News

Anne Beckett seeks to understand her world. The President and COO of Hopjump, a travel-focused startup, maintain a level-headed approach to thoughts, events, and activities, and her sharply rational mind has helped her put everything in its place.

Tens of millions of users evaluate their doctor’s visits with star ratings and written reviews on WebMD, Healthgrades, RateMDs, and other platforms. In theory, health provider scores aren’t a bad idea — as many as 80 percent of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, studies show — but fraudulent submissions from bots, trolls, and other bad actors threaten to compromise their integrity. It’s a problem CareDash takes seriously. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based health care review site employs a team of data scientists that spend most of their days battling would-be ratings manipulators, leveraging artificial intelligence to guarantee the authenticity of reviews.

The concept of an online insurance marketplace isn’t going to blow anyone’s hair back, but Birnbaum and Revesz see an opportunity to build a big company. Insurers selling auto, home, life, and other non-healthcare policies spent around $120 billion last year on sales and marketing, Birnbaum said. Only about $3 billion of that was spent online, but that segment of insurers’ marketing budget is growing about 16 percent each year, he claims.

EY today announced that John Lunny, CEO of Vestmark is a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2018 Award in the New England program. The awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. John was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 28, 2018 at the Westin Boston Waterfront.

The Tony Awards nominations are already giving a boost to the Broadway box office.

After the announcements last week, theatergoers on the mobile ticketing platform TodayTix rushed to purchase tickets to all of the nominated new musicals.

“I love how anyone at EverQuote can have an idea and execute on it. I think when you’re working somewhere and you’re new, especially when you’re right out of school, it can be very intimidating to speak up. Working here has taught me to be more vocal. I’m thankful to work in an environment where expressing ideas is part of the culture!” Alana Aubin, Vice President of Life Business Unit at EverQuote, exclaimed.

Study shows U.S. drivers use cell phones on 37% of trips, sees positive impact among states with distracted driving laws.

Firm Invests in AI-Driven Interview-Marketing Company Focused on Consumer Banking.

Prescription drug spending in the United States comprised 17 to 20 percent of all healthcare spending in 2015. Invoice spending on medicines is expected to rise from $435 billion in 2015 and $450 billion in 2016, to between $580 billion to $610 billion by 2021, with the vast majority of this cost coming from brand-name prescription drugs. Brand-name drugs account for approximately 72 percent of total drug spending despite comprising just 10% of all prescriptions.

Many brand-name drugs have generic alternatives that can drastically reduce cost when prescribed over the brand version. Why aren’t generic drugs prescribed more?

“Possible Side Effects: Investigating the Connection Between Payments from Pharmaceutical Companies and the Prescribing Habits of Physicians” reveals the relationship between payments made by pharmaceutical companies to physicians, the number of prescriptions arising from physicians who received those payments, and the cost and consequences to consumers as a result. In one of the most comprehensive research reports to-date on the relationship between doctors and pharmaceutical companies, the study found that physicians who received at least one industry payment from a pharmaceutical company for any specific brand-name drug were five times more likely to prescribe that drug over alternatives, including generic options. The study also found the physicians who accepted a payment from a pharmaceutical manufacturer related to a specific opioid drug were 14.5 times more likely to prescribe that drug over a similar alternative.

Rob Klapprodt is helping reinvent his 'aggressive' firm to compete with the 'Vestmark' brand.

Vestmark Inc. is coming after RIAs after serving as a giant indirect vendor to stockbrokers who use firms like LPL Financial and UBS as their home bases.

New technology introduced on the iPhone to block distractions while driving has slashed phone use behind the wheel by nearly 10% among users.

Do Not Disturb While Driving feature on iOS11 The Do Not Disturb While Driving feature was included in the iOS11 update.

Introduced nearly a year ago, the iOS 11 update included a Do Not Disturb While Driving feature, enabling the iPhone to detect when users are driving and automatically silence notifications to keep the screen dark and avoid the temptation to check the phone. Drivers are also able to activate an auto reply feature for contacts listed in Favourites to let them know they are driving and cannot respond until they arrive at their destination.

Now, research by the US EverQuote insurance marketplace among its community of 500,000+ users has found that drivers deploying the functionality exhibited an 8% decrease in phone use while driving, as measured by their EverDrive app.

“This data is an exciting indication that the very same technology platforms that can facilitate distractions while driving can be used to address those issues given the right features and encouragement to use them,” said EverQuote CTO Tomas Revesz.

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Jobcase, the social platform for the future of work, announced that it closed its Series A-1 funding round with an additional $11.5 million, led by Providence Equity Partners. This is on top of $7 million in Series A funding led by Savano Capital Partners, bringing the total raised in 2017 to $18.5 million.

“Jobcase operates based on one core mission - empowering people in their worklife. The strides the company is making in the employment space are creating lasting impact for its 80 million members,” said Mark Hastings, Managing Director of Providence Equity Partners. “We want to help Jobcase rapidly move the needle as they continue providing unmatched value for today’s workforce.”

The company is helping prepare members and employers for the future of work - a future where numerous employers, frequent job changes, and more contract and part-time work is the norm - by providing both the community and tech-backed tools, like blockchain, that future workers and employers will need to thrive.

“Jobcase helps people take charge of their work-lives, providing members with invaluable connections on a platform informed by machine learning,” said Fred Goff, CEO of Jobcase. “The support of a great partner like Mark Hastings & Providence Equity Partners enables us to even further accelerate our considerable growth rate so that Jobcasers can likewise accelerate the benefits of corresponding network effects. We look forward to a great partnership that will benefit not just American workers, but the global workforce as well.”

About Jobcase Jobcase, builders of technology and community to empower America's workforce, is one of the Boston area's fastest growing technology companies. Jobcase provides one place to manage all things job-related, including access to the knowledge, connections and wisdom of over 80 million registered members. Jobcase is an industry affiliated partner of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, CSAIL, and Jobcase technology also powers over 100 job sites in the Jobcase Network. For more information, visit www.jobcase.com.

About Providence Equity Partners Providence Equity Partners is a premier global asset management firm with $50 billion in assets under management across complementary private equity and credit businesses. Providence pioneered a sector-focused approach to private equity investing with the vision that a dedicated team of industry experts could build exceptional companies of enduring value. Since the firm’s inception in 1989, Providence has invested in more than 160 companies and is the leading equity investment firm focused on the media, communications, education and information industries. Providence is headquartered in Providence, RI and also has offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Delhi. For more information, visit www.provequity.com.

EverQuote, Inc., the leading marketplace for connecting consumers with insurance providers, announced today its recognition by SimilarWeb's Momentum Awards for outstanding growth in online traffic and engagement. According to SimilarWeb's report, EverQuote.com's expansion drove monthly visits from 1.4 million to 6.7 million in 15 months, resulting in a 170% increase year over year. SimilarWeb ranked EverQuote second in the insurance category, behind Liberty Mutual. The winners were determined by SimilarWeb's algorithmic score, which sorts over 80 million global websites by their total traffic and engagement metrics.

Seth Birnbaum, CEO and co-founder of EverQuote, stated "We are immensely proud to be recognized for the success of our traffic strategy & analytical teams. In addition to higher volumes, our data-driven marketing teams are bringing more valuable consumers to our marketplace. We're seeing more consumers with clean driving records requesting higher coverage levels."

Mr. Birnbaum also credited EverQuote's recent expansion into home and life insurance with boosting total traffic. "We've built an incredibly sophisticated, diverse traffic engine and distribution platform for connecting consumers with insurance providers, and we are able to leverage that experience to enter new markets quickly. Our new verticals are growing at an incredible pace."

About EverQuote

Launched in 2011, EverQuote operates the leading online insurance marketplace in the U.S. Each month, our rapidly scaling proprietary data and tech platform optimally matches and connects millions of insurance shoppers with a growing network of over 7,000 agents & 100 carriers. For more information, visit EverQuote.com and follow on Twitter @EverQuoteInsure.

Contact: Ryan Ruffing, 617-206-6561, rruffing@everquote.com

Jobcase.com, an open-access community where people help people in their work-life pursuits, today announced the adoption of blockchain technology to assist individuals in building their own profiles. Blockchain will become a foundational layer in verifying, authenticating, and sharing resume-centric information in ways that empower employees in their own career pursuits.

The future of work will be characterized by numerous employers (often overlapping), frequent job changes, and much more contract and part-time work. Permanent single employer contracts will become less and less available. Further, to maximize work-life satisfaction, frequent updating in education and training -- often in single classes or single proficiencies rather than degrees -- will be the norm. In the midst of this dynamic environment, people will be required to shepherd their own information in a ‘portable employee jacket.’

The resulting problem of this work-future for potential employers is the verification of an individual’s stated skills, proficiencies, education, training and experience. “Blockchain technology is the right technology, right philosophical approach, and right answer at the right time,” says Tony Deigh, CTO of Jobcase. “It decentralizes control with a trust-based system that is not dependent on any one organization or employer. It puts the individual first.”

Blockchain is the latest cutting-edge technology adopted by Jobcase. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are already key engines of the platform.

“Jobcase puts people first,” said Fred Goff, CEO of Jobcase. “This is their information to be surfaced as they see fit. It’s not some piece of data to be hidden behind paywalls like so many other companies do. To truly unlock the power of people-controlled profiles, a system of profile-related authentication must be developed where no one company controls the keys. Blockchain adoption is the perfect choice for Jobcase as both the business model and philosophy is in sync with people-first, open access, decentralized controls.”

About Jobcase

Jobcase, builders of technology and community to empower America's workforce, is one of the Boston area's fastest growing technology companies. Jobcase provides one place to manage all things job-related, including access to the knowledge, connections and wisdom of over 75 million registered members. Jobcase is an industry affiliated partner of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, CSAIL, and Jobcase technology also powers over 100 job sites in the Jobcase Network. For more information, visit www.jobcase.com.

Vestmark, a leading provider of wealth management solutions, is honored to be included in Built In Boston’s Top 100 Tech Companies.

Built In Boston’s Top 100 is a ranking of the largest digital tech employers in the Boston metropolitan area based on local, full-time employee count.This ranking is compiled by submissions to the Built In Boston website, results of a market survey as well as press releases, news coverage and other publicly available data. Built In Boston boasts that the number of employees employed by the top 100 companies on the list for 2017 has grown to nearly 40,000. Vestmark is the top fintech company on the list and ranks 36th overall, trailing behind the 35th spot by only two employees. In the past year, Vestmark has grown by 40% to reach an employee headcount of over 300. The company remains focused on achieving hiring targets for 2018.

“We are honored to be recognized as a top 100 technology company in the greater Boston area,” said John Lunny, CEO of Vestmark. “Our contributions to the financial technology industry and the Boston community are based on the dedication, energy, and passion that our employees give on a day to day basis. We are well-positioned for future growth because we have the best and the brightest talent contributing to our success.”

The full 2017 rankings list for Built In Boston’s Top 100 can be found on their website. For more information on working at Vestmark, please visit the careers page.

About Vestmark:

Vestmark is a leading provider of wealth management solutions, headquartered outside of Boston, MA. Founded in 2001, Vestmark’s mission is to enable investors to better their financial well-being. We do this through delivering technology and services that enable financial institutions and advisors to deliver holistic advice in line with investor objectives. We service 43 institutions, over $750 billion in assets, and 2.1 million investor accounts.

In recognition of its continued growth and expansive technological innovation, EverQuote, Inc., the largest online insurance marketplace in the U.S., today announced that the company has received the following recognitions:

Deloitte 2017 Technology Fast 500. Recognizing EverQuote's contributions to the insurance industry's digital transformation and four-year revenue growth of 169 percent, the company ranked number 446 on the Deloitte Tech 500 list. The Deloitte 2017 Technology Fast 500 winners are the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies — both public and private — in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2013 to 2016.

Built In Boston - Boston's Biggest 100 Companies. With more than 200 employees, EverQuote was recognized on Built in Boston's List of 100 Biggest Companies, ranking as the 51st largest digital technology employer in Boston. Since 2013, the company has seen an average annual employment growth of 50 percent.

BostInno 50 on Fire Finalist. Competing against 150 of Boston's brightest and most promising startups and technology companies, EverQuote was honored as a top thirty Technology Company on the BostInno 50 on Fire finalists list. The BostInno 50 on Fire recognizes the top 50 individuals and organizations who are driving the innovation economy in Boston and beyond in the categories of civic, design, retail & dining, education, healthcare and medicine, investment, marketing and advertising, professional services, sports and fitness, and technology.

"We are extremely proud to be recognized for our tremendous growth, hiring and innovative technology," said Seth Birnbaum, CEO of EverQuote. "In addition to the employee and revenue increases we've achieved, this year has been a memorable year of growth for the company, with the addition of our first female board member, generation of $36 million in funding, participation of nearly a billion miles driven by consumers on EverDrive and more. It's a testament to our dedicated team and the mission we share with our fantastic insurance partners, and we have even bigger plans for growth in 2018. We expect to continue diversifying our revenue growth via the addition of home and life insurance to our marketplace and the continued expansion of our EverDrive social safe driving app. We're thrilled to receive these honors and remain passionately motivated to improve the insurance process for millions of consumers and thousands of insurance providers in the US."

For more information about EverQuote's honors, visit www.everquote.com.

About EverQuote Founded in 2011, EverQuote, Inc. operates the leading online insurance marketplace in the U.S. and is one of the fastest growing companies in Boston history. The company's data & technology platform unites drivers with agents and carriers to deliver great rates and coverage while maximizing policies sold for auto insurance providers. EverQuote was founded with the vision of applying a scientific, data-driven approach to help consumers find the best price and coverage for their individual insurance needs. For more information, visit EverQuote.com and follow on Twitter @EverQuoteInsure.

Mira Wilczek is president and CEO of Cogo Labs and a Senior Partner at Link Ventures. Her mission is to take the Cogo incubator’s 10-year track record of successfully of building internet companies like CourseAdvisor, EverQuote, and CareDash on the back of 5B rows/day of big data, and scale it 10 times over the next three years. In her first nine months at the helm, the revenue generated by Cogo’s incubating companies has grown more than two times. A tireless innovator and a multifaceted leader, she is an exemplary CEO and pioneer in the field of advanced mathematics. Outside of work, Wilczek is deeply committed to science education and devotes herself to spreading STEM literacy to underserved and remote communities.

Three adjectives colleagues use that best describe you? To my face? Analytical. Ambitious, Goofy.

Advice you would give your younger self? Get your hands dirty!

Your most unusual talent? I can juggle, but only if I get to walk forwards while I’m doing it.

What is your favorite book? "The Three Musketeers"

What are your hobbies? Reading (mainly sci-fi), Ultimate, learning to whittle

Do you have a motto? “Smart people should be in charge."

Vestmark, a leading provider of Unified Wealth Management® solutions, announced that its Chief Financial Officer, Tiffany Freitas, is a Boston Business Journal’s 2017 CFO of the Year honoree in the private company category.

“Tiffany is a model of exceptional leadership. She provides strategic vision and guidance for the company and is at the forefront of accelerating our expansion efforts,” said John Lunny, CEO. “Her intimate knowledge of our operations coupled with her passion, energy, and dedication to fostering a collaborative, enriching workplace inspires those around her to give their best every day.”

The Boston Business Journal’s exclusive annual CFO of the Year award honors 9 senior financial executives from across Massachusetts. The honorees, who represent businesses across the state ranging from publicly traded companies to nonprofit, make astounding contributions to their professional organizations as well as their local communities.

Within her first year at Vestmark, Freitas raised $30 million in growth financing from Summit Partners, a global growth equity investor, and spearheaded an important hiring initiative, increasing the company’s headcount by 100 new employees. In 2016, the Boston Business Journal named her to its “40 Under 40” list for her civic and charitable efforts. Freitas is at the forefront of leading Vestmark’s corporate expansion efforts and is on target to achieve critical hiring objectives for the year.

The Boston Business Journal will honor all finalists during the awards luncheon on Wednesday, July 19 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. The full list of 2017 honorees is available on the Boston Business Journal’s website. For more information on working at Vestmark, visit www.Vestmark.com/Careers.

Vestmark is a leading provider of wealth management solutions, headquartered outside of Boston, MA. Founded in 2001, Vestmark’s mission is to enable investors to better their financial well-being. We do this through delivering technology and services that enable financial institutions and advisors to deliver holistic advice in line with investor objectives. We service 43 institutions, 25,000 advisors, over $650 billion in assets, and 2.3 million investor accounts.

Jobcase, the only social media platform dedicated to empowering America's workforce, announced today that it has raised $7 million in Series A funding led by Savano Capital Partners, a private equity and venture capital firm. With a team that now numbers 115 (predominantly data analysts, data scientists and software engineers), Jobcase has grown exponentially since its founding and today stands at over 75 million registered members. "Jobcase is connecting America's workforce on a platform that is informed by machine learning to facilitate valuable connections, and with services that can help anyone take greater control of their own work-life," said Fred Goff, Jobcase CEO. "With the future of work proving increasingly daunting, our millions of members need us to move even faster. Until now, our profits were continuously reinvested to self-fund our growth, but now growth capital from a great partner like Savano Capital will help us move even faster in building out platform features, machine learning tooling that helps power the community, and breadth of services for our valued employer partners." Jobcase partners with companies such as Home Depot to help power hiring initiatives on both local and national levels by promoting their local talent brand within the community. Jobcase also partners with non-profits such as the Chicago Urban League in operating jobfairs, career clinics and other training and development initiatives. This investment from Savano Capital Partners will primarily support Jobcase's aggressive hiring plan to add up to 40 more employees to its Kendall Square headquarters by summer, 2018. "Jobcase has a reputation for being smart and forward thinking, and when you get to know them you understand how deeply they truly care about empowering working Americans," said Tom Smith, Managing Director of Savano Capital Partners. "The future of work is a difficult topic in the U.S. today -- we believe Jobcase has the solutions that will succeed on a global scale. We are proud to support this mission."

About Jobcase: Jobcase, builders of technology and community to empower America's workforce, is one of the Boston area's fastest growing technology companies. Jobcase provides one place to manage all things job-related, including access to the knowledge, connections and wisdom of over 75 million registered members. Jobcase is an industry affiliated partner of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, CSAIL, and Jobcase technology also powers over 100 job sites in the Jobcase Network. For more information, visit www.jobcase.com.

About Savano Capital Partners: Savano Capital Partners is a late stage venture fund investing in technology-driven businesses. Focused on investment opportunities in high-growth companies within the software, communications, e-commerce, technology-enabled services, healthcare and clean tech/alternative energy sectors. Savano Capital Partners works with leading companies by providing liquidity to individual shareholders, such as former executives, angel investors and founders. The fund was founded by life-long venture capitalists and entrepreneurs who aim to work collaboratively with company management, venture investors and individual shareholders. For more information, visit http://www.brownsavano.com/.

Financing Round Accelerates the Rapid Growth of “Social Email” Consumer Tech and Online Marketing Business

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Abovo42 Corporation, a “Social Email” consumer technology business, and Meta42, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abovo42 and an Online Marketing business for Brands, Advertisers, Marketers, and Lead-buyers, today announces it has secured $1.75 Million in equity and debt financing led by Link Ventures, a Cambridge-based investment firm focused on Internet and technology companies.

With this investment, the company will expand its capacity to reach potential users of its new consumer tech and grow its base of advertisers to monetize clicks on ads by using a revenue model similar to Google and Facebook. The core patent-pending Abovo42 technology will also be enhanced to incorporate and simplify the assembly of online communities around a shared topic of interest similar to Reddit, but simpler, safer, and all via email.

“We have taken the entire messy, complex, and scary world of publishing a page of content on the Internet and reduced it to simply sending or forwarding any email," said Sean Fenlon, Founder/CEO of Abovo42 Corporation. "It’s free for consumers to use our technology – no registration is required, there is no need to download an app, and there is no need to learn anything more than what most Internet users do many times each day already. To try it for the first time, a user can simply send or forward any email to Post@Abovo42.com.” Sean Fenlon also added, “I worked closely with Dave Blundin when he was an independent Board Member of my previous technology business, which was acquired in 2015. However, growing Abovo42 & Meta42 through the early-stages with Dave as my actual business partner has been nothing short of a dream come true.”

“Sean and his team have achieved some of the fastest growth we’ve ever seen in the early innings,” said Dave Blundin, Managing Partner of Link Ventures, and Chairman of Cogo Labs. “We see tremendous potential in empowering the world’s Internet users to become Internet publishers and participating in web-based communities by simply using their own email.”

Abovo42 Corporation also recently expanded its Advisory Board to include the Founder/CEO of Everquote (another Link Ventures portfolio company), Seth Birnbaum. Other notable Advisors to the company include Brian Ocheltree, Doug Lebda, Frank Bonsal Jr., Greg Cangialosi, Greg Yardley, Jason Goldsmith, Jay Weintraub, John Demayo, John Ferber, Jordon Keltz, Karen Zuckerman, Marc Potash, Matt Coffin, Mike Woosley, Rob Leathern, Ross Shanken, Scott Ferber, Sid Banerjee, and Stein Kretsinger.

About Link Ventures:

Link Equity Partners, LLC is a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in Internet and technology companies with a capital-efficient road to profitability. Founded in 2006 by Managing Partner Dave Blundin, Link Ventures success is rooted in its ability to identify unique business opportunities and to partner with portfolio companies to drive rapid growth through the application of cutting-edge Internet traffic generation techniques in combination with sophisticated mathematical modeling and behavioral analysis.

https://www.Abovo42.com & https://www.Meta42.co

http://www.LinkVentures.com/

There’s a new CEO at TodayTix, though he’s definitely not new to the company — Chairman Brian Fenty is becoming chief executive, while his co-founder (and the previous CEO) Merritt Baer is becoming the Head of Europe.

TodayTix sells theater tickets in cities across the United States (including New York, Chicago and San Francisco), but its European presence is currently limited to London. Fenty said there’s “a huge opportunity to go to some of the arts capitals of Europe — Paris, Hamburg, Vienna.”

“Who better to lead that charge than my partner in crime?” he added. “This is just the beginning of our European chapter.”

Fenty also characterized the leadership change as an extension of his existing partnership with Baer, who he said has an “aggressive operational tenacity.”

That operational focus was necessary to get TodayTix off the ground, and it’s now needed for the European expansion. Meanwhile, Fenty said that as chairman, he spent more time on strategy and partnerships, and those will continue to be his focus as CEO.

TodayTix has also been evolving as a business. Fenty said that while it was easy to describe the service as a mobile version of New York’s TKTS booths, giving users access to last-minute, discounted theater tickets, it’s actually expanded beyond that. Now it sells tickets up to 30 days in advance, with half of them sold at full price. (Fenty said that whether a ticket is sold at a discount or at full price, TodayTix is selling the most affordable tickets available: “We will never be beat on price.”)

In addition, TodayTix is no longer purely focused on theater. As Fenty put it, “We’re still trying to connect global culture lovers to theater, but our definition of theater has expanded to include comedy, dance, philharmonic music, improv. That’s come from our learnings launching in cities like Chicago, where if you don’t have Second City, or in LA, if you don’t have the Hollywood Bowl, you’re not a culture app.”

Fenty said TodayTix now has 3.6 million users who have used the app to purchase $150 million in tickets. Looking ahead, he said the team is thinking about what else it can offer users either before or after going to the theater.

TodayTix has made some other executive hires recently, including bringing on Jerrell Jimerson (formerly SVP of Digital at iHeartRadio and PayPal) as its first chief product officer, and Craig Coffman (previously CTO of Reserve) as its first CTO.

In technology, huge changes happen every month. Here are 20 innovators that you'll want to keep your eye on...

Vestmark provides a wealth management platform to professional financial advisors. Major customers include Fidelity Investment and Edward Jones. Overall, Vestmark's software handles 1.5 million accounts with a total of $500 billion in assets. The software can handle the digital side of almost every aspect of account management, from monitoring stock trading to reporting account balances to clients. But perhaps the most valuable function is compliance. Vestmark helps its customers remain compliant with the thicket of ever-changing rules and regulations that govern their business. In an age when the political pendulum can swing quickly from regulation to deregulation and when federal rules are frequently reinterpreted, automated help with compliance is more than a convenience--it's a business necessity. In the past year and a half alone Vestmark has raised $37 million in equity investments as it has continued to update and expand its software.

EverQuote, the largest online insurance marketplace, today announced the appointment of Jayme Mendal to the newly created position of Chief Revenue Officer. In this role, Mendal will focus on accelerating revenue growth and will lead all go-to-market teams and strategy at EverQuote.

A data-centric sales leader, Mendal brings over 10 years of business, consulting, and industry experience to EverQuote. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and Harvard Business School, Mendal most recently served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at PowerAdvocate and before that worked as a Management Consultant within the Growth Strategy Division of Monitor Deloitte (formerly Monitor Group).

As CRO, Mendal will be responsible for driving revenue and growth strategies, lead the roll-out of EverQuote's direct Life Insurance referral program, and oversee the continued growth of the EverQuote Pro (PRO) platform, which recently announced the integration of home and life insurance across its consumer experience and direct agent platform.

"We are very excited to have Jayme join EverQuote at a key point in our journey to becoming the leading destination for people to discover and acquire the right risk-based insurance and financial products for the best price," said Seth Birnbaum, CEO and co-founder of EverQuote. "We believe his background, past experience leveraging data to fuel growth, and collaborative mentality will increase performance for advertisers and partners while continuing to scale our business and build value for shareholders."

"I am excited to join the EverQuote team and believe we are well-positioned to transform the insurance landscape," said Mendal. "I look forward to partnering with Seth and the entire EverQuote Team as we expand our products, services, and global reach."

About EverQuote

Founded in 2011, EverQuote, Inc. operates the leading online insurance marketplace in the U.S. and is one of the fastest growing companies in Boston history. The company's data & technology platform unites drivers with agents and carriers to deliver great rates and coverage while maximizing policies sold for auto, home & life insurance providers. EverQuote was founded with the vision of applying a scientific, data-driven approach to help consumers find the best price and coverage for their individual insurance needs. For more information, visit EverQuote.com and follow on Twitter @EverQuoteInsure.

Link Senior Partner and Cogo Labs CEO, Mira Wilczek, has been chosen for the Boston Business Journal's 2017 40 Under 40 list. This year's 40 Under 40 honorees — 20 men and 20 women who live and work in the Bay State — represent the best and brightest in Massachusetts. The honorees were selected from nearly 350 nominations received this year and are currently leading their respective industries in the for-profit, nonprofit and government sectors.

EverQuote Inc., the largest online insurance marketplace, today announced the additions of home and life insurance to its consumer experience and direct agent platform, EverQuote Pro (PRO). EverQuote's technology helps consumers save time and money on insurance by matching them with the agents and carriers best suited to their specific underwriting needs. Carriers and agents, in turn, have access to an efficient source of new business opportunities to more effectively meet their growth and business goals.

Every month, more than 1.5 million consumers use EverQuote to shop for auto, home and life insurance, connecting with matched PRO carriers and agents in real-time. In 2016, the company began its expansion to home and life insurance with early support for direct carriers and online referrals. In 2017, the two new offerings have more than tripled in consumer demand and, this month, gained additional access to over 7,000 agents through the PRO platform.

"EverQuote's data and technology have created an experience for auto insurance consumers and agents that is unmatched across the industry," said EverQuote CEO Seth Birnbaum. "We're excited to not only see that success replicated in home and life insurance, but also to drastically improve upon the process for both parties through data-driven and data-proven solutions."

Additional features added to the PRO platform include a new "Smart Campaigns" capability that simplifies campaign management for agents across underwriting profiles and geographic footprints to achieve desired consumer referral volumes without ongoing manual optimizations. EverQuote has also added an enhanced onboarding and agency validation process to not only improve the quality of agents who use PRO but also ensure consumers receive inquiries more closely aligned with their insurance needs from the country's best agents.

For more information, visit https://www.everquote.com/pro/.

About EverQuote

Founded in 2011, EverQuote, Inc. operates the leading online insurance marketplace in the U.S. and is one of the fastest growing companies in Boston history. The company's data & technology platform unites drivers with agents and carriers to deliver great rates and coverage while maximizing policies sold for auto insurance providers. EverQuote was founded with the vision of applying a scientific, data-driven approach to help consumers find the best price and coverage for their individual insurance needs. For more information, visit EverQuote.com and follow on Twitter @EverQuoteInsure.

Contact:
Ryan Ruffing 1-617-206-6561 rruffing@everquote.com

Vestmark, a leading provider of Unified Wealth Management® solutions, was named a 2017 Best Place to Work by the Boston Business Journal. The awards program honors Boston’s leading employers and commends the importance of developing a great workplace culture to drive a competitive business advantage.

“Our employees are the heart of our success. We strive to cultivate a dynamic, engaging, and challenging workplace that inspires employees to give their best effort every day,” said John Lunny, CEO of Vestmark. “We are delighted to be recognized as one of Boston’s leading employers for going above and beyond the norm to foster an enjoyable and meaningful work environment for our employees.”

Vestmark ranked in the medium-size category, dedicated to companies with 100 to 249 employees. A total of 80 finalists were selected this year – ranging from extra-small (20 to 49 employees) to extra-large (1,000+ employees) – based on employee-satisfaction survey responses conducted by the Boston Business Journal in partnership with Quantum Workplace.

“The BBJ’s Best Places to Work awards program is one of our most competitive programs in terms of how many companies participate each year and is always one of our most successful in terms of how many people attend our awards event,” said Carolyn M. Jones, Market President and Publisher of the Boston Business Journal. “This year, well over 300 companies submitted surveys, and once again, we are extremely excited to be able to recognize these employers that clearly value their employees and go the extra mile to create great workplaces."

Vestmark began with a mission to enable investors to better their financial well-being. The company achieves this by providing the most comprehensive wealth management platform to the largest financial institutions in the nation, enabling advisors and portfolio managers to deliver accurate, compliant, frictionless advice tailored to each individual investor. Today, Vestmark services over 2 million investors with intuitive reporting, customized portfolios, and tax-aware trading.

The Boston Business Journal will honor all finalists during the awards celebration on June 22, at Symphony Hall in Boston. A full list of the 2017 honorees can be found on the Boston Business Journal’s website. For more information on working at Vestmark, visit our careers page.

Vestmark is a leading provider of wealth management solutions, headquartered outside of Boston, MA. Founded in 2001, Vestmark’s mission is to enable investors to better their financial well-being. We do this through delivering technology and services that enable financial institutions and advisors to deliver holistic advice in line with investor objectives. We service 43 institutions, 25,000 advisors, over $650 billion in assets, and 2.3 million investor accounts.

(Originally published on Yahoo!Finance)

Smartphones, cars and teenagers make a dangerous combination. But, now there’s a smartphone app that may save lives.

Sarah Gregory’s been driving for about a year. Her parents asked her to download an app that tracks and scores her performance every time she’s behind the wheel.

We asked her if she would consider herself a good driver.

“As good as a 17-year-old could be I guess?” she said.

It’s almost like having Mom or Dad in the car to remind you.

“Yeah, knowing that it’s running in the background probably helps me drive a lot better because if I’m speeding I’m like, ‘oh wait, my app is going to take off for that,’” she said.

Nearly 2,000 teen drivers were killed in crashes in 2015 -- up 9 percent from the previous year.

Sarah’s parents -- Julie and Cliff -- also use the EverDrive app.

“We could actually tell when they used their phone or when they didn’t use their phone. We can tell if they exceeded the speed limit, we could tell whether they were stopping or accelerating like crazy,” Cliff told us.

We asked former NTSB chair Deborah Hersman, who now runs the National Safety Council, if these devices make an adult a better driver.

“Absolutely think they have the potential to do that, but it’s not going to work for everyone in the population,” Hersman said.

“What we have to do is get to a point where everyone is comfortable getting that feedback and modifying their driving behavior,” she said.

The technology is a growing business -- from apps to devices like Verizon Hum, which is a driving performance tracker aimed at parents.

Even Buick has created “smart driver” technology standard in most vehicles.

Christine Sitek from GM’s OnStar says the smart driver system not only helps improve driving, it can save users money. The company said they have a million customers enrolled today.

“If you’re feeling good about your score, you can opt-in to seek an opportunity to get an insurance discount,” Sitek said. “We’re seeing that those customers are receiving up to a 30 percent discount on their insurance.”

The apps attempt to make driving a game by showing how drivers rank against each other. Buick believes its software will improve safety especially when coupled with technology like collision avoidance and lane departure warnings.

Originally published on CBS News By Kris Van Cleave CBS NEWS April 25, 2017, 7:19 PM

Anxiety levels affect men, those with children in the home and even Trump voters

Following one of the most controversial presidential elections in history and a “First 100 Days” marked by contentious executive orders, travel bans, military strikes, suspicions of foreign election tampering, healthcare debates and threats to our national security, the United States has become a nation on edge, according to a new poll by Radius Global Market Research commissioned by healthcare review site CareDash.com.

“Nervous Nation: An Inside Look at America’s Anxiety in the Age of Trump,” a poll of over 2,000 adults aged 18 and older surveyed between March 23-27, 2017, shows more than half of Americans (59%) report being at least somewhat anxious because of the November election results, with nearly three-fourths (71%) of Americans aged 18-44 reporting feeling anxious due to the results. Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) agree that Donald Trump as president is causing more people to have anxiety.

“The November election results created the ‘perfect storm’ of rising anxiety and it’s affecting our national health,” says CareDash Medical Advisor and Washington, DC-area therapist, Dr. Steven Stosny (PhD). “Anxiety and nervousness stem from the fear that something bad might happen. These feelings are intensified in times of uncertainty and are also contagious. What we see now is Americans trying to grapple with the uncertainty of a President known for bold and unexpected behavior, as well as a 24-hour news cycle driven in part by social media platforms that have amplified political worries.”

Americans are also engaging in more unhealthy behavior as a result of the November election. Nearly half of Americans (45%) have experienced some of the more common symptoms of anxiety such as depression, weight gain, trouble sleeping, relationship distress, resentment and anger, and feelings of nervousness. Of this group, nearly half (48%) of those Americans with some symptoms of anxiety and more than half (60%) aged 18-44 report engaging in unhealthy behaviors such as drinking alcohol, smoking, eating unhealthy or arguing because of the November election results. Nearly half of Americans (47%) aged 18-44 who have experienced some of the more common symptoms of anxiety also report sleeping less or having less sex because of the election.

Key Groups Affected by the Election

The current political environment is particularly affecting men as well as those with children in the household; and even Trump voters are feeling anxious. Key survey findings include:  Men vs. Women

• 54% of men report feeling more anxious because of the January inauguration; and of those who have experienced some of the more common symptoms of anxiety, 51% have seen or considered seeing a doctor for their symptoms.
• In comparison, only 48% of women are feeling more anxious because of the January inauguration and only 28% who have experienced some of the more common symptoms of anxiety have seen or considered seeing a doctor for their symptoms.

Adults Living with Children

• 72% of adults with children in the household are at least somewhat anxious because of the November election results versus 51% percent of adults without children in the household.
• 57% of adults with children in the household who have experienced some of the more common symptoms of anxiety have seen or considered seeing a doctor for their symptoms as compared to only 22% of adults without children in the household.

Trump Voters

• 43% of Trump voters report feeling anxious because of the November election results.
• 42% of Trump voters also agree that the President is causing more people to have anxiety.
• 41% of Trump voters are looking for ways to cope with the negative political environment and 36% are avoiding social media to reduce anxiety around political comments.

“The survey’s findings that more men than women are actively seeking medical help for Trump-induced anxiety is contradictory to established psychological research which has repeatedly shown that men are less likely than women to seek help from physicians and mental health professionals,” added Stosny. “What we are experiencing now is a new phenomenon where men, facing an onslaught of continued breaking new alerts, social media comments and alternative facts, feel that they no longer have the control or ability to protect their families in these uncertain times.”

CareDash, an online healthcare portal that seeks to democratize the doctor review industry through 100% honest and transparent reviews, commissioned the poll by Radius Global Market Research to better understand how the current political environment is affecting the mental health of their users and the general population. The current study findings mirror those found in an online poll of CareDash newsletter subscribers which found that 55% of respondents are at least somewhat anxious because of the November election results. “The mission of CareDash is to empower all patients to take charge of their own healthcare decisions,” says Ted Chan, Founder and CEO of CareDash. “This poll continues our core objective to be a resource for transparent information that will ultimately enable patients to make more informed healthcare choices. Our hope is that by understanding the root cause of mental health issues that many Americans are facing today, patients will be better equipped to seek ways to address those issues, either through CareDash.com or other professional services available to them.”

CareDash will also host a free “CareDash Coping Clinic” on Friday, April 28 in Boston to help Bostonians with some of their post-election anxiety. City residents are invited to stop by the one day downtown location pop up during lunchtime for a quick mid-day stress-relieving break and enjoy a free 15-minute chair massage, a warm cup of relaxing tea and healthy snacks.

Details on the survey findings are available at www.CareDash.com/nervous-nation.

Shareable infographics are available to download or link to at:

• Political Anxiety Men vs. Women in America
• Political Anxiety Among Adults with Children in the Household

Methodology: The survey was conducted online within the United States by Radius Global Market Research on behalf of CareDash between March 23-27, among 2,135 adults ages 18+ who reside in the U.S. Surveys were conducted in English. Data were weighted to reflect U.S. Census data. Weighting variables included age, gender and region. The symptoms of anxiety included in the survey are the most common symptoms of anxiety as provided by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Mayo Clinic and include weight gain, weight loss, depression, suicidal thoughts, trouble sleeping, feelings of nervousness, relationship distress and resentment or anger.

About CareDash.com: Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, CareDash.com is an online healthcare portal transforming the doctor review industry to make it more transparent and accessible for all patients regardless of their socio-economic background. Unlike other doctor review sites, CareDash does not influence, suppress or remove negative reviews in exchange for payment from providers. Unbeknownst to patients, existing doctor review sites accept payments from doctors to remove and hide negative reviews. CareDash also services more patients in the low-to-middle income range than leading patient review sites – many of whom have traditionally been ignored and underrepresented in this space.

About Radius Global Market Research: Radius Global Market Research (www.radius-global.com) is one of the largest independent market-research companies. For more than 50 years, the business has partnered with global marketers to develop insight-based strategies that drive brand performance. A superior level of senior team involvement is the hallmark of Radius GMR’s approach. Radius GMR is based in New York. Global operations include London-based Radius Europe, Radius MEA in Dubai, and Radius Asia in Beijing.

CONTACT: Kerri Axelrod 617-375-9700 kaxelrod@marlomarketing.com

Originally published by CareDash

The Chicago Urban League announced today that its 2017 Citywide Job Fair -- one of Chicago's largest annual hiring events -- will be co-sponsored by Jobcase, the only social media website dedicated to empowering America's workforce. Annually drawing more than 1,000 participants, the job fair will take place June 21, 2017 from 10:00a.m. - 2:00p.m. at the University of Illinois at Chicago Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL. The event connects Chicagoland residents with employment opportunities from local businesses and Fortune 500 companies.

"We are proud to partner with Jobcase, an organization that is committed to empowering people and strengthening our community," said Shari Runner, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. "The job fair is an invaluable venue for employers in search of quality candidates and prospective employees seeking jobs, training and networking opportunities. For many, securing employment at this event will allow them to support their families and potentially change their lives."

"Jobcase is very proud to support and partner with the Chicago Urban League, an organization that has succeeded for over 100 years in empowering Chicagoans," said Fred Goff, founder and CEO, Jobcase. "People's satisfaction and success in their work life are key building blocks for strengthening community. It is our privilege to leverage our Jobcase community, tools, and data-science to help the Chicago Urban League drive improved outcomes for residents, communities and institutions in the region. Together, we will make this the most successful Citywide Job Fair yet!"

The Citywide Job Fair is free to all registrants and provides access for Chicago residents to employment opportunities with major participating companies including AT&T, Walmart, Comcast and others. Employers will offer a range of positions from entry-level to managerial, and preparatory workshops will take place the week before the event focused on resume building, interviewing and networking for success.

Registration for the Citywide Job Fair can be completed on Jobcase's dedicated registration page: jobcase.com/chicagojobfair. All registrants who sign up through Jobcase will also have access to the Chicago Job Fair Group in the Jobcase community -- an opportunity for participants to connect online with organizers, employers and one another to share announcements, tips and work life developments.

Chicago Citywide Job Fair additional details:

Who: 1000+ attendees and 100+ employers

What: Chicago Urban League & Jobcase Citywide Job Fair

Where: UIC Forum 725 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL

When: Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at 10:00am - 2:00pm

To learn more about the Citywide Job Fair, please visit www.thechicagourbanleague.org or jobcase.com/chicagojobfair.

About the Chicago Urban League Established in 1916, the Chicago Urban League works for economic, educational and social progress for African Americans and promotes strong sustainable communities through advocacy, collaboration and innovation. For more information, visit www.thechicagourbanleague.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

About Jobcase One of the Boston area's fastest growing technology companies, Jobcase is the only social media site dedicated to empowering America's workforce. Jobcase provides one place to manage all things job-related, including access to the knowledge, connections and wisdom of 70 million other Jobcasers. Jobcase is an industry affiliated partner of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, CSAIL, and Jobcase technology also powers over 100 job sites in the Jobcase Network, connecting more than 70 million workers and employers. For more information, visit www.jobcase.com.

(Originally published on Marketwired and Yahoo!Finance)

EVERQUOTE VOTED BEST MARKETING AGENCY, AND FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR; BEST THIRD PARTY LEAD

EverQuote Inc., the leading online auto insurance marketplace in the U.S., is proud to announce it has won two Gold Awards in LeadsCouncil's 2017 LEADER Awards' voting. The company has been recognized with Gold Awards for "Best Marketing Agency" and for the second consecutive year, "Best 3rd Party Lead Generator" in the insurance category.

LEADER Awards winners are determined by LeadsCouncil members through a voting process in which insurance agents across organizations and carriers recognize partners with the largest impact on their agencies. These awards showcase EverQuote's continued dedication to delivering best-in-class lead quality, with a focus on intelligently connecting insurance providers with the right consumers to efficiently grow their books of business.

"Our success is solely dependent on the success of our partners and customers. That's why we're adamant about matching and connecting real-time insurance shoppers with insurance agents that can help them immediately. This creates a win-win-win situation," said John Tawadros, Chief Operating Officer at EverQuote. "Insurance agencies across the country have voted, and selected EverQuote as the best partner in their insurance industry, and that speaks volumes. We remain committed to providing exceptional value to our existing and future partners."

These awards put an exclamation point on a huge year for the company, as it raised $36 million in Series B funding and launched its new safe-driving app, EverDrive. EverQuote was also recognized by the Boston Globe as one of Boston's best places to work and one of the fastest growing companies in the nation by Inc. Magazine.

To learn more about EverQuote Pro for Agents, visit www.EverQuote.com/Pro or call 844-707-8800.

About EverQuote - Founded in 2011, EverQuote, Inc. operates the largest online insurance marketplace. The company's data & technology platform unites drivers with agents and carriers to deliver great rates and coverage while maximizing policies sold for insurance providers. EverQuote was founded with the vision of applying a scientific, data-driven approach to help consumers find the best price and coverage for their individual insurance needs while driving down costs for insurance providers. For more information, visit EverQuote.com and follow on Twitter @EverQuoteInsure.

About LeadsCouncil - The LeadsCouncil is an independent association, whose members are companies in the online lead generation industry from buyers to sellers, technology solution providers and investment professionals. All members are united in a common goal of promoting best practices and fostering trust regardless of vertical.

Contact: Ryan Ruffing | 617-206-6561 | rruffing@everquote.com

(Originally published on Live 5 News & PR Newswire)

Vestmark is pleased to announce that the recently launched VestmarkONE Robo Solution won the 2017 Bank Insurance & Securities Association (BISA) award for Best Technology Innovation Solution. Announced at the Annual Convention held March 7-10, 2017 at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, FL., the award recognizes leadership in the advancement of the financial services industry's products, services, and platforms through technology innovation.

The VestmarkONE Robo Solution was officially launched as a turn-key offering last October and currently operates as the engine behind one of the industry's largest robo platforms. Built to support a range of investment programs, the solution enables wealth management firms to leverage the most effective aspects of both human and automated advice delivery. In contrast to many available robo offerings, the VestmarkONE Robo Solution is a comprehensive platform that leverages each organization's current suite of advisory offerings and is easily managed alongside mutual fund advisory, ETF advisory, SMAs, UMAs, and advisor-directed programs.

"At Vestmark, we believe the future of financial advice is about arming the advisor with a broad array of technology resources, as well as making information and tools available to the client in an intuitive and compelling way," said Rob Klapprodt, President of Vestmark. "For this reason, our robo platform enables advisors to augment their practices with the tech they need to scale their practice and strengthen their client relationships. We're thrilled that the Bank Insurance & Securities Association has recognized the innovation we bring to the market and look forward to our continued partnership." Further details about the BISA Technology Innovation Award and a full list of the 2017 recipients can be found on BISA's website. For more information on the VestmarkONE Robo Solution, please visit Vestmark's website here.

About Vestmark

Vestmark is a leading provider of wealth management solutions, headquartered outside of Boston, MA. Founded in 2001, Vestmark's mission is to enable investors to better their financial well-being. We do this through delivering technology and services that enable financial institutions and advisors to deliver holistic advice in line with investor objectives. We service over 40 institutions, 25,000 advisors, over $600 billion in assets, and 2 million accounts. For more information about Vestmark's solutions, email inquiry@vestmark.com or visit www.vestmark.com

(Originally published on Marketwired)

We are excited to announce that Mira Wilczek has been named the new President & CEO of Cogo Labs. Dave Blundin, Cogo's previous CEO, will stay on as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Wilczek will also continue her role as Senior Partner at Cogo's parent company, Link Ventures.

"Mira embodies all the traits that we seek at Cogo - smart, technical, enthusiastic, practical, organized," Dave said in his announcement to the company. "Most importantly, our ever-expanding ecosphere of constituents--our dozen CEOs and aspiring CEOs, our co-investors, our senior mangers, our friends outside the building--all trust her and believe in her. This makes Mira the perfect embodiment of our Cogo values and our ideal leader."

As Cogo's Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Mira built and led Minerva Analytics, an internal Cogo team focused on building online communities through a combination of rapid-development web property tools, scalable user acquisition, and extensive competitive and performance analysis using Cogo's extensive data warehouse.

"A startling fact about Cogo and our spin-out companies is that over 90% of our people were not previously at internet companies - and that includes Mira herself," Dave continued. "A large part of our success can be traced back to our ability to teach and nurture people who come from diverse non-internet technical backgrounds and help them become internet leaders. Mira's ability to encourage and inspire will enable us to continue that trend as we dramatically expand our scale."

Before coming to Cogo, Mira was founder and CEO of Red Panda Security, a research consultancy specializing in mobile behavioral analytics, Principal Investigator under the DARPA CFT program, and Director of Business Development at Lyric Semiconductor, where she garnered industry recognition including TR50, Silicon 60, and an EE Times ACE Award and led the successful sale of the company to Analog Devices.

Mira also holds patents both granted and pending in the fields of cyber security and sensor data fusion. She holds an S.B. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, as well as an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

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As seen on Cogo's Blog here.

CareDash.com, an online doctor review and rating portal, has secured nearly $1 million in venture debt financing and an additional $1 million line of credit led by Link Ventures, a Cambridge-based investment firm focused on internet and technology companies. With this new investment, the Cambridge, MA-based company plans to increase consumer awareness of the brand as a resource dedicated to transparency in the doctor review industry with a steadfast promise to reject payments from doctors seeking to remove and hide negative reviews, a widely-used industry practice.

Launched in 2016, CareDash makes doctor and hospital information more accessible, inclusive and transparent. Provider ratings and patient reviews on CareDash make it easy for consumers to make informed decisions about their health. Simply search for doctors by name, specialty or location, then review a list of providers who meet your search criteria.

Unlike other doctor review sites, CareDash does not influence, suppress or remove negative reviews in exchange for payment from providers. Unbeknownst to patients, existing doctor review sites accept payments from doctors to remove and hide negative reviews. CareDash also services more patients in the low-to-middle income range than leading patient review sites – many of whom have traditionally been ignored and underrepresented in this space.

“We started CareDash with the mission to arm patients with the transparent information they need to take charge of their healthcare,” said Ted Chan, founder and CEO, CareDash.com. “It’s one thing to eat a bad meal at a restaurant because a review was suppressed in exchange for compensation; it’s quite another to manipulate the healthcare information available to patients.” This latest round of funding from Link Ventures builds upon an exceptional year for CareDash which saw exponential growth of ratings and reviews, in addition to several key executive appointments. Link Ventures’ focus on market intelligence and corporate services will enable CareDash to continue improving the patient healthcare experience.”

CareDash currently features more than 30,000 reviews and ratings. The company generated $6.7 million in revenue in 2016 and previously raised $500,000 in seed capital.

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http://hitconsultant.net/2017/02/09/caredash-lands-2m-online-doctor-review-platform/

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caredash-secures-nearly-2-million-in-new-funding-led-by-link-ventures-300404439.html

As 2016 drew to a close, Link Ventures was pleased to add Vestmark, Inc. to its growing portfolio. The addition was accomplished through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that allowed Link to participate in Vestmark’s Series 9 fundraising round. The investment capped an exciting year for the leading SaaS provider of wealth management technologies, which today services over 2 million investor accounts representing over $600 billion in assets.

In addition to achieving rapid client growth and laudable industry recognition in 2016, Vestmark closed a $30 million dollar investment with Summit Partners, a global growth equity investor. Summit has invested in over 400 companies in technology, healthcare, and other growth sectors, leading to more than 135 public offerings and 150 acquisitions. Christopher Dean, a Managing Director of the firm, explained that “Summit has a history of backing market-leading innovators in many different industries.” He added that their investment in Vestmark allows them “to support an exceptionally innovative company, one that is truly helping to advance the delivery of critical financial advice.”

Link welcomed the opportunity to supplement the Summit-led funding round through its SPV. The additional funding enhances Vestmark’s ability to maintain its rapid growth pattern, and to explore additional avenues for expansion. As mentioned in the company’s press release, its “goal is to enable top tier financial institutions to scale delivery of their advice across all channels and client relationships.” John Lunny, the CEO of Vestmark, stated that he and his team “will continue to set the standard for financial technology innovation as [they] advance [their] offering and address new markets.” A key member of that team is CFO Tiffany Freitas, who was named one of Boston Business Journal’s 40 under 40 for 2016.

Against the backdrop of last year’s milestones, Link Ventures looks forward to a strong relationship with Vestmark during 2017!

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• Vestmark Article

• Boston Globe Article

• 40 Under 40

• Freitas Named CFO

Link Ventures and Cogo Labs recently co-hosted the inaugural “Founders Mixer” of the MIT Alumni Angels of Boston. Held in Cogo’s expanded Kendall Square office space, the event brought together dozens of MIT alumni who have founded high-tech start-up companies. Along with members of the Link Ventures executive team, other invitees included select investor members of MITAAB and Boston-area innovation ecosystem connectors. The networking opportunities among entrepreneurs were as ample as the food and drink they enjoyed. The evening included an informative “fireside chat” between Link Ventures partner, John Roland, and MITAAB co-founder, Wan Li Zhu. Their conversation and the lively Q&A session that followed addressed best practices for using data and analytics to build successful start-up companies (as Link and Cogo have done repeatedly).

MITAAB was formed in 2014 after Zhu and his co-founder, Ishan Sachdev, recognized the importance of utilizing personal and professional bonds to connect the growing circles of start-ups and investors with connections to MIT. Their Boston-area association is deeply rooted in the MIT alumni network and requires members – whether angels, founders or both – to have at least one direct affiliation with the Institute. Not coincidentally, Link’s and Cogo’s co-hosting of the Founders Mixer came about through the MIT graduates on their teams (e.g., Dave Blundin, Mira Wilczek and Matt Rita). Based on the success of that recent event, Link Ventures and Cogo Labs look forward to ongoing collaboration with MITAAB and its membership.

EverQuote, Inc., the leading insurance marketplace, today announced that it closed a $23 million dollar Series B investment led by Maryland- based Savano Capital Partners, with participation from Stratim Capital, Oceanic Partners and T Capital Partners. EverQuote will use the funding to further accelerate growth by increasing its investment in sales and product development. It will also afford the company greater flexibility to continue development of its personal risk marketplace. Founded in 2011, EverQuote utilizes proprietary technology and data to match, advise and connect insurance shoppers with carriers and agents, both online and offline. EverQuote’s customer base includes many of the largest U.S. underwriters, and over 5,000 insurance agencies. Since inception, EverQuote has grown to 5 million consumer visits per month and made over 50 million referrals resulting in over $3 billion of premiums for carriers and agents and an estimated $500 million in savings for consumers.

In a fiercely competitive market, insurance carriers and agents are shifting advertising spend away from broad-based media to measurable online channels. EverQuote’s intelligent technology engages active shoppers best matching carrier and agents’ underwriting strengths, reducing the cost of consumer acquisition. For consumers, EverQuote is the most efficient tool to shop and save on insurance with the most complete set of product options.

In 2016, EverQuote launched EverDrive, a free iOS and Android safe driving app for social insurance engagement. EverDrive helps consumers identify and correct their potentially costly, and deadly, driving habits. At scale, EverDrive will create a safer driving population resulting in fewer claims and losses, and ultimately lower cost insurance for consumers. EverDrive represents the first step in EverQuote’s development of a personal risk marketplace to make consumers safer while saving money. "We’re incredibly excited about EverQuote and the opportunity to partner with Seth and his team. EverQuote is the premier online marketplace partner for insurers,” said Tom Smith, Managing Director of Savano Capital Partners. “Its proprietary technology and targeted approach create a compelling value proposition for carriers, agents and consumers in a notoriously inefficient market. We’re confident that EverQuote is poised for many years of continued growth and look forward to serving as the company’s investment and capital partner along the way."

“We have experienced tremendous growth the past three years, and this funding will help EverQuote continue to grow quickly while we develop a unique personal risk marketplace for consumers and insurance providers,” said EverQuote CEO, Seth Birnbaum. “There’s a vast opportunity in unifying our proprietary technology and data with information from increasingly connected consumers to become the trusted source for risk related products and services online.” "We are very excited to make one of Stratim's largest investments to date in EverQuote,” said Zach Abrams, Managing Partner at Stratim Capital. “We focus on investments in market leading growth-stage companies and EverQuote’s market leading technology platform, customer analytics and experienced management team are perfect for the Stratim Growth Fund." About EverQuote

Founded in 2011, EverQuote, Inc. operates the largest insurance marketplace. The company’s data & technology platform unites drivers with agents and carriers to deliver great rates and coverage while maximizing policies sold for insurance providers. EverQuote was founded with the vision of applying a scientific, data-driven approach to help consumers find the best price and coverage for their individual insurance needs while driving down costs for insurance providers. For more information, visit EverQuote.com and follow on Twitter @EverQuoteInsure.

Media Inquiries: Ryan Ruffing press@everquote.com 617-206-6561

Vestmark’s groundbreaking unified managed account (UMA) technology helps Brinker Capital to accelerate advice distribution and improve investor outcomes

Vestmark, the leading provider of Unified Wealth Management® solutions announced that Brinker Capital, a leading investment management firm focused on multi-asset class investing, has completed implementation of the award-winning unified wealth management technology platform VestmarkONE® to improve scale and the delivery of Brinker Capital’s UMA program across 62,000 accounts and 3,800 advisors. Today, the solution services $16.4 billion for the firm.

VestmarkONE® enables Brinker Capital to improve the advisor experience and drive home office efficiency by providing access to third-party managers and granting flexibility to construct and report on customized portfolios in line with investor objectives. The platform’s support for UMAs enables Brinker Capital to flexibly integrate SMA managers and strategies, equities, as well as ETFs and mutual funds into a UMA account structure.

“A key component of Brinker Capital’s investment philosophy includes meaningfully blending active and passive investment strategies,” said Avery Cook, CIMA®, Senior Vice President of Managed Products and Solutions at Brinker Capital. “The VestmarkONE® technology supports our Core Guided program, which includes active fixed income SMA managers. Fixed income in UMAs are mostly mutual funds or characteristic-based model delivery, investors now benefit from active SMA fixed income management which is important during times of interest rate uncertainty.”

“By partnering with Brinker Capital we are able to offer advisors an end-to-end solution that ultimately helps investors achieve their wealth goals,” said John Lunny, Chief Executive Officer of Vestmark. “For almost 30 years, Brinker Capital has delivered investment products that enable advisors to fulfill the investment needs of their clients, and this partnership enables both parties to continue to carry out this mission. We look forward to our continued collaboration and to finding new ways to drive advisor efficiency.”

“Brinker Capital selected Vestmark not only because of the industry leading UMA functionality the platform supports, but also their commitment to continuous innovation,” said Brendan McConnell, Chief Operating Officer at Brinker Capital. “Vestmark has a strong culture and proven ability to deliver engaging technology solutions that provide better outcomes to advisors and their clients.”

About Brinker Capital

Since 1987, Brinker Capital has provided investment solutions based on ideas generated from listening to the needs of advisors. From being a pioneer of multi-asset class investments to using behavioral finance to manage the emotions of investing, our disciplined investment approach is the key to helping investors achieve better outcomes.

Learn more at www.BrinkerCapital.com.

Brinker Capital, Inc. is a Registered Investment Advisor.

About Vestmark, Inc.

Vestmark is the premier technology provider for comprehensive unified wealth solutions utilized by financial advisors and institutions. Vestmark provides VestmarkONE®, the award-winning technology platform, to help clients gather more assets, increase operating efficiency, and minimize risk. Founded in 2001, Vestmark continues to rapidly expand and the platform supports over 1.5 million accounts representing over $600 billion in investor assets.

For more information about Vestmark's solutions, call (781) 224-3640 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting, email inquiry@vestmark.com, or visit www.Vestmark.com.

It’s amazing what a little competition can do! Start competing with friends on EverDrive today and create your own shared leaderboard to find out who the better driver is.

Why compete?

When we consider that the National Safety Council recently announced that traffic fatalities have increased 9% in the first half of 2016, compared to the same time period last year—it’s clear that we need safe drivers now. However, first we need to want to change. Motivation and competition go hand in hand. Competition has been proven to help motivate us and boost our performance. One study found that rivalry—essentially competition with someone we know instead of a stranger—pushes us to succeed even more.

Do you want to become a safer driver? Who doesn’t? Compete with your friends, spouse, son or daughter. We all can benefit from driving better behind the wheel.

EverDrive Friends Leaderboard

Proof is in the numbers

Apps can change our behavior for the better. Over the course of the two-month Safe Driving Challenge, we saw that EverDrivers who consistently used the app improved by 30% across all categories and decreased their phone use on the road by 37%. Those are the kinds of numbers we want to see. Considering that many of us drive over 13,000 miles and spend 280 hours behind the wheel each year, it’s important that we all become safer drivers on the road now.

Not to mention, competition is practically wired into us. We want to compete and a little friendly contest can boost our performance by motivating us to do more. EverDrive measures your driving skills to keep you and others safe on the roads and show you where you can improve.

Are you someone that thrives off of competition or do you enjoy anonymity? With EverDrive, you can compete in your town, city or state leaderboard or set up a challenge with your friends to determine the pool of competition.

Tips to win:

• Brake gradually.
• Keep your phone down. (Absolutely no excuses! Set up that GPS before you put the car in drive.)
• Don’t accelerate too harshly.
• Take those corners carefully.
• Don’t speed. Have patience. You’ll get to your destination when you get there.
• Have some fun! Stay calm and enjoy the drive. Driving while stressed certainly does not improve your driving skills.

Distractions surround us everywhere on the road. Improve your driving skills today and get motivated with some friendly competition. Use this as an incentive to drive safer and help encourage those you know to do the same. So, what are you waiting for? Challenge friends today and get driving to the top of the leaderboard. Start your engines—ready, set, go!

Vestmark is pleased to announce that its Chief Financial Officer, Tiffany Freitas, is an honoree of the Boston Business Journal’s 2016 40 Under 40 list. This award recognizes Freitas’ strong leadership and positive contributions to Vestmark and her local community.

Freitas returned to her hometown of Boston last year with an extensive history in helping technology companies across the globe attain market leading positions and sustained profitability. Since joining Vestmark, Freitas has helped create almost 100 jobs at the company, raised a $30 million investment from growth investor Summit Partners, and has set the stage for future corporate expansion into new markets and new regions. Prior to joining Vestmark last year, Tiffany held leadership positions at Disney Interactive and Bain & Company.

Outside the office, Freitas is an outstanding civic leader. She co-founded award-winning fitness hotspot, Tread, a growing fitness franchise dedicated to health and personal empowerment. She and her business partner raise awareness and funding for local charities and provide mentorship for youth in the community. She also works to restore and revive homes and commercial buildings in her native Reading community. Freitas holds a BA from Barnard College and MBA from Harvard Business School.

“We’re thrilled that the Boston Business Journal has recognized Tiffany for her remarkable corporate and community leadership roles,” said John Lunny, CEO of Vestmark. “Tiffany is the embodiment of what the 40 under 40 award stands for. Her positive energy, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to Vestmark have made a tremendous impact to our workplace.”

Each year, the Boston Business Journal recognizes 40 accomplished leaders under the age of 40 who make a significant impact on Massachusetts as a result of their professional and community contributions. This year's Boston Business Journal 40 Under 40 honorees are all young and extremely talented professionals. As a group, they represent a wide variety of business industries in the for-profit, nonprofit and government sectors. As individuals, they are the definition of overachievers — each already making a significant, positive impact on Massachusetts as a result of their professional and community contributions. The 40 recipients were narrowed down from over 300 nominations and will be honored at an evening ceremony in late October.

Vestmark is the premier technology provider for comprehensive unified wealth solutions utilized by financial advisors and institutions. Vestmark provides VestmarkONE, the award-winning technology platform, to help clients gather more assets, increase operating efficiency, and minimize risk. Since 2001, the platform has grown to manage over 1.7 million accounts, representing over $550 billion in assets under management.