Welcome to The Refresh, your weekly download of what actually matters in advertising. Brought to you by Marketecture Media and written by AdTechGod. Every Thursday, we bring you the latest news, commentary, and memes that speak the truth about this industry. If it's happening in AdTech, media, or marketing and it’s interesting, it’ll be here.
The Ad Industry Is Dumping Younger Workers (Adweek)
The Walt Disney Company, Grammarly and Intuit Mailchimp are 2025 Digiday Technology Awards winners (Digiday)
The Guardrails Are Down: It’s Time For Advertisers To Rethink Social Targeting (AdExchanger)
Chip race: Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Nvidia battle it out for AI chip supremacy (The Verge)
X’s automated ad vision left advertisers underwhelmed (Digiday)
Martin Sorrell’s S4 Capital in takeover talks with ad agency MSQ Partners (Financial Times)
Stacy Bohrer is bringing agencies to new ad tech deals with OpenX (Ad Age)
Publishing, AI, and the Business of Lifestyle Media with Rachael Savage
Rachael Savage, Senior Vice President of Ad Revenue Operations at Hearst Magazines, shares her extensive background in the publishing industry, discussing her journey from early experiences at computer camp to her current role overseeing revenue operations for various media brands.
Annalect’s Keith Roberson on AI Tools, Myths, and Management
Keith Roberson, Chief Innovation Officer at Annalect, discusses how AI is becoming central to data-led strategies and workflow efficiency. He covers the tools his team uses, common misconceptions about AI in agencies, and how it can drive cost savings and better outcomes through improved data management and strategic experimentation.
LG Ads Co-Founder Sues Kroll Over Alleged $100M Undervaluation Favoring LG Electronics
Alphonso co-founder Lampros Kalampoukas is suing Kroll, claiming the firm intentionally undervalued Alphonso (now LG Ads) by nearly $100 million to help LG Electronics buy out minority shareholders on the cheap. Filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, the suit alleges Kroll excluded key cash reserves, slashing share prices by $10. This follows earlier court wins by Alphonso’s founders over LGE’s alleged attempts to oust them and derail IPO plans. Kalampoukas seeks damages and a proper valuation. Meanwhile, LG Ads is pressing ahead with its IPO, with RBC Capital Markets set to lead the offering.
AdTech Earnings Climb, but Stocks Slip on Cautious Outlook
AppLovin and The Trade Desk both reported strong Q2 results, with revenues rising 77% and 19% year-over-year. However, their share prices fell, with The Trade Desk dropping 30% and AppLovin falling 7%, as analysts said the growth guidance lacked momentum. Independent ad tech companies are looking to capitalize on Google’s antitrust challenges, and The Trade Desk CEO Jeff Green pointed to growing opportunities in the premium open internet compared to closed platforms.
Other public ad tech firms also showed steady growth despite controversies and short-seller pressure. Zeta Global’s earnings rose 35%, DoubleVerify and IAS both posted double-digit gains despite brand safety concerns, and LiveRamp grew 11%. MNTN, a recent market entrant, reported a 35% revenue increase. The numbers show strong fundamentals, but investors remain cautious about near-term expectations.
On that note… Jeff Green is joining Ari Paparo on the Marketecture Podcast!!
Magnite Signals Possible Legal Action Against Google as Antitrust Trial Nears Remedies Phase
Magnite might join others in suing Google as its federal antitrust trial enters the remedies phase next month. CEO Michael Barrett said the company sees “a lot of merit” in potential claims targeting Google’s ad server and SSP practices. Similar suits from Gannett and OpenX accuse Google of tying AdX demand to its ad server, manipulating auctions, and stifling competition. A favorable court ruling could curb Google’s dominance and create new opportunities for rivals like Magnite.
Perplexity AI Makes $34.5B Offer for Google Chrome Amid Antitrust Fallout
This $34.5 billion Chrome bid from Perplexity has some people wondering if it’s less about actually buying the browser and more about making headlines. It’s not the first time the startup has made a splashy, high-profile offer. (Remember the TikTok proposal earlier this year that never materialized?)
Whether or not there’s real intent, the move puts Perplexity squarely in the center of the news cycle, getting them in front of millions of people without spending a dime on traditional advertising. It’s a bold way to keep their name in the AI conversation, but the real question is: Are they playing for ownership, or just the attention that comes with asking?
The AdTechGod and MadConnect Party Is Back!
We’re bringing the magic back with our Madison Ave Returns party. Join us on Oct. 6, 2025, at the Virgin Hotel in New York City.
Marketecture Live is back - Oct. 27 in NYC.
Last year sold out fast. “The Age of Outcomes” will be a full day on what actually drives advertising performance: accountability, measurement, and real talk.
Speakers include Dr. Mark Grether (PayPal), Olivia Kory (Haus), Eric Seufert (Heracles Capital), Lauren Wetzel (InfoSum), and more.
We don’t do panels. We focus on sharp content. We are also bringing back the AI Startup Showcase, and we’ll be recording Marketecture Live on stage.
🎟 Early bird pricing ends Sept. 2!
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