Investment Marks the Formation of Rockbridge’s New Digital Media Platform
DETROIT, MI, June 5, 2024 – Rockbridge Growth Equity (“Rockbridge” or “the Firm”), a partnership-oriented middle market private equity firm with a differentiated approach to building and growing companies, today announced that it has made a majority investment in Vici Media Inc. (“Vici” or the “Company”), a provider of white label digital marketing and advertising solutions. The investment marks the formation of a new Rockbridge digital media platform, as the Firm looks to make additional investments in the industry. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Vici’s founder and Managing Partner Todd Schumacher, founder and Chief Operating Officer Megan Malone, and founding partner Leslye Schumacher will remain minority equity holders in the Company and will continue to actively lead the business.
“Rockbridge plans to enhance Vici’s strong reputation for product excellence and customer service by continuing to invest behind product innovation and platform expansion,” said Steve Linden, Partner at Rockbridge. “At the same time, Rockbridge sees an exciting opportunity to pursue inorganic growth in an effort to create a scaled and distinctive platform for current and future partners. We look forward to partnering with the entire Vici team as we work together to expand the Company.”
Vici partners with traditional local media companies and independent agencies nationwide, enabling them to provide a broad suite of digital marketing products and services to their small and mid-sized local business customers. Founded in 2014, Vici offers white-labeled solutions including sales training, digital media planning, online ad buying, reporting, and campaign optimization through a multi-platform approach.
“Since founding Vici a decade ago, we’re proud to have built a company that has helped hundreds of media and agency partners offer digital advertising services that benefit their local business customers,” said Mr. Schumacher, founder and Managing Partner at Vici. “As we embark upon this next stage in our Company’s growth, we’re confident that Rockbridge will be an excellent partner to enhance our existing business and identify new avenues for expansion.”
Vici was represented by Bailey Glasser, while Rockbridge was represented by Honigman.
About Rockbridge Growth Equity
Founded in 2007, Rockbridge Growth Equity is a middle market private equity firm committed to helping both founder-operated and established companies accelerate growth and build long-term, sustainable value. Rockbridge combines the flexibility of a financial sponsor with the benefits of strategic partnership by leveraging the firm’s relationship with the Rock Family of Companies, which provides access to industry and functional expertise. As of year-end 2023, Rockbridge has regulatory assets under management of over $1.7 billion across its target sectors: e-Commerce and Marketing Services, Financial Services and Fintech, Tech-Enabled Products and Services, and Digital Media. For more information, please visit www.rbequity.com.
Vici is a leader in digital advertising solutions, and is excited to reveal its latest product: Digital Out-Of-Home (DOOH) Ads. This groundbreaking offering combines the power of digital technology with traditional out-of-home advertising, providing brands with a dynamic and engaging way to reach their target audiences.
With the rise of digital screens in public spaces, DOOH advertising presents an unparalleled opportunity for brands to capture the attention of consumers in high-traffic areas. Vici’s new product allows advertisers to display vibrant, eye-catching content in real-time. With Vici’s DOOH Ads, businesses can now reach consumers at the right place and at the right time. This product is a game-changer for marketers, as it allows them to deliver targeted and relevant messages to consumers on-the-go. A staggering 73% of US consumers view DOOH ads favorably.1
Vici has curated a network of inventory partners to provide DOOH throughout the country including; Adams Outdoor, Atmosphere TV, Clear Channel Outdoor, Edison Interactive, Hivestack, JCDecaux, Lamar Advertising Company, Outfront Media Inc, T-Mobile, Vistar Media, Zoom Media, and others.
“We are thrilled to introduce our DOOH Ads to our suite of digital products. This product is a result of our team’s dedication to constantly innovate and provide our clients with the best advertising solutions. With DOOH Ads, businesses can reach consumers in a more impactful and engaging way, creating a lasting impression and driving results,” said Todd Schumacher, CEO of Vici. “We are excited to empower our partners to make a significant impact in their clients’ advertising efforts.”
Key features of Vici’s Digital Out-Of-Home Ads include:
Targeted Advertising: Advanced data analytics enables advertisers to tailor messages to specific locations, enhancing relevance and effectiveness.
High Visibility: Placed in high-traffic areas, DOOH ads capture the attention of a large audience, increasing brand exposure.
Interactive Experiences: Engage consumers with interactive content that encourages participation and drives brand loyalty.
Comprehensive Reporting: Access in-depth analytics to measure campaign performance and ROI effectively.
Weather Triggered Ads: Ads can be set to display only when a certain weather event happens (such as when it raining, certain temperature, etc.) if an advertiser desires this.
Vici can serve Digital Out of Homes (DOOH) in a combination of locations throughout a given geographic area such as: Apartment Buildings and Condominiums, Bars, Billboards, Cannabis Dispensaries, Casual Dining, Colleges and Universities, Convenience Stores, Fueling Stations, Grocery Stores, Gyms, Hotels, Liquor Stores, Malls, Movie Theaters, Nightclubs, Office Buildings, Parking Garages, Quick Service Restaurants, Recreational Locations, Salons, Spas, Sports Entertainment, Taxi & Rideshare TV, and Urban Panels.
DOOH is the fastest-growing advertising channel with 24% growth last year and a tremendous 82% ad recall.2 As consumers increasingly seek out personalized and engaging experiences, Vici is committed to providing innovative solutions that meet the demands of the modern marketplace.
Vici’s DOOH Ads are a part of their comprehensive MarTech (Marketing Technology) suite, which includes a range of digital advertising solutions such as programmatic display, including Social Mirror ads, Mobile Conquesting, social media advertising, SEM and OTT (Over-The-Top) advertising. For more information about Digital Out-Of-Home Ads or to schedule a demo, please visit www.ViciMediaInc.com.
**About Vici**
Vici partners with traditional local media companies and advertising agencies nationwide, enabling them to provide a broad suite of digital marketing products and services to their end customers. Founded in 2014, Vici offers white-labeled solutions including their proprietary “Proposal-To-Pitch”, an automated proposal tool that creates client facing presentations, sales training, digital media planning, online ad buying, reporting, and campaign optimization through a multi-platform approach. With a focus on technology and data-driven strategies, Vici helps businesses navigate the evolving landscape of digital marketing.
Sources:
1 https://www.emarketer.com/content/dooh-ads-drive-action-people-who-view-them
2 https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/08/08/2926516/0/en/Digital-Out-of-Home-Advertising-Market-to-Reach-84-24-Billion-by-2033-Growing-Demand-for-DOOH-Advertising.html
Vici, a leader in innovative digital solutions, is thrilled to introduce their new online technology platform called “Proposal To Pitch.” This automated tool is designed to streamline the pitch proposal process for media sales professionals and advertising agency partners, making it easier than ever to respond to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) with stunning, interactive, client-facing presentations.
“Proposal To Pitch” leverages advanced technology to transform traditional RFP responses into dynamic PowerPoint-like on-line presentations. By simply entering in basic client targeting details, users can create a comprehensive pitch that showcases their offerings with professionalism and precision in a matter of minutes. The platform incorporates essential elements from the RFP, including client names, logos, website screenshots, maps of the target location, and tailored ad product descriptions, targeting strategies and graphics for products like Social Mirror Ads, Mobile Conquesting, Artificial Intelligence powered Programmatic Display, OTT, Amazon Ads, etc.
Key features of “Proposal To Pitch” include:
One of Vici’s media partners who has used the platform said, “Seven Mountains Media was looking for a great proposal tool that would make it easier for our clients to accept a proposal with an electronic signature and Vici brought it to us! The Vici team has helped us build the “Proposal To Pitch” tool into an integrated proposal tool, giving us the ability to propose digital, radio, and creative services into one great looking proposal.” -Wendy Lynch, CRMCi, CDMC. Director of Integrated Marketing and Digital for Seven Mountains Media.
“We understand the challenges that media sales and ad agency professionals face when crafting pitches in a competitive landscape,” said Todd Schumacher, CEO of Vici. “Proposal To Pitch is designed to empower teams with a fast, efficient, and visually appealing way to present their offerings, ultimately driving better engagement and higher conversion rates.”
“Proposal To Pitch” is now available for media sales teams and advertising agencies looking to enhance their proposal process. The platform is intuitive and user-friendly, making it accessible to users of all technical levels and a must for the digital MarTech Stack.
For more information on “Proposal To Pitch” or to request a demo, please visit please visit www.ViciMediaInc.com.
Vici partners with traditional local media companies and advertising agencies nationwide, enabling them to provide a broad suite of digital marketing products and services to their end customers. Founded in 2014, Vici offers white-labeled solutions including their proprietary “Proposal-To-Pitch”, an automated proposal tool that creates client facing presentations, sales training, digital media planning, online ad buying, reporting, and campaign optimization through a multi-platform approach. With a focus on technology and data-driven strategies, Vici helps businesses navigate the evolving landscape of digital marketing.
