SafeBreach Secures $53.5 M in Series D

 Israel-based SafeBreach has secured $53.5 million in its Series D round of funding, which was led by Sonae IM and Israel Growth Partners (IGP), with additional participation from Sands Capital and Leumi Partners. The round saw investment come in from ServiceNow and participation from existing investors including Sequoia Capital, Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners, DNX Ventures, OCV Partners, PayPal, and others.

The fresh capital will be used by the company to fuel its plans of expansion into new geographies and improve its offerings. SafeBreach has raised over $106 million in total funding to date. As part of the funding round, Carlos Alberto Silva, Managing Partner at Sonae IM and Assaf Harel, General Partner at IGP will be joining the SafeBreach board, and Scott Frederick, Managing Director at Sands Capital will be added as a board observer.

“SafeBreach is the most comprehensive breach and attack simulation platform on the market – not only does it have the largest playbook containing over 21,000 breach methods; the platform also has flexible prioritization capabilities, extensive integrations, and extensible remediation options – while being simple to deploy,” said Carlos Alberto Silva, managing partner, Sonae IM. “We’ve never had such strong, positive customer feedback from high caliber clients and look forward to helping the company accelerate market expansion.”

Many large global enterprises in financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications, retail, and other industries turn to SafeBreach for breach and attack simulation as part of their core security strategy to validate controls, improve security posture and mitigate business risk.

 

Starting a Software Business? Silicon Valley or Pennsylvania

Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur planning to launch your startup or a CEO strategizing to open new offices, knowing about the tech hotspots of the country can be a game-changer. 

Silicon Valley has emerged as the destination choice for most software startups. Tech giants like Apple, Google, HP, Intel, eBay have established their headquarters in Silicon Valley. 

There are several reasons why Silicon Valley has emerged as the number one destination for startups. It is a global center for technological innovation. It is home to hundreds of software, technology, and internet companies. It is one of the wealthiest regions in the world, and the social aspects of the tech community are far-reaching in Silicon Valley. 

Apart from Silicon Valley, other U.S. cities have also started to attract budding startups. Some of these cities are Raleigh, Austin, Oregon, San Francisco, San Jose, Denver, etc. Among these places, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the fastest-growing U.S. city, set to replace the Silicon Valley tech dominance.  

Silicon Valley Vs. Pennsylvania

The city of Silicon Valley

The reason behind Silicon Valley’s popularity lies in its already existing tech community. Markets and industries have started to concentrate in that particular area because it is the home of the major tech giants of the world. 

In the startup culture, competitors always tend to line up in close proximity. This gives software businesses an edge over others. Consumers prefer a variety of choices, and it is easy to build infrastructure that facilitates similar businesses. 

In other words, Silicon Valley is a destination of its own. Starting your tech business in such an ambiance equipped with a talented resource pool, business infrastructure, and a flourishing market gives a head-start compared to other destinations. 

 Carnegie Mellon, Silicon Valley is the cradle for many aspirational students who have a penchant for IT. Many Carnegie Mellon graduates go on to set up business at the heart of Silicon Valley in California. 

However, there are downsides as well. While Silicon Valley does have its perks, it is saturated with old tech giants. Therefore, there is hardly any space left for new businesses to grow. 

Excessive saturated growth in one area has resulted in other U.S. cities as dream startup destinations. Today, we will look at Pennsylvania state, which is turning out to be one of the leading software business locations. 

The state of Pennsylvania

Immigrants from South Asian countries have been flocking to Pennsylvania because it’s a sanctuary for software businesses. Cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are cheaper than the neighboring state of New York, and employment opportunities are endless. 

Philadelphia itself accounts for 40,000 immigrant entrepreneurs who run businesses ranging from tech companies (Haystack Informatics) to food trucks (Delicias). 

Earlier this year, the second citywide Immigrant Business Week was kickstarted by Mayor Jim Keeney, who traveled across the state to stump for Philly startups. In addition, the presence of the Ivy League school at the University of Pennsylvania proves to be a great motivator for competing startups. 

In fact, according to PitchBook, the University of Pennsylvania’s undergraduate program ranks fifth, and the graduate program ranks third globally among the production of venture-backed entrepreneurs. 

Comcast-NBCUniversal is Philadelphia’s largest tech private employer. It even has a new accelerator that includes a game console startup from the son of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese’s founder Nolan Bushnell. 

The city also continues to produce successful coffee companies that fuel the startup drive. These entrepreneurial avenues include companies such as La Colombe, which has now opened in five states, Saxby’s Coffee which is known to colonize college campuses laying along the East Coast. 

With legal sanctions and a budding community of online gamers, PA online casino businesses and betting sites are thriving and performing much better than other states. The Keystone State is proving to be the cornerstone of the gambling industry, and many tech startups are coming up with innovative ideas to fuel this sector and attract more players.

Is Pennsylvania the next Silicon Valley?

Tech experts have hinted that it’s time for the supremacy of Silicon Valley to end since Pennsylvania is on the rise. Even though California’s Silicon Valley is home to bona fide software businesses, Pennsylvania is spurring new technologies and presenting a stronger sense of community. 

Here are 5 locations in Pennsylvania that are on their way to make the state the next Silicon Valley. 

1. Erie

Erie is Pennsylvania’s fourth-largest city and is quickly becoming an appealing destination for tech startups. The city has a strong sense of community that has motivated the creation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Erie has everything that a startup needs to succeed, including great coffee, a resource pool of new talent, internet access, work culture, and so on. Mercyhurst University is teaming up with several local businesses in downtown Erie to attract students from across the globe. 

2. Philadelphia

Being the largest city in the state, Philadelphia has a slight edge over the others. The city boasts of prestigious universities, aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, talented employees, etc., with easy access to software infrastructure and a thriving market. Philly Startup Leaders President Robert J. Moore has referred to the city as “a lean startup’s paradise.”

3. Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has emerged as one of the country’s leading innovation hubs. There are three primary reasons behind this:

1. Pittsburgh has a highly skilled workforce.
2. There is an encouraging community that will help new entrepreneurs succeed.
3. Pittsburgh has a rich history of successful founders and, thus, access to capital. 

4. Harrisburg

The Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is fueling a growing young talent pool. Millennials are increasingly attracted to this city which is encouraging startups to launch here. In fact, even tech giant Apple has set its sights on Harrisburg. Spaces like St@rtup Harrisburg give students the direction and guidance they need to start a business in PA. 

5. Lancaster

Lancaster’s laid-back atmosphere and the culturally diverse talent pool are moving towards sustainable growth. The city has a thriving art, craft brew, and culinary scene that is proving to be tempting for avant-garde entrepreneurs destined to change the world. Besides, Lancaster’s new generation workforce is among the most hardworking in the city, and they have a penchant for collaboration. This drive is what makes the city an attractive destination for startups. 

 

The major components of Salesforce Marketing Cloud

When the aim is to take marketing automation for your brand to the next level of convenience and functionality, Salesforce Marketing Cloud Solutions is the platform to trust. From converting a prospect to an actual customer to making sure that the customer is happy with your services, the platform can do it all from one place. With that being said, here's outlining two of the most important marketing components that you can get from SFMC and how they can help your brand.

Data-based messaging

Salesforce Marketing Cloud can send messages to every contact depending on the current data of the individual and prompt new messages depending on real-time customer data interactions and changes. The journeys can go on various branches depending on:

Contact data:

This data in the Salesforce Marketing Cloud pertains to the contacts you want to send the information to. Contact data or any change in it helps to determine the journey of the branch. For instance, a contact was in the communication journey as a prospect before converting into a customer and getting in the new customer path.

Journey data:

This data pertains to the contact's way of interacting with the Salesforce Marketing Cloud journey, i.e., through clicks or opened emails. Let's explain this through the welcome journey. A customer gets multiple emails after buying a product:

●      1st email: Welcoming the customer

●      2nd email: Product registration

●      3rd email: Tips on product usage, and so on

SFMC is able to detect customer interaction with every email. Accordingly, you can resent the 2nd email if the customer hasn't interacted with that or decide to send the 3rd email after they are done interacting with the 2nd one.

Multichannel messaging

SFMC lets you construct customer journeys consisting of SMS and email messaging. There are several use cases to have multichannel messaging, such as:

Support and service case communication:

Using emails for communicating content related to support and service for customers is a helpful practice. You can use SMS to deliver timely information, such as service personnel reaching the location or a change in support status.

Post-purchase communication:

SMS and emails can both be used for sharing post-purchase communications. For instance, you get to create journeys with emails sent for shipment status to the time of delivery. Later, you can follow up using an email for a customer survey. The convenience is undeniable in this regard.

Financial communication:

SMS and emails are both helpful in communicating financial status related to credit or loans. For instance, emails help remind customers about the pending loan installments about three or four days before their due date. An SMS can reach them on the due date to ensure they keep up their payment and do not face late penalties.

Ending note

And that's all you need to know about using the two primary components of Salesforce Marketing Cloud. If you still have not leveraged all of its features, it's high time for you to embrace the platform. Your marketing initiatives will never be the same after this. 

 

Build a Better Social Media Team

Keywords: social media, social media team, build social media, business social media, social media build tips , the silicon review

Any business owner, small or large, can tell you how vital it is to have a social media presence in the 2020s. Social media has entirely taken the place of the corporate website for many companies, serving as a conduit for customer service, marketing, and communicating with the outside world at large.

But social media takes a lot of time, work, and energy to maintain, especially across multiple platforms. That's why many businesses, small or large, don't have just one intern or employee working on the social media front — they have entire teams.

But building a team isn't just a matter of hiring a handful of freelancers and calling it good — you need a plan and a cohesive strategy for getting the most out of your social media department.

How to Build the Most Effective Social Media Team

The most popular social media sites all work very differently, because they serve different purposes and demographics: TikTok appeals to younger audiences, while Facebook is the destination for older customers. Posting a photo on Instagram may have a very different effect than posting it elsewhere.

That's why you need a team of people with diverse talents and specialties. But we'll get to that a little later.

Assess your current situation.

Your social media presence may have been laying fallow for months or even years, but it's not too late to change all that.

Take stock of where you are in terms of social media. Do you have any presence at all? (If not, get one!) Are you on every popular platform? Are your accounts active and engaged, or do you have one tweet from 2013 that got no views?

Most of all, determine where you want to focus your energies (marketing, customer service, etc.) and start working on a budget. This will help inform how big your team will be later on.

Determine Your Goals

Running Twitter for a business is much different than having a personal account. While some brands have a strategy that makes them look like just another user, even that is a product of a calculated strategy.

You should also further shape your strategy when it comes to how you'll use social media. There are a number of strategies to focus on:

●     Using social media to increase brand awareness and get your name out there (this one is more or less assumed)

●     Generate leads

●     Drive traffic to your website, blog, or app

●     Use your social media presence as a recruiting tool

●     Listen to customers to better understand your market and determine what customers (or potential customers) want.

●     Use social media as a customer service tool, to answer questions and solve problems.

●     Engage with your audience, cultivate brand ambassadors, and build your audience and customer base.

Decide how you want your social media to align with your company's brand, reputation, and online image. Will you present yourself as a more traditional brand, or take a more unorthodox route?

Find the right tools.

One of the things you'll want to be diligent about in expanding your social media presence is presenting a consistent vision across a variety of platforms. The larger and more sophisticated your social media strategy gets (and the larger your team), the more you'll need the right tools — digital management software, all-in-one suites, and organizational software to keep it all straight.

Decide on roles.

Now that you have a solid strategy and approach, it's time to figure out how you'll implement it. Before you get as far as the hiring process, decide on what kind of roles you want your social media managers to play. Will you have one person concentrate on marketing while another does customer service DMs on Twitter? The bigger your business and the more platforms you choose to embrace, the greater the need to have roles with clearly drawn boundaries, so no one gets confused.

Assemble Your Team

Now that you've completed the important step of determining exactly what you want from your social media, it's time to start hiring. Decide whether you're going to assign people in-house, bring in new hires from outside, work with freelancers, or a combination of all three. Obviously, you should look for the most qualified, educated social media managers you can, and if your needs are large and diverse enough, hire one or more specialists with extra experience in specific platforms.

Metrics, Metrics, Metrics

In business, there's no better way to determine how well you're doing than with hard data. Fortunately, the nature of social media makes it easy to collect a lot of data about engagement with your content, audience demographics, and more. It will be important to set aside something in your budget to analyze those metrics and put them to use in your future strategies.

 

10 Online Marketing Conferences You Cannot Miss This Winter

Online marketing conferences have become increasingly popular over the past few years for many businesses, both large and small. Why? It comes down to cost, convenience, and effectiveness.

Online conferences offer a cost-effective method of staying up-to-date on the latest techniques and trends. You can often find them at a fraction of the price that a face-to-face conference would cost you, and they carry very little risk.

Attending online conferences can be a valuable experience for learning new techniques that might work for your business. One of the best places to find marketing conferences is online, as many marketers have online forums and websites where they post upcoming events. Just like WritePaper provides homework help on any topic, online marketing conferences provide help with all things related to marketing! They’re an extremely valuable way to learn more and expand your knowledge.

So, without further ado - let’s get to the 10 online marketing conferences you should put down in your calendar and attend this winter!

1.  DX3 USA

Date: Nov 9-10

Price: $195

The retail industry is changing rapidly. Technological innovation and an ever-expanding digital landscape have forever changed how retailers engage with consumers. DX3 combines trendsetting speakers, unparalleled networking, and interactive sessions to deliver the most compelling, up-to-date, and relevant content. 

Designed for all skill levels from beginners to experts, DX3 allows attendees to gain new skills, make valuable connections, and discover new, innovative solutions.

In other words, DX3 is experiential. Attendees can take advantage of educational sessions at break-out sessions, scheduled networking with peers, panel discussions, and keynote presentations. If your business is retail, marketing, or technology, DX3 USA is perfect for you.

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2.          ATOMICON

Date: Nov 9

Price: £595

ATOMICON is the conference for entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to increase their sales, profits, and online reach. ATOMICON is a conference that unleashes your inner genius, giving you the tools to create your dream business.

Why come to a marketing conference if you're not going to leave with strategies and tactics you can implement in your business tomorrow? ATOMICON speakers are successful business owners who will share the secrets of their success with you.

In other words, it's not about beating the competition, it's about being the leader. That's what the ATOMICON experience is all about.

3.          FinTech Connect

Date: Nov 10-11

Price: Free

At FinTech and PayTech Connect, you will discover new trends, technologies, and innovations, build new partnerships and network with peers from across the region. The conference will mix keynotes, panel discussions, and break-out sessions with networking opportunities.

This year’s event will showcase the fintech landscape, look at opportunities and challenges posed by the fintech revolution, and recognize companies, individuals, and regions that are helping to drive industry innovation and growth. 

4.          SMXL Milan

Date: Nov 11-12

Price: €190

If you think SEO and online marketing are boring, think again. Attend SMXL and meet the top minds of the industry, motivational speakers, and top leaders and personalities in digital marketing.

This conference is a dream come true for all digital SEO and SEM professionals, and enthusiasts. SMXL brings together the best speakers, experts, and personalities in the field. The goal of SMXL is to share inspiring stories, successful case studies, and practical solutions. The conference will be perfect for beginners, professionals, and enthusiasts.

Get inspired, meet incredible people, and be among digital champions. Share ideas, learn from the best and start reinventing your projects and your strategies.

5.          Ecom World

Date: Nov 15-16

Price: $144

Think about getting together the founders of all the major online brands, and asking them one question: what’s the one thing you’d do differently if you had to start over? Everyone seems to agree on what worked and what didn’t, but everyone also knows that their biggest frustrations were the same thing:

"Trying to figure out which customers are the right ones for most products, and how to scale without compromising quality"

Ecom World is a virtual conference and network of e-commerce entrepreneurs, influencers,  sellers, and industry experts that offers the right answers to your questions. Each event focuses on building, operating, and scaling profitable e-commerce businesses.

The ECOM world conference is for e-commerce, marketing, and branding professionals looking to learn how to grow their business, improve customer retention, and increase revenue. 

6.          Digital Marketing for Financial Services US

Date: Nov 16-17

Price: $295

Digital Marketing for Financial Services US will help you achieve your digital goals. To be more exact, it’ll help you:

• Discover the secrets to driving revenue through the power of digital marketing
• Benefit from inspiring keynotes
• Discover innovative digital solutions
• Network with peers
• Attend exclusive workshops
• Understand the top trends
• Learn how to use data to drive decisions
• Learn best practices in social media
• Hear from the latest industry leaders

So, what are you waiting for? This conference is a one-stop shop for all things marketing.

 

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7.          LocalU Advanced 

Date: Nov 30

Price: $99

LocalU’s Advanced Virtual Conference is a terrific way for local search professionals to learn and network. The conferences feature industry experts in nearly every session, informative keynotes, and wide-ranging networking opportunities. They feature a unique combination of conference sessions, live and on-demand webinars, and hands-on labs.

Who is this conference for? LocalU is for SEO professionals, digital marketers, web designers, social media managers, PPC specialists, and those who help businesses get online.

LocalU is also for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and solopreneurs - as well as anyone interested in helping local brick-and-mortar businesses, improve their online visibility and attract more customers.

8.          B2B Online Connect

Date: Dec 7-8

Price: Invitation

The rise in online B2B transactions has been dramatic. And with all this activity, sales reps, marketers, and customer service teams need help staying on top of the latest trends and technologies. B2B Online Connect provides this key networking and learning opportunity.

B2B Online Connect conference and exhibition that brings together senior-level B2B professionals to discuss digital trends and opportunities, share best practices, and network with industry peers. The 2021 agenda includes a full conference schedule of presentations, panel discussions, and workshops, as well as numerous networking opportunities, including exclusive keynotes.

The conference includes a focus on digital transformation, hybrid strategies, customer experience, and integration.

9.          Digital Marketing for Financial Services Canada

Date: Feb 22-23, 2022

Price: Not yet known

Digital marketing is at a crossroads. This hyper-digital world is not a temporary reality that will disappear with time – it is here to stay. The 11th Annual Digital Marketing for Financial Services Canada Summit is Canada's premier event for marketers in the financial services sector. 

The event is aimed at senior professionals and will feature presentations, case studies, and roundtable discussions focused on the latest marketing strategies, tactics, and technologies.

The summit is a one-stop shop for digital education. Attendees will learn about everything from the latest digital marketing trends and technologies to best practice case studies in digital marketing.

10.     Social Media Strategies Summit

Date: Feb 23-24, 2022

Price: $699

The Social Media Strategies Summit is a one-day conference focused on helping companies master their social media strategies and become the social media authority in their industry. Attendees will learn from industry experts, peers, and peers of peers!

The summit is sponsored by Social Media Informer, the leading online resource for social media strategies and tactics. This Summit also provides free guides, posts, and valuable tools on social media and social media marketing. 

Final Thoughts

With these 10 different yet valuable marketing conferences, your indoor wintertime may be more productive than you think. From e-commerce, social media, and financial marketing, the conferences and summits offer an immersive experience designed for you to learn more, expand, and be even more of an expert in your field!