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U Can’t Touch This CDP: Hightouch Nails $80M Series C to Power its AI Decisioning

matt-garrepy

<hr /> Since 2018, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/hightouch">Hightouch</a> has been “high touch” when it comes to data. The pioneering composable customer data platform (CDP) and AI decisioning company has been on a tear recently, doubling its revenue<a target="_blank" href="https://getlatka.com/companies/Hightouch"> </a>and growing its team.Hightouch is finding success with enterprises that prefer flexible, composable alternatives to traditional CDPs, which are often plagued by rigid and costly infrastructures. By leveraging data and AI across their organization, Hightouch enables its users to deliver personalized customer experiences, optimize performance marketing, and move faster.This unique approach – turning data warehouses into marketing engines – has earned it a growing list of high-profile customers, including PetSmart, Warner Music Group, Calendly, Spotify, and GameStop.Now, Hightouch is tapping the human power of a seasoned analytics veteran and industry thought leader as it aims to drive more growth. Today, the company announced that it has hired <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgreco/">Adam Greco</a> as Product Evangelist, where he will focus on supporting Hightouch's mission to empower marketing and data teams.If you're “tuned in” to the data and analytics space, Adam's name needs little introduction. With more than two decades of experience driving innovation and strategy in the field, he's been shaping the roadmap at leading tech firms like <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/salesforce">Salesforce</a> and Omniture – which was <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2009/09/15/breaking-adobe-to-acquire-omniture-for-approximately-1-8-billion/">acquired in 2009 by Adobe</a> for $1.8 billion. In the wake of that acquisition, Adam wrote the definitive book on Adobe Analytics. During his most recent tenure at <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/amplitude">Amplitude</a> – a leading product analytics platform provider – I spoke with Adam about the evolution of CDP, the value of data, and how critical these technologies are within the stack. "CDPs should be more insights and analytics-driven, capable of looking at problems in experiences," he said. “Every vendor will need a CDP of some kind because they want to collect data from every touchpoint: mobile apps, OTT, web, etc. Pulling it all together and creating action is key.”<h3 id="doubling-down-on-growth-and-disruption">Doubling down on growth and disruption</h3>At its core, Hightouch is a data activation platform that specializes in synchronizing customer data from data warehouses into a variety of high-utility tools. These include CRMs, email and marketing automation platforms, and advertising networks (to name a few). Founded in 2018 by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcurl/">Josh Curl</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/guptakashish/">Kashish Gupta</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tejasmanohar/">Tejas Manohar</a>, Hightouch started life outside the CDP boundaries as a travel booking Slackbot. The company pivoted during COVID-19 circa 2020, after developing reverse ETL technology to sync data from warehouses to SaaS tools. The move to the CDP space has certainly proven lucrative: the space is projected to grow to $15.3 billion by 2026.Since the transition, Hightouch has been enabling organizations to transform high-value data assets into actionable insights and strategies without the need for extensive engineering. This is accomplished through an elegant suite of no-code features – making data activation easier, so almost anyone can build audiences, orchestrate customer journeys, and uncover customer insights.As of 2024, Hightouch has <a target="_blank" href="https://sacra.com/c/hightouch/">raised over $92 million</a> across its Series A and B. Powered by this funding, the company has invested heavily in advanced AI and machine learning capabilities, unlocking even more opportunities for marketers to activate their data and drive measurable results. Hightouch positions itself as an alternative to more traditional CDPs like Twilio's <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/twilio-acquires-segment-for-3-2b-adds-market-leading-cdp-for-building-data-driven-apps">Segment</a>, which typically require data to be stored in their proprietary systems. This approach of leveraging existing data warehouses as the central data repository has resonated with companies looking to avoid data duplication and maintain control over their data infrastructure. For this reason, large enterprises like Warner Music Group have chosen Hightouch over a traditional CDP, even after performing a three-year evaluation process.As a CDP, Hightouch has been focusing on AI for quite some time, exploring more efficient ways to automate processes and scale its capabilities across large pools of data. In August of last year, the company announced the launch of <a target="_blank" href="https://hightouch.com/blog/introducing-ai-decisioning">AI Decisioning</a> – its new AI marketing product – which is also available as a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.snowflake.com/en/data-cloud/workloads/applications/native-apps/">Snowflake Native App.</a><h3 id="a-modern-day-legend-in-the-data-world">A modern-day legend in the data world</h3>Adam's arrival comes at a pivotal moment as Hightouch continues to redefine what’s possible for enterprises in the customer data space. As Product Evangelist, he will support Hightouch’s continued expansion and help users unlock the full potential of their data. He will also focus on educating and empowering customers to lean into new data and AI technologies safely and scalably.Adam's career reads like a blueprint for success in the analytics and data industry. As one of Omniture’s first customers and employees, Adam has been at the forefront of digital transformation for decades. His skills include hands-on expertise in online marketing, website design, voice of customer (VOC), and CRM integration with digital analytics. His contributions to the field are vast, and he has helped thousands of marketers optimize their digital experiences. As such, he will likely elevate Hightouch's perception as a market-leading authority. Over the years, Adam has become a trusted voice, sharing his insights as a speaker and board member for several data technology organizations. His leadership roles at companies like Salesforce and <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/amplitude">Amplitude</a> have further cemented his reputation as an innovator who understands the practical and strategic sides of data. To date, Adam has written over 200 blog posts related to Adobe Analytics. He also penned <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Adobe-SiteCatalyst-Handbook-Insiders-Guide/dp/032185991X">The Adobe SiteCatalyst Handbook: An Insider's Guide</a>, which has enjoyed positive reviews since its original publication over a decade ago. This followed his tenure at Omniture, where Adobe's acquisition revealed its focus on integrating management and metrics to drive its future strategy – and it appears that the deal is still paying off. "I've been through more than anyone on planet." That's how Adam described his 25 years in the Adobe Analytics world. As Adobe's reign over the digital experience space expanded, he consulted around the AEM product and continued to roadmap the critical role of analytics.Adam has also been active in supporting the broader industry. In 2019, he joined Further's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apolloplatform.com/">Search Discovery</a> practice, where he supported digital analytics customers in doing more with data. He also played an instrumental role in the growth and development of Search Discovery's <a target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=2638129-1&amp;h=2362026&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.searchdiscovery.com%2Fapollo%2F&amp;a=Apollo">Apollo</a><a target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=2638129-1&amp;h=1357526835&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.searchdiscovery.com%2Fapollo%2F&amp;a=%C2%A0solution"> solution</a> and its related service offerings.“Adam knows what it takes to do digital transformation at the world’s biggest companies, and we’re beyond excited to have his expertise at Hightouch,” said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/briankotlyar/">Brian Kotlyar</a>, VP of Marketing at Hightouch. “He uniquely pairs a big vision with pragmatic, hands-on knowledge of how to make it real for marketers in any company. His passion for helping organizations use data to drive growth aligns perfectly with our mission.”<h3 id="why-it-matters">Why it matters</h3>Hightouch is challenging traditional CDPs and redefining how businesses think about data activation. As the world of marketing and data continues to evolve, the need for scalable, flexible solutions has never been greater. Hightouch’s vision of a composable, AI-driven future is no longer just an ambitious goal – it’s a reality. CDP has also been an incredibly lively sector in 2024, particularly as digital experience platforms (DXPs) have sought to leverage their own capabilities as part of their differentiated value. Most recently, <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/contentstack">Contentstack</a> – a headless CMS turned composable DXP – <a target="_blank" href="https://cmscritic.com/contentstack-just-acquired-lytics-a-real-time-customer-data-platform-heres-why-it-matters">purchased Lytics</a>, a key player in the customer data landscape.Brass tacks: Adam is an unmatched commodity in the realm of data and analytics. His expertise and leadership will undoubtedly benefit Hightouch and likely lift its brand perception upon his hiring alone. But given his track record, the company can reasonably predict a greater long-term impact on its roadmap.With Greco’s guidance, customers can expect even more innovative solutions to help them stay ahead in an increasingly data-driven world. His deep knowledge and leadership can further solidify Hightouch as a go-to platform for enterprise marketing and data teams seeking to unlock the full potential of their data."I'm thrilled to join Hightouch and help drive the future of data activation," he exclaimed. "The potential to transform how organizations leverage their data is immense, and I'm excited to work alongside the talented Hightouch team to help customers navigate the complexities of modern data infrastructure."CDPs have proven essential to the enterprise stack. As competition and choice escalate, pure-play platforms certainly have their work cut out for them in a fragmented marketplace. But Hightouch continues to differentiate itself against key players like Segment with its composable offering – an asset that will serve them well as they look to further disrupt the competitive landscape. If they maintain those attributes and execute, they might want to consider a new tagline: “Can't touch this.” <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:30.46%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2024/11/cms-summit-25.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-summit-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">CMS Summit 25</a></h4>May 13-14, 2025 – Frankfurt, GermanyDon't miss the first European edition of our prestigious international conference dedicated to the global content management community! CMS Summit 25 will bring together top-notch speakers, our renowned learning format, and engaging social events. Hear from leading practitioners like Deutsche Bahn, Dr. Oetker, and more – and join customers, agencies, and CMS vendors as we discuss current trends and what's ahead for the content and digital experience fields. Connect and network at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference focused on CMS. Space is limited for this exclusive event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmssummit25">so book your seats today.</a> <img style="width:31.83%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/01/cms-connect-2025-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-connect-25"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">CMS Connect 25</a></h4>August 5-6, 2025 – Montreal, CanadaWe are delighted to present the second annual summer edition of our signature global conference dedicated to the content management community! CMS Connect will be held again in beautiful Montreal, Canada, and feature a unique blend of masterclasses, insightful talks, interactive discussions, impactful learning sessions, and authentic networking opportunities. Join vendors, agencies, and customers from across our industry as we engage and collaborate around the future of content management – and hear from the top thought leaders at the only vendor-neutral, in-person conference exclusively focused on CMS. Space is limited for this event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmsconnect25">so book your seats today.</a>

Hightouch Taps Adam Greco as Product Evangelist, Strengthening Its Leadership in Composable CDPs

In physics, the word "amplitude" is defined as the maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation measured from the position of equilibrium.
OK. Unless you're a math nut, that might sound a little heady. But factor out the quantum mechanics and "amplitude" is really just a means of analyzing the range of quality for a process or phenomenon. 
In that sense, it's as relatable to measuring points on a wave as it is to tracking digital interactions. 
When <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgreco/" target="_blank">Adam Greco</a> joined <a href="https://amplitude.com/" target="_blank">Amplitude</a> as a Product Evangelist in 2020, he saw a wave of displacement across the digital analytics industry – a seismic shift from a marketing to a product mindset, all in pursuit of broader customer analytics. He describes this moment as a new "digital divide" that centers around a much larger question: where exactly should digital analytics live in an organization?
I had a chance to chat with Adam just before Amplitude – a leading analytics and digital optimization platform – announced that it was named a "Strong Performer" in the Q2 <a href="https://amplitude.com/press/customer-analytics-report-q2-22" target="_blank">Forrester Wave report</a> for Customer Analytics Technologies. The timing was apropos as the company has wind in its sails. 
Adam might well be a quantum physicist in the field of digital analytics. For over two decades, he's advised hundreds of organizations on the practice of analytics and authored over 300 blogs and one "definitive" book on Adobe Analytics. He is often a featured speaker at industry events and has served on the board of the Digital Analytics Association. 
"I've been through more than anyone on planet." That's how Adam described his 25 years in the Adobe Analytics world – which included the early days of <a href="https://molzana.com/blog/adobe-analytics-a-decade-after-acquiring-omniture/" target="_blank">Omniture</a>. As Adobe's undisputed reign over the digital experience space expanded, he consulted around the AEM product and continued to roadmap the critical role of analytics.  
What's interesting about Adam is how he grounds a complex narrative with simplicity. In a <a href="https://amplitude.com/blog/adam-greco-joins-amplitude?utm_source=linkedin_organic&amp;utm_medium=Social&amp;utm_campaign=adam-greco" target="_blank">blog post</a> from late last year, he conjured Ted Lasso as a muse for his analytics journey, adding humorous anecdotes to help shape his story. In that sense, he's as much a physicist as a coach, which made for a great conversation around the convergence of digital analytics – and how Amplitude is helping to drive what's next. 
<h2>The Evolution of CDP and the Value of Data</h2>
Industry veterans always bring the gift of wisdom to technology organizations. Not to "age" Adam, but his two decades of work across the analytics landscape has provided him with unrivaled knowledge. To that end, he has some strong views on the role of customer data – and how organizations have had a traditionally siloed approach to managing and analyzing it. 
"We're really bringing disparate technologies together," he said. "CDP, analytics, personalization – all converging to build better customer experiences. As we moved from web to mobile to marketing, CDP, in particular, has been 'ungirding' all of this."
As Adam pointed out, many customers are using CDP just to collect data and then send it to analytics platforms. Part of his goal is to help move more organizations directly into Amplitude so they're not paying twice for their data – what he affectionately calls the "CDP Tax."
"CDPs should be more insights and analytics-driven, capable of looking at problems in experiences," Adam said. "Every vendor will need a CDP of some kind because they want to collect data from every touchpoint: mobile apps, OTT, web, etc. Pulling it all together and creating action is key."
What's clear to Adam is the critical role of analytics in the advancing data morass. He predicts that in five years, CDP will be unified with analytics and personalization, providing more of the actionable insight that organizations demand.
<h2>Expanding the Role of Customer Analytics</h2>
While still relatively fresh to his role at Amplitude, Adam's history and perspective have been key to shaping what's next for the field of analytics. He noted that companies are more interested than ever in using data to improve digital product experiences and understand customer behavior – and that product analytics, as a category, have been enabling product teams to be nimbler and more responsive.
According to Adam, Amplitude has had a head start in the analytics game because of its customer focus. He says that one of the biggest complaints is that organizations are having to use five or six different vendors to get what they need – from using <a href="https://analytics.google.com/analytics/web/provision/#/provision" target="_blank">Google Analytics</a> on their website, Amplitude for the mobile apps, and <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/optimizely-partners-with-google-cloud-to-take-experimentation-to-the-next-level/" target="_blank">Optimizely</a> for testing. 
"That's a lot of tech," he said. "How do you build an audience with so much data going back and forth?"
<h2>Analytics in the Age of the App</h2>
Another factor that's weighing on Adam is the complexity of digital experiences and how apps are becoming the norm. The example he gave to me was of dropping your child off at college and realizing that they need three different apps to navigate schedules, calendars, transportation, and more. No websites – just apps. This shift can be generally positive for the user experience, but it's also creating challenges for tracking data.
"Google Analytics just isn't cutting it anymore," Adam said. "We're beyond websites. And websites aren't static anymore." He sees how even smart TVs, IoT, and other endpoints are displacing websites and how the younger generation seems to prefer apps over websites. He believes this trend may challenge legacy marketing products that track sessions and attribution. This includes the dependency on legacy vanity metrics like total users, downloads, and website visits – which are no longer enough to provide insights into the complete customer journey. 
Conflating all of this is the expectation that technologies will "just work." Companies are demanding advanced, out-of-the-box customer analytics and democratized access to data insights. As digital analytics markets converge, Amplitude is delivering a real-time, all-in-one analytics solution that equips companies with critical customer insights around all experience layers, including apps. 
<h2>Privacy and Legislation</h2>
One big thing Adam emphasized was the "earthquake" of change in customer data privacy. While <a href="https://gdpr-info.eu/" target="_blank">GDPR</a> and <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa" target="_blank">CCPA</a> have been codified, he said the legislation landscape is rapidly evolving, and business policies are shifting in lockstep. Case in point: Google, which continues to throw wrenches in the works.
"With Universal Analytics sunsetting and being replaced by <a href="https://www.solodev.com/blog/digital-marketing/how-to-make-the-leap-from-universal-analytics-to-google-analytics-4.stml" target="_blank">Google Analytics 4</a>, [Google] realized they were in the wrong field," he said. "Companies are upset." This is creating an opportunity for Amplitude as the market winds shift and organizations look to address new policies and requirements as it relates to their analytics data.
<h2>The Shift from Marketing Teams to Product Teams</h2>
Part of what's driving Amplitude's strategy is the notable shift of marketing professionals to the product side of organizations. As CMOs come to grips with expanding endpoints of user interactions, Adam said that marketing leaders are realizing they need more emphasis on product analytics than ever before. With Amplitude, these professionals are now getting a suite of marketing analytics and data management tools in one place, reflecting the convergence around measuring and delivering customer value at scale. 
As product teams become nimbler, arming them with more insight is essential. Amplitude's efforts to close the "data-to-insights-to-action" loop has been a core attribute, enabling users to test with continuous experience optimization. Amplitude's <a href="https://amplitude.com/digital-optimization-system" target="_blank">Digital Optimization System</a> is what enables these capabilities, providing both technical and non-technical product teams to tap behavioral insights to improve CX with greater speed and efficacy. 
<h2>A Thriving Community of Analytics Fans</h2>
Community is essential to the success of any company, particularly in technology. When a user event or conference materializes, it's a throat-clearing signal that a brand has achieved visibility and loyalty within its markets of interest. To that end, I asked Adam about the recent <a href="https://amplitude.com/amplify" target="_blank">Amplify Conference</a> that was held in Las Vegas this past May. 
"We were all a little nervous given the pandemic," he said. "We had about 1,500 people in person and many more online, but I could see that people were just excited to be with other people again."
Adam said that Amplify is a little different from other conferences in that it leans on expertise from across the analytics field. Even if attendees don't use Amplitude, he feels that the real value is creating access to analytics leaders and providing more relevant, "snackable" content through a wide range of sessions. 
Outside the conference, Adam said that the Amplitude community has always been connected through their love for the platform. "We're the coolest company for product people that no has heard of before. People who use us are passionate [about our platform]. We've even launched programs like Amplitude Academy that don't just focus on products, but highlight how our users are successful."
<h2>What's Next?</h2>
Adam's channeling of Ted Lasso seems apropos, as he's very adept at his "coaching role" as an evangelist. He's excited about the direction of the company and his continued efforts to learn, reflect, and share his knowledge as an analytics expert – and a fierce customer advocate. 
"I'm listening to a lot of sales calls and meeting with customers, trying to find common problems," he said. That sounds a lot like Coach Lasso: a leader that's truly empathizing with his players and working to understand the root problems. 
As for Amplitude, the company appears on a roll as it drives the shift to even broader customer analytics. According to the aforementioned <a href="https://amplitude.com/press/customer-analytics-report-q2-22" target="_blank">Forrester Wave</a>, "Amplitude was born a digital product analytics vendor, but in a world where digital interactions make up the lion's share of customer interactions, the vendor has embraced the pivot into customer analytics." 
As Ted Lasso once said, "you could fill two internets with what I don't know about football." The same might be said for many marketers and digital leaders as they face the growing complexity of customer data. But with Adam evangelizing Amplitude's innovation, they might have the right team to help businesses win the analytics game.

Winning the Analytics Game: An Interview with Adam Greco, Product Evangelist at Amplitude

It would be impossible to cover any news this month without acknowledging <a href="https://www.economist.com/ukraine-crisis" target="_blank">the crisis in Ukraine</a>. 
As many CMS and DXP vendors rely on the incredible talent and resources of the people in this region, the events of the last few weeks have hit especially close to home. Even as we publish our February recap, things continue to unfold – and our hearts go out to the people of this magnificent country.
Of course, this tragedy is evolving just as many countries are emerging from the worst of the <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/when-will-the-covid-19-pandemic-end" target="_blank">Covid-19 pandemic</a>, with many businesses poised for a return to normalcy (what that looks like still remains to be seen). Still, the lasting impact of the omnichannel revolution is being felt across all digital transformation strategies, giving way to more headless, composable, API-driven solutions as companies plan for a more digital future.
When it comes to movers and shakers, 2022 is starting much the same way as 2021: with big investments.
<a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/bloomreach-reaches-2-2-billion-valuation-following-175-million-investment-from-goldman-sachs/">Bloomreach</a>, a leading content and search platform focused on commerce, announced a $175 million round of funding – exploding its valuation to $2.2 billion. <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/elastic-path-secures-60m-in-funding-for-composable-commerce-growth/">Elastic Path</a> also made waves by securing $60 million in financing to grow its composable commerce solutions. We also saw <a href="https://www.pymnts.com/acquisitions/2022/ecommerce-platform-bigcommerce-acquires-software-firm-b2b-ninja/" target="_blank">BigCommerce</a> purchase B2B Ninja, an e-commerce platform, in an effort to energize quoting and other commerce services in their ecosystem. (Hint: we have more investment news below...)
As always, we try to recap some of the news you might have missed this month. There's a lot happening across our industry, and on a brighter note, we'll be announcing the winners of the CMS Critic Awards next week – both the People's Choice and Editor's Choice categories. We had a lot of great engagement over the last month across our social channels, and we're looking forward to sharing the results. 
<h2>Twilio Segment releases its 2022 CDP Report, finds CDPs booming as businesses look beyond cookies</h2>
We're all asking the same question: what happens to data in a post-cookie world?
Segment – a leading customer data platform (CDP) purchased by Twilio<a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/twilio-acquires-segment-for-3-2b-adds-market-leading-cdp-for-building-data-driven-apps/" target="_blank"> in November of 2020</a> – is helping to shed some light on that query with the release of its third annual <a href="https://segment.com/the-cdp-report" target="_blank">Customer Data Platform Report </a>(CDP).
Based on anonymized platform usage data of Segment's 25,000+ customers between 11/1/2020 to 11/1/2021, the report finds aggressive adoption of CDPs over the past year as businesses build digital-first customer engagement strategies and reduce their reliance on third-party data. 
Covid-19 shifted consumer behavior on a number of levels. In response, organizations changed how they interacted with their customers. As more digital engagements ensued, so too did the amount of data being generated. This spurred an explosive demand for CDP layers, particularly as it related to the broader CMS and DXP ecosystems.
Along with the unimaginable growth in data, the volume of API calls has also skyrocketed. <a href="https://www.postman.com/" target="_blank">Postman</a> – a leading application platform for API testing – conducted a <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/postman-releases-2021-state-of-the-api-report-shows-global-trend-towards-api-first-digital-era/" target="_blank">survey</a> last year that showed the world is moving to an "API-first era" as integrations and endpoints expand exponentially. As an example, the API calls through Segment have been growing steadily year-over-year since 2017, but 2020-2021 was an inflection point – with API calls in their system reaching over 1 trillion per month. 
Another reason CDP popularity has rapidly exploded is the impending "death" of third-party data. With increasing privacy regulations and the shift to a cookieless future across apps and browsers, businesses are embracing first-party data as a focal point. 
Segment's findings validate that customer data has become an integral part of how organizations are powering their digital experiences. The report also lists 2021's fastest-growing apps. For more details, you can access the full report at: <a href="https://segment.com/the-cdp-report" target="_blank">https://segment.com/the-cdp-report</a>.
<h2>Headless commerce provider fabric announces $140 Million Series C funding led by SoftBank</h2>
<a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/top-headless-commerce-platforms/" target="_blank">fabric</a>, the fast-growing headless commerce platform, announced the closing of a Series C funding round of $140M led by Softbank, with participation from Forerunner Ventures, Glynn Capital, and existing investors Redpoint Ventures Norwest Ventures, and Stripes. 
This latest round of funding closes a mere 219 days after its Series B – and now positions fabric's value at approximately $1.5B.
"Retailers need to meet modern consumers wherever they are – whether online, offline, mobile, social, or any future entry point. This means merchants of all sizes, and especially mid-market and enterprise, need the right commerce platform to keep pace with evolving trends," said Robert Kaplan, Investment Director at SoftBank Investment Advisers. "We believe that fabric has built the industry's best API-first modular commerce platform and accompanying commerce applications to give merchants unrivaled power and flexibility, all in a manner that reduces the pain of migrating over from legacy, outdated commerce platforms."
Funds from the Series C round will be utilized for accelerating product development largely through automation and intelligence and geographic expansion. 
<h2>Netlify announces Netlify Graph: A faster way for teams to develop web apps with APIs</h2>
Netlify, a Git-powered static site generator and headless CMS that's all the rage in the <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/top-jamstack-static-site-generators-for-2021/">Jamstack</a> community, has <a href="https://www.netlify.com/blog/announcing-netlify-graph-a-faster-way-for-teams-to-develop-web-apps-with-apis" target="_blank">announced Netlify Graph:</a> a GraphQL-powered experience designed to help developers build interactive and connected web applications faster.
The shift to API-first development has created an ecosystem where apps are modular and reusable. While the API-first approach is developer-friendly, it has also introduced new complexities such as discovering, securing, learning, and governing APIs. Netlify's Graph is designed to make this experience easier for developers, allowing them to use APIs without writing undifferentiated glue code, learning every API's unique structure, or composing endless amounts of endpoints to get data from various APIs into your app.
Netlify Graph is in public beta and available globally. It starts with a catalog that includes some of the most frequently requested APIs that development teams use, such as GitHub, Stripe, and Salesforce. The company plans to add more in the coming months. The Netlify Graph beta is available to all Netlify users and can be accessed from your <a href="https://app.netlify.com/" target="_blank">Netlify team dashboard</a>. Once logged in, simply select "Graph" from your Netlify site dashboard menu.
To learn more, head over to the <a href="https://github.com/netlify/labs/tree/main/features/graph/documentation" target="_blank">Netlify Graph docs.</a>
<h2>BigCommerce acquires B2B Ninja to make online selling easier for B2B merchants</h2>
<a href="https://www.bigcommerce.com/?utm_source=Business+Wire&amp;utm_medium=press+release&amp;utm_campaign=BigCommerce+Invests+in+Becoming+World%E2%80%99s+Most+Powerful+B2B+Ecommerce+Platform+with+Acquisition+of+B2B+Ninja" target="_blank">BigCommerce</a>, a leading cloud e-commerce platform, <a href="https://www.bigcommerce.com/press/releases/bigcommerce-invests-in-becoming-worlds-most-powerful-b2b-ecommerce-platform-with-acquisition-of-b2b-ninja/" target="_blank">announced</a> the acquisition of <a href="https://www.b2bninja.com/" target="_blank">B2B Ninja</a> (formerly Quote Ninja) – an enterprise software solution that provides leading business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce capabilities for merchants of all sizes.
<a href="https://www.forrester.com/playbook/The+B2B+eCommerce+Playbook+For+2018/-/E-PLA370" target="_blank">According to Forrester</a>, U.S. B2B e-commerce transactions are expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2023. This is creating a groundswell of opportunity for e-commerce platform providers to deliver focused solutions to this segment of the market. A longtime BigCommerce partner, B2B Ninja brings its best-in-class quoting solution to help streamline transactions by delivering powerful e-commerce functionality to B2B merchants.
"B2B Ninja is an excellent addition to our already strong B2B capabilities," said Brent Bellm, CEO of BigCommerce. "Complementing our recent launch of B2B Edition, this is the next big step in providing a platform that is easier to use and faster than legacy B2B solutions and more flexible and powerful than other SaaS platforms. We continue to invest in ways that make BigCommerce the best platform for merchants of all sizes regardless of who or where their customers are or where merchants are selling."
B2B Ninja is available to any BigCommerce merchant on any plan to enhance the customer experience and easily manage quotes online.

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