Scale & Strategy

together with

​HubSpot​

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Thinking Machine Labs raises $2B ahead of first product reveal​
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Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati just announced a massive $2B seed round for her startup, Thinking Machine Labs AI, bringing its valuation to $12B—despite having no product in market yet. The company’s first release is expected “in the next couple of months.”

The details:

• The raise values TML at $12B, less than a year after launch.
• Murati said the first product will include a major open-source component to support researchers and startups building custom models.
• The company is working on multimodal AI, capable of natural collaboration through conversation and vision.
• According to The Information, TML’s roadmap includes custom AI models for enterprise profit optimization.

Why it matters:​
With much of the AI spotlight on OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, Murati’s Thinking Machine Labs has flown largely under the radar—until now. With $2B in the bank and top-tier investor interest, all eyes are on what the former OpenAI exec delivers in her company’s long-awaited debut.

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Google Ads shifts brand settings—and a rare ad opportunity opens up

Performance Max is evolving again—here’s what you need to know.

Brand guidelines are moving:​
Google Ads is now managing brand assets at the campaign level in Performance Max. If you’re still using the AssetGroupAsset via the API, it’s time to migrate to CampaignAsset or risk broken workflows, missing logos, and brand inconsistencies.

And heads up: in API v21, brand guidelines will be turned on by default. Migrate early to avoid the scramble.

The big shift:​
Temu and Shein have pulled back from Google Shopping. Even Amazon is dialing down its spend. But while the giants retreat, the ad market is heating up:

• Shopping clicks are up 18%
• Shopping spend surged 19%
• Performance Max now accounts for 59% of all Shopping spend and conversions in Q2

What this means for you:​
Fewer big players = lower CPCs and higher CTRs. Performance Max is outperforming standard Shopping across the board.

If you’ve been considering ramping up your ad spend, this may be your window. Less competition. Better efficiency. More room to win.

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How billion-dollar brand names actually get made, according to a naming expert​
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What makes a name unforgettable?

David Placek—the branding mastermind behind 4,000+ names—says the best names don’t feel right at first. In fact, if a name makes you uncomfortable, you’re probably onto something good.

After 40 years and collaborations with over 250 linguists, here’s what he’s learned about building names that scale with the brand:

1) The “aha” moment is a myth

Most founders wait for a lightning bolt. Don’t. We’re wired to prefer the familiar, but winning names live in the unfamiliar.

2) Your name is your first growth hack

A great name is said, searched, and shared more than anything else. It compounds. It creates asymmetric advantage from day one.

3) Letters trigger emotion

Sounds aren’t neutral—“V” feels vibrant, “B” feels trustworthy, “Z” catches attention, and “X” screams innovation. It’s not just phonetics; it’s psychology.

4) Volume = quality

You won’t find brilliance with a shortlist of 20. Start with 1,000+ options. Expect 250 to be workable. Great names are buried in the noise.

5) Use the “enemy test”

Instead of asking “Do you like it?” ask: “How would you feel if your competitor launched with this name?” That’s when honest reactions surface.

6) Compounding words are cheat codes

PowerBook. BlackBerry. Facebook. Two basic words, one unforgettable mental image. Combinations build instant depth and recall.

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​SCALE FASTER WITH HUBSPOT’S ALL-IN-ONE PLATFORM​

Struggling to align your teams, convert leads, or get clear insights from your tech stack? HubSpot brings everything under one roof — CRM, marketing, sales, service, content, and AI — so you can stop duct-taping tools together and start building real momentum.

Here’s what you get when you run on HubSpot:

✅ Unified CRM that powers every team — Sales, marketing, and support all working from one source of truth

✅ AI-powered content tools — Write emails, ads, and blogs in seconds with built-in AI assistants

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​Stop wasting time and money stitching together tools that don’t talk to each other. HubSpot gives your entire team the visibility and leverage to grow smarter.​

​Sign up and see why 194,000+ businesses trust HubSpot to scale.​

​Your growth engine starts here.​

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