SPAM risks fines and reputational harm. Ensure every email includes an unsubscribe option and honors opt-out requests. Use verified email lists to maintain deliverability. Ethical practices aren't just legal; they show respect for prospects' autonomy, fostering trust and loyalty. Automation scales outreach, but relationships close deals. When a prospect responds, pivot to personalized engagement. Ditch canned replies and invest time in understanding their unique challenges. This shift from automation to human interaction shows you're committed to their success, turning leads into loyal clients. Deceptive subject lines or exaggerated promises—like 'Urgent: Your Account Is at Risk!'—might spike opens but destroy trust. Prospects feel manipulated, and your brand suffers. Be transparent and honest in your messaging. Authenticity builds credibility, encouraging prospects to engage with confidence. Elevate Your Automated Outreach To The Next Level The effectiveness of automated sales outreach depends on maintaining both operational speed and an honest approach. The combination of personalized strategic outreach, coupled with time-sensitive respect and valuable content delivery, can produce high response rates together with trust building. Avoid generic, spammy tactics, over-automation or dishonest ploys. Focus on forging connections that deliver mutual value because actual growth comes from relationships that endure. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
TechCrunch
13-06-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Clay secures a new round at a $3B valuation, sources say
Clay, a sales automation startup, has raised a Series C round at an approximate $3 billion valuation, led by Capital G, according to three sources with knowledge of the deal. Clay and Capital G didn't respond to a request for comment. The new round comes just a month after the New York startup announced that it will allow most of its employees to sell some of their shares at a $1.5 billion valuation. That secondary deal, known as a tender offer, was led by Sequoia, which agreed to purchase up to $20 million in employee stock. While it may seem that employees who sold shares at a much smaller price than the company is worth now got a bad deal, they'll likely have another chance to sell more stock at a higher valuation next year. Kareem Amin, Clay's co-founder and CEO, told TechCrunch in May that he hopes to do tender offers on an annual basis. Clay was founded in 2017, but it didn't hit its stride until a few years ago, when Amin decided to pivot the startup's focus to empowering salespeople and marketers with AI, helping them discover key data and automate their go-to-market strategies. Clay allows salespeople to find and update prospective customer lists and write personalized outreach emails. Today, Clay's tools are used by thousands of customers, ranging from large companies like OpenAI, HubSpot, and Canva to over 100 small consulting agencies that help other businesses utilize Clay for their go-to-market efforts. The company competes with sales tech platforms including ZoomInfo, Lusha, as well as newer offering Unify and Common Room Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW Besides Sequoia, existing investors in Clay include Meritech Capital, Boldstart Ventures, Maple VC, First Round Capital, and Box Group.
Hospitality Net
12-06-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation Partners with Thynk to Support its Global Sales Organization
New York – Thynk, the leading Hospitality Commercial Platform powered by Salesforce®, today announced that Sonesta International Hotels Corporation, one of the fastest-growing hotel companies globally, with over 100,000 guest rooms across nine countries, has selected Thynk to modernize and elevate its Global Sales Organization (GSO). By leveraging Thynk's cutting-edge sales automation solutions, Sonesta will empower Global Sales Professionals to deliver enhanced performance, personalized customer interactions, and more efficient operations. Sonesta's partnership with Thynk marks a significant step toward optimizing their sales processes. Through automation of repetitive manual tasks, Thynk's platform enables Sonesta's sales professionals to focus more time and attention on meaningful interactions with customers, enhancing relationships and driving greater satisfaction. The Thynk platform provides Sonesta with access to clean, customer-centric data and structured account plans, fostering deeper and more personalized customer relationships. Customized specifically to match Sonesta's unique standard operating procedures, the platform seamlessly integrates into the existing workflows of Sonesta's GSO. Furthermore, the flexibility of Thynk's solution ensures it can readily adapt to Sonesta's evolving go-to-market strategies, supporting continuous innovation and growth opportunities. We partner with Thynk to support our GSO with a modern sales platform to drive performance. Sales automation frees up the time of our teams from repetitive manual tasks, so they can focus on the human touch. Clean customer-centric data, including account plans, drives personalized customer relationships. The solution is easy to configure and thorough; it has been customized to match our standard operating procedures. It is flexible and will evolve with our go-to-market. Thynk's open API and ease of integration with our other vendors in our ecosystem give us flexibility, which is critical in today's competitive environment. Garine Ferejian-Mayo, Chief Commercial Officer, Sonesta International Hotels Corporation Thynk's commitment to seamless and efficient onboarding has ensured a smooth transformation experience for Sonesta, setting the stage for immediate impact and sustained long-term success. We are thrilled to welcome Sonesta International Hotels Corporation as a valued customer and partner. Sonesta's vision aligns perfectly with Thynk's mission to revolutionize hospitality sales through innovative technology. We look forward to supporting Sonesta's ambitious growth plans and helping their sales teams achieve unprecedented performance. Pascal Petit, CEO, Thynk About Sonesta International Hotels Corporation Sonesta is the 8th largest hotel company in the U.S. according to Smith Travel Research (STR) with approximately 1,100 properties totaling 100,000 guest rooms across 13 brands in eight countries. Sonesta owns, manages and/or franchises under The Royal Sonesta; The James, Classico Collection by Sonesta, Sonesta Hotels, Resorts & Cruises; MOD Collection by Sonesta, Sonesta Select Hotels; Sonesta Essential Hotels, Sonesta ES Suites, Sonesta Simply Suites, Red Lion Hotels, Inns & Suites by Sonesta; Signature Inn by Sonesta; Americas Best Value Inn by Sonesta and Canadas Best Value Inn by Sonesta. Redefining hospitality through its award-winning Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program, Sonesta offers guests the opportunity to earn and redeem points for unparalleled value and personalized experiences. Sonesta Travel Pass members receive the best rates, earn immediate points towards free nights, and accelerated status progression based on stays. For more information about Sonesta, visit About Thynk Thynk, powered by Salesforce®, is a leading hospitality commercial platform designed to optimize sales, operations, and profitability for hotels worldwide. By streamlining processes and leveraging intelligent data, Thynk enables hotel sales teams to focus on meaningful customer interactions and drive sustained growth. For more information, visit Camille Girard Marketing View source
