Four killer conversion rate optimization musts for 2016

The gaming industry has gone through dramatic changes in the last 10 years, but there are four trends that are likely to change things even further: the increased power of mobile gaming, the integration of AR in real-world environments, the growth of streaming audiences eclipsing player growth and 5G networks.

In this session, we’ll take a look at the history of gaming and the trends, products and moments that have driven the industry forward to this point. We’ll then look at how these four trends, supported by AI and data, are likely to impact the future of gaming.

Registration is free.

What this webinar will cover:
*A historical look at gaming revenue and the impact of mobile networks
*Analysis of gaming demographic shifts, and what could happen when “peak millennial hits peak gamer”
*Inside data on esports, streaming audience growth, and what we can learn from “stick and ball” revenue models
*Predictions on the next generation of gaming experiences, and when these trends will converge and disrupt the industry

Speakers:
*Marc Cook, Solution Account Director, Treasure Data
*Nick Thomas, VP Commercial Partnerships, Hatch
*Bryan Fries, VP 5G Strategy, Sprint
*Dean Takahashi, Lead Writer, GamesBeat

The quality of your sales force has a direct, accumulating, impact on your business as you grow – and building it from the ground up is the way you turn your business into a world-class sales organization. But it's not just about how many clients you're speaking to or closing, but how many clients feel like your sales team partners with them as true advisors.

Join this VB Live event to learn the essential strategies and key best practices for small and mid-sized companies to not just keep up with your competition but pull ahead.

Register for free now!

Attend this webinar and learn:
* How to effectively hire and train a top sales force
* What the smartest sales quotas look like, and how to set them
* How to create and implement business management systems
* What motivates sales teams, and how to take advantage
* What an effective sales culture looks like and how to build one

Speakers:
* Burt Powers, Senior Director of Dell Small Business Sales
* Stewart Rogers, Analyst At Large, VentureBeat

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries, products, and core capabilities by delivering dramatically enhanced experiences. However, the deep neural networks of today are growing quickly in size and use too much memory, compute, and energy. Plus, to make AI truly ubiquitous, it needs to run on the end device within a tight power and thermal budget.

Fundamental research, in AI as well as applying that research, is required to advance AI further and speed up adoption. In this webinar, we’ll discuss:

* Several research topics across the entire spectrum of AI, such as generalized CNNs and deep generative models
* AI model optimization research for power efficiency, including compression, quantization, and compilation
* Advances in AI research to make AI ubiquitous

Speakers:

* Jilei Hou, Sr. Director, Engineering, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
* Jack Gold, Principal Analyst, J.Gold Associates, LLC.

Bad AI isn't a tech problem, it's a human problem.

When you add AI-powered customer service technology to your customer experience (CX) mix, you expect real results, and for good reason: A recent study found that companies that embrace AI to improve customer experience have higher customer satisfaction scores and generate more revenue than their underperforming competition.

But what happens when your expectations aren't met? Is the technology to blame? Your significant investment in AI technology doesn’t guarantee a positive return. To be successful, your organization has to be ready, and everyone from the C-suite to the contact center has to be on board.

Join this VB Live webinar to learn about the five biggest mistakes companies make when they bring cutting-edge customer service technology to their workflows, and how to leap over these pitfalls and into real results.

Register now for free!

You'll learn about:

* What AI actually is (hint: it’s not automation)
* The importance of buy-in from executives and agents
* How to approach AI implementation and measure success
* The impact of AI across the customer journey

Speakers:

* Akhil Talwar, Senior Product Lead, Bold360 by LogMeIn
* Michael Butler, Head of Customer Success, Ople

More speakers coming soon!

Social networks today are undergoing a massive paradigm shift when it comes to content moderation. From tragic shootings broadcast live on Facebook, to YouTube removing comments on children's videos due to child predator concerns, social platforms are under fire from users, governments, and law enforcement to adopt better technology and strengthen their content moderation practices.

It’s not all bad news. Business leaders have also realized that accurate, efficient moderation, coupled with positive reinforcement, can increase user retention and encourage growth.

But who is responsible for enforcing these policies and practices? How did hate speech, abuse, and extremism become the "cost of being online"? And how can like-minded businesses band together to raise the bar and make their social platforms engaging, safe for all users, and ultimately, more profitable?

Join Two Hat CEO and founder Chris Priebe and veteran analyst and market influencer Brian Solis for an insightful talk about the changing landscape of online conversations and the role of content moderation. Social abuse and objectionable materials need no longer be the price of admission.

Register today for this free event!

You’ll learn:

* How to start a dialogue in your organization around protecting your audience without imposing on free speech
* The business benefits of joining the growing movement to "raise the bar"
* Practical tips and content moderation strategies from industry veterans
* Why Two Hat’s blend of AI+HI (artificial intelligence + human interaction) is the first step towards solving today’s content moderation challenges

Speakers:

* Brian Solis, Principal Digital Analyst at Altimeter, author of "Lifescale"
* Chris Priebe, CEO & founder of Two Hat Security
* Stewart Rogers, VentureBeat

Every founder starts with a big idea, but only 1 out of 10 see their idea succeed. So what’s the difference between the fintech startups that get off the ground and those that don’t make it out of the gate? What are the secrets of the startups that disrupt entire industries? This is your chance to find out how founders and VCs look at creating successful startups first-hand.

Our panel of industry experts will cover a range of topics, from getting started building your team, to the importance of finding an impactful mentor, and more. They’ll also answer questions from future startup founders in a Q&A. It’s everything you need to travel the path from big idea to successful startup.

Register for the webinar to discover:

• What successful fintech startups have in common
• The differences between being a solopreneur vs. being a co-founder
• Tips for finding and growing your dream team
• How to go from killer idea to disruptive startup


Speakers:

• Evan Schuman, Moderator, VB
• Jeff Cain, Senior Director, Envestnet | Yodlee Incubator, Envestnet | Yodlee
• Pierre Wolff, SVP Business Development, InCountry
• Ken Kruszka, CEO, SnapCheck
• Kathleen Utecht, Managing Partner, Core Innovation Capital

AI is moving beyond just the cloud. With powerful AI algorithms enabled on devices from smartphones to consumer machines, automobiles, robots, and more, we're unlocking a world of intelligent, connected devices that can perceive, reason, and take intuitive actions based on awareness of the situation.

On-device AI offers immediate response, enhanced reliability, increased privacy, and efficient use of network bandwidth, and supports everything from superhuman computer vision and natural language processing, to wireless connectivity, power management, photography, and more.

The applications that on-device AI is enabling are capturing consumer attention. And it's igniting real demand for better voice assistants, more powerful camera features, smarter cars, and more.

The opportunities for always-on, intelligent devices that do all or most of their thinking on the device are enormous. To learn more about this innovative emerging technology that's already at the fingertips of developers, OEMs, and ISVs, don't miss this VB Live event.

Registration is free!


You'll learn:

* How AI-powered smartphone apps are igniting the consumer imagination – and why
* How on-device AI is changing the future of connected devices
* How developers, OEMs, and ISVs can take advantage of on-device AI processing
* The technology you need to drive the best performance of on-device AI


Speakers:

*Gary Brotman, Sr. Director Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies
*Anshel Sag, Moor Insights & Strategy

Customers choose to work with you not just based on what you deliver, but how you deliver it. Traditionally the big guys have had the advantage in resources and personnel. But with the digitization of customer communications, sales processes, and customer service, small and medium-size companies can now do more than catch up -- they can compete.

Affordable, accessible business technology is at your fingertips, and it can help you manage prospect and customer relationships in a way that feels personalized, accelerate business workflows and processes, and not just meet but exceed customer expectations while you boost your sales growth.

To learn more about how technology is transforming the way SMBs do business, and how to launch the strategy that ensures your company maintains competitive advantage, don’t miss this VB Live event!


Register here for free.


Webinar attendees will learn:

* How to deliver success across the entire customer lifecycle from lead to retention
* How to configure, price, and quote complex deals, fast and efficiently
* How to accelerate business by closing deals with instant sign-offs on agreements
* How customer-focused organizations win business with personalized experiences


Speakers:

* Katie Foote, Vice President, Demand Generation for Small Business, Salesforce
* Dave Simon, Vice President, Small Business Sales, DocuSign

Sponsored by DocuSign

The competition is coming. By 2020, eighty percent of SaaS players will move to a subscription-based model, which means your success strategies have to evolve — and that includes the all-important fundamental: how your subscriptions are structured.

Your subscription pricing and plan structure have a profound impact on subscriber acquisition and retention, and once you nail the formula, you'll see revenue increase. Do you choose an annual or monthly plan? Offer a trial or discounts?

This is where a test plan is critical. Combined with benchmark data, you can test and iterate your way to the right pricing and plan structure. And when important decisions are backed by comprehensive benchmark data, you’re far more likely to see an increase in adoption and revenue.

Join this VB Live event to discover essential SaaS benchmarks and best practices to maximize revenue, improve acquisition, and spur adoption.

Registration is free!

Attendees will learn:

* Important SaaS benchmarks by industry segment
* How to structure your SaaS subscription plans and pricing to maximize revenue and retention
* How successful SaaS companies use a test, learn, and iterate framework to optimize revenue
* The key metrics — and reports — to monitor for success and maximum LTV
* The results of an in-depth case study on SaaS testing and pricing

Speakers:
*Panelist: Emma Clark, Chief of Staff, Recurly
*Moderator/Analyst: Sean Joyce, Recurring Revenue Technologies, Navint

Cyber threats continually evolve, growing more sophisticated and aggressive, regularly overwhelming and bypassing traditional security solutions. With AI-powered software trained on large datasets of cybersecurity, network, and even physical information, cybersecurity solutions are increasingly able to detect and block abnormal behavior, even without a known signature or pattern.

Adding AI into the mix is a major turning point for cybersecurity. It’s growing clear that artificial intelligence and machine learning is the safest, and perhaps the only, path for cybersecurity professionals to really lock down their data and protect the enterprise. These systems offer the fastest, smartest ways to identify and analyze threats in real time -- and find the quickest way to taking them down.

To learn more about how to improve privacy and security, and how new AI-powered security can protect companies and their customers better, don’t miss this VB Live event!

Registration is free.

Attend this webinar and learn:

* How AI is defeating and preventing cyberattacks
* When AI analytics need to be deployed and for what reason
* How to build AI-powered tools that can assure consumers their data is secure
* Real-world AI applications and what they mean for cybersecurity

Speakers:

* Fernando Maymi, Cybersecurity Researcher & Consultant, Moderator
* Jim Ducharme, VP, Identity Products, RSA.
* Eduardo Delgado, AVP, ORM, Cybersecurity, TD

User experience is swiftly overtaking price as the most important competitive differentiator. That means wowing your customers at every point of interaction and engagement. And lately, new approaches fueled by AI and significant data produced by cross-platform experiences are putting UX under a new kind of microscope and helping to drive positive results. When harnessed correctly, AI really just means ultimate personalization. And this can reward you with loyalty, affinity, and word of mouth.

User experience design (UX) isn’t a guessing game anymore. Artificial intelligence is your superpower, and machine learning your secret weapon. AI helps you personalize the customer journey at every step dynamically, crafting unique, individual experiences that learn along the way, making them more relevant, more engaging, and more delightful.

To learn more about why AI should be the foundation of all your user experience design, and where to start, don’t miss this VB Live event!

Register here for free.

Attend this webinar and learn about:
* How AI supercharges the relevancy, elegance, and engagement of modern design.
* The ways well-known brands are creating intuitive apps with powerful UX supported by AI
* The relationship between effective design and a strong ROI
* Real-world successes and failures in AI-driven design

Speakers:
* Steph Hay, VP, Conversational AI Design & Integrated Experiences, Capital One
* David Parmenter, Director of Engineering & Data, Adobe Document Cloud

By 2020, 90 percent of businesses will have moved to a hybrid cloud infrastructure, seizing both the competitive advantages of digital evolution -- and the economic and strategic benefits of maintaining legacy applications on premises. But once your data moves outside your private architecture, you're facing a new world of potential attacks and security breaches that your current security practices just can't match.

Just for starters, not only will you need to implement effective RBAC to lower risk of unauthorized access and enforce mandatory multi-factor authentication, you'll also have to tap into the power of automation to validate security compliance baselines, detect unauthorized cloud config changes, and power self-healing infrastructure. Additionally, application-centric security is a must, with real-time visibility into application dependencies and performance metrics, plus an automatic micro-segmented security policy enforcement, and more.

To learn more about the advantages of hybrid cloud architectures, where your security needs shoring up, and how to best protect your enterprise and data with automated and application-centric security practices, don't miss this VB Live event!

Register for free now.

You'll learn:
*Why you need a single, fully tested, security-first infrastructure platform
*How to converge storage, computing, and networking
*A full understanding of security best practices
*How to protect against data breaches, unauthorized access, and other threats in a multi-cloud world

Speakers:
Mike Wronski, Principal Marketing Manager, Nutanix
Niel Ashworth, Security Solutions Architect, Nutanix
Demetrius Comes, VP of Engineering, GoDaddy

Sponsored by Nutanix

IT leaders look to technology as a business differentiator and rely on it to foster innovation. Enterprises have discovered that hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) can be the foundation of a modern, cloud-like datacenter. But don’t stop there — going beyond HCI delivers more savings, increases IT agility, and supports multi-cloud goals when you add virtualization as an integral part of your stack.

How do you harness the power of HCI and virtualization? Sure, there are a wide variety of tools on the market, but choosing the wrong HCI platform could limit your options in how you operate your datacenter or could impede cloud goals — including those associated with virtualization.

To learn more about the power of HCI and virtualization, how virtualization can remove complexity and increase efficiency, and how to choose the right HCI tool, don’t miss this VB live event!

Registration is free.

Attend and learn:
* How virtualization platform options on the market compare
* Why to consider changing virtualization solutions
* How to choose the right virtualization solution
* How to save thousands in virtualization licensing costs

Speakers:
* Bhavani Yellapragada, AVP of DevOps, Nasdaq
* Mike Wronski, Principal Marketing Manager, Nutanix
* Stewart Rogers, Analyst-at-Large, VentureBeat
* Dilan Yuksel, Host, VentureBeat

Sponsored by Nutanix