Well, technically not, but after the company’s acquisition of Techstars Chicago alum on Monday, they might as well have.
After winning the Moxie’s Digital Agency of the Year award for the third year in a row, the Chicago-based digital marketing agency can also add SimpleRelevance’s own Moxie, which it won earlier this year, to its trophy shelf.
The deal, of course, brings much more to the table than accolades and awards. Although financial terms were not disclosed, all seven of SimpleRelevance’s employees will join Rise Interactive’s 200-strong team, bringing with them a machine learning algorithm that complements Rise’s mission.
“At Rise, our job is to help marketers use data to make smarter investments,” said Rise’s SVP of Marketing Brad Messinger. “We’re always looking at unique ways that we can leverage pieces of information to inform better marketing strategy for our clients.”
SimpleRelevance’s tech, which uses machine learning and predictive data analytics to help companies personalize their email marketing efforts, will help Rise enhance their digital marketing strategy. That tech will help Rise introduce a deeper level of customer personalization to their fast-growing roster of clients, using data to match the right advertisements to the right user at the right time, across a number of different channels.
According to Messinger, Rise’s digital buying chops have always been stellar. Add to that equation SimpleRelevance’s machine learning algorithm, and you’ve got quite the combo.
“Both Rise and SimpleRelevance have been working to create a dynamic, personalized digital marketing world where every user on the Internet can receive custom-tailored, relevant communication,” he said. “In general, we believe this acquisition is going to help us accelerate our approach to use data to create better interactions online.”
Rise in one of Chicago’s fastest-growing digital agencies, landing on list after list of the nation’s fastest growing tech companies (including Deloitte’s Fast 500 and Inc’s Top 500/5000).
Founded in 2004 by CEO Jon Morris, the company today counts companies like ULTA Beauty, PANDORA, and ConAgra foods among its clients.
Going forward, Rise is set up to emerge as an industry leader in one of the biggest trends in marketing: personalization.
“This idea of personalization has been something we’ve been working on for years,” Messinger said. “How can we take the information we know about customers’ buying habits and behaviors and use that to guide the most relevant, highly personalized digital experience possible?”
Photos via Rise Interactive.
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