Ann Gehan

3 weeks ago | theinformation.com | Ann Gehan

Agencies have long functioned as an intermediary between creators and advertisers. But they may start to get squeezed out, as major brands and creators try to build longer-term relationships with each other and take more creative risks.  “Outsourcing” relationships between brands and creators will no longer fly, said Esi Eggleston Bracey, chief growth and marketing officer at Unilever, at The Information’s Future of Influence event on Tuesday.

3 weeks ago | healthimpactnews.com | Ann Gehan |Rocket Drew |Brian Shilhavy |Martin Peers

by Brian ShilhavyEditor, Health Impact NewsWhen I began writing about the AI bubble and the future Big Tech collapse at the end of 2022 with the launch of ChatGPT’s first LLM (Large Language Models) AI app, I was just one of a handful of writers who have worked in Technology that was warning the public about the dangers of relying on this “new” technology.

4 weeks ago | theinformation.com | Ann Gehan

After explosive growth, a generation of beauty brands that blew up on TikTok over the past few years seemed at risk of stalling out. Startups selling lip gloss and body creams lined up bankers last year, hoping for sales to larger consumer product companies. Then few of those deals actually happened. That is, until Wednesday, when Elf Beauty said it was paying up to $1 billion for Hailey Bieber’s Rhode beauty brand.

4 weeks ago | theinformation.com | Ann Gehan

Source: The InformationElf Beauty shares surged more than 25% Thursday morning, a day after the company announced it would acquire influencer and model Hailey Bieber’s skincare and makeup company Rhode. The deal could value Rhode as high as $1 billion—Elf will pay $600 million in cash and $200 million worth of Elf shares at closing, and depending on Rhode’s growth over the next three years, Elf could pay an additional $200 million. The acquisition will help Elf expand into higher-end products.

4 weeks ago | theinformation.com | Ann Gehan

Source: The InformationProtein bar startup David announced $75 million in fresh funding and the acquisition of ingredient supplier Epogee Thursday. Inclusive of the new funding, David’s valuation is now $725 million, cofounder and CEO Peter Rahal said in an interview. David is among the startups that have leaned into consumer enthusiasm for high-protein snacks, and says its bars have the highest protein-to-calorie ratio on the market, in part due to its use of EPG, an oil-based fat substitute.