M&A Signals – Deals Announced Through May 6, 2026
Highlights Palo Alto Networks acquired Portkey Palo Alto Networks is a cybersecurity company focused on protecting enterprise systems. Portkey specializes in AI Gateway technology for managing AI agent interactions. The deal is meant to strengthen security for autonomous AI agents inside enterprises. Portkey’s platform will be integrated into Prisma AIRS as a centralized control plane for AI activity. Agency lens: The stated Prisma AIRS integration creates clear pro… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
Funding Signals – Activity Through May 5, 2026
Highlights Rogo raised $160M (Series D) led by Kleiner Perkins Rogo is an AI platform built for financial services. The funding will support global expansion, deeper partnerships with major financial institutions, and scaling its AI agent, Felix. More than 35,000 financial professionals across 250+ institutions already use Rogo in daily workflows. Agency lens: Expansion into more financial institutions creates a real need for sharp enterprise messaging, partner enab… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
RFPs Are Usually the End of the Story — Not the Beginning
Problem / Context Many agencies think they are early because they got invited into the RFP. But by the time an RFP becomes visible, a lot has already happened. Budget conversations have started. Internal priorities have shifted. Leadership has aligned around a problem. In some cases, agencies are already being discussed quietly behind the scenes. That means most firms are entering the process after the market has already moved. This is one of the biggest reasons modern new business feels harder than it used to. Teams are competing at the point where everyone else can see the opportunity too. The Signal One of the strongest signals in modern agency business development is organizational change. That could be: A new CMO A new product launch A funding round A merger or acquisition A shift in leadership structure Hiring activity tied to growth or transformation These moments usually happen before an agency search becomes public. We see this repeatedly across executive conversations, CMO interviews, job postings, and market announcements. The signal is not the opportunity itself. The signal is evidence that priorities may be changing. We explore this idea in more depth in our “How to Find and Win the Companies Hiring Agencies — Before the RFP” webinar, including real examples of the signals agencies should be paying attention to. Why It Matters Most agency outreach still happens without context. A generic capabilities email. A cold pitch. A random check-in. The problem is not just that buyers ignore these messages. The bigger issue is that they show no understanding of what the company is actually going through. Signals create relevance. If a company just hired a new marketing leader, there may be pressure to evaluate positioning, performance, agency relationships, customer acquisition, or internal capabilities. That does not guarantee a project. But it gives you a much smarter lens for how to show up. The Mistake Most Teams Make Most teams treat signals as permission to sell. They see a funding announcement and immediately send a pitch. They see a new CMO and rush into outbound. That approach usually fails because the timing may be wrong, the context may be incomplete, and the outreach often feels transactional. Signals are not a shortcut to sales. They are guidance. The goal is not to pounce. The goal is to better understand what may be changing inside the organization. The Smarter Move The smarter move is to use signals to guide relationship-building behavior. That could mean: Sharing relevant research Sending thoughtful commentary tied to the company’s direction Inviting leaders into a peer roundtable Connecting around an industry event Staying visible through valuable content AI can help surface these signals faster. But judgment still matters. The advantage is not simply knowing that something changed. The advantage is understanding what the change might mean. How to Use This The agencies building the strongest pipelines today are not waiting for opportunities to become obvious. They are paying attention earlier. Not to sell faster. But to understand where companies may be heading before everyone else shows up. That creates better conversations, stronger positioning, and more trust over time. Because the best business development is not built on volume. It is built on relevance, timing, and relationships.
Montgomery Central Appraisal District Web Design Opportunity for New Public-Facing Site
At a Glance Buyer: Montgomery Central Appraisal District Industry: Government/Public Sector/Property Appraisal Location/markets: Conroe, Texas Primary scope: Web design, development, and implementation for a new public-facing website Key deliverables/channels: Discovery, stakeholder interviews, sitemap, information architecture, UX/UI design, CMS development, mobile-responsive design, search functionality, content migration, ADA/WCAG compliance, security, testing, deployment… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
New York State Grown & Certified Marketing Program With $500K in Available Funding
At a Glance Buyer: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Industry: Government/Agriculture/Food and Beverage Location/markets: New York State Primary scope: Cooperative marketing and promotion funding for New York State Grown & Certified products Key deliverables/channels: Packaging updates, point-of-purchase marketing, print advertising, radio advertising, digital marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, online brochures, trade show materials Bu… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
Great Lakes Water Authority Marketing and Communications Brief
At a Glance Buyer: Great Lakes Water Authority Industry: Government/Public Utilities/Water and Wastewater Location/markets: Southeast Michigan; 8 counties; 115 drinking water communities; 83 wastewater communities Primary scope: Marketing and communication services Key deliverables/channels: Communications strategy, media relations, public relations, crisis communications, media training, stakeholder messaging, financial communications, employer-of-choice positioning Budget:… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
Texas A&M Galveston Communications Services Brief With Five-Year Term
At a Glance Buyer: Texas A&M University Galveston Industry: Higher Education/Disaster Resilience/Public Research Location/markets: Galveston, Texas; statewide Texas focus through the Institute for Disaster Resilient Texas Primary scope: Communication and rebranding services for the Institute for Disaster Resilient Texas Key deliverables/channels: Brand identity, messaging, communication strategies, outreach materials, stakeholder engagement support, reports, briefs, web … Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
University of North Florida Marketing Agency Pool — $1.5M Annual Media Spend
At a Glance Buyer: University of North Florida Industry: Higher Education Location/markets: Jacksonville, Florida; broader markets not specified Primary scope: Marketing, advertising, media buying, branding, creative, and related services Key deliverables/channels: Strategic marketing consultation, media buying, media placement, campaign monitoring, print and digital advertising, website development, writing, event support, social media management, photography, videography, video production Budget: Estimated annual media spend of approximately $1.5M per year, net of commissions or management fees Contract type/term: Qualified vendor pool with pre-negotiated rates; work assigned on an as-needed basis; no guarantee of business Key dates: Proposals due May 26, 2026 Eligibility/must-haves: Experienced agencies able to support one or more stated service areas; awarded vendors must work with UNF Marketing and Communications to maintain brand consistency; filming/shooting on campus requires approval through the UNF Standard Location Agreement Why This Could Be Interesting The University of North Florida is seeking strategic marketing, communications, media buying, branding, advertising, and creative agencies to support university needs. This solicitation will create a pool of pre-qualified agencies that UNF colleges, departments, centers, and units may use for marketing and advertising projects as needs arise. The scope is broad. Agencies may support strategy, creative production, media planning, media buying, social media, website work, writing, event support, photography, videography, and campaign development. The notable signal is the scale of potential media activity. UNF states an estimated annual media spend of approximately $1.5M, net of commissions or management fees. The vendor pool structure also creates room for multiple agencies to qualify, though inclusion does not guarantee work. Best suited for higher-ed agencies, media-buying shops, creative agencies, and integrated marketing firms that can support university brand standards across multiple departments. Proposal deadline: May 26, 2026 Download the full RFP here.
Radar Report #009 – Week of May 4, 2026
7 Accounts Showing Buying Signals Each week, the Radar Report highlights companies showing signals of potential marketing investment. These moments often lead organizations to reassess agency relationships and growth initiatives. For agencies looking for new business opportunities, Radar Report surfaces companies likely preparing to invest in marketing and brand. 7. Rockland Trust Rockland Trust appears on the Radar after hiring an external CMO with unusually deep digital banking, martech, and UX experience. Trigger Steve Gogolak joined Rockland Trust as EVP, Chief Marketing Officer in April 2026 after leading digital strategy and product management at First Citizens Bank. Why This Matters His background suggests Rockland Trust may be looking to connect brand, digital banking, customer data, and acquisition more tightly. He previously rebuilt a bank marketing organization and martech stack, then moved into digital product leadership across banking, wealth, and small business channels. Agency Opportunity Financial services brand strategy Digital banking UX Martech modernization Content marketing Customer lifecycle marketing Smart Outreach Angle Lead with insight on how regional banks can turn digital banking behavior into better customer journeys, sharper personalization, and more efficient acquisition. Company Context Rockland Trust is a Massachusetts-based bank serving consumer, business, and wealth clients. Its market position depends on local trust, digital convenience, and relationship-led banking. 6. Courier Health Courier Health appears on the Radar after raising a $50M Series B to expand its AI-driven patient experience platform for biopharma. Trigger Courier Health raised $50M in Series B funding led by Oak HC/FT, with participation from existing investors including Norwest and Work-Bench. Why This Matters The round signals growing demand for patient engagement infrastructure in life sciences. With customer and supported therapy growth up more than 400% in 2025, Courier Health is likely prioritizing platform expansion, agentic AI messaging, and stronger category education for biopharma buyers. Agency Opportunity Healthtech positioning Life sciences demand generation Patient journey strategy AI thought leadership Enterprise ABM Smart Outreach Angle Lead with insight on helping Courier Health make the case for “patient experience infrastructure” as biopharma teams look to unify data, personalize support, and improve therapy adherence. Company Context Courier Health provides CRM and patient journey software for life sciences companies. Its platform connects data, workflows, and AI agents across education, enrollment, benefits verification, therapy initiation, and adherence.
CMO Moves – Week of May 4, 2026
Highlights Gary Sun named Chief Marketing Officer at ID.me ID.me is a digital identity wallet that helps people verify their identity online. Sun joins as the company expands its network and pushes for broader adoption. The announcement points to brand growth, user adoption, and a more seamless verification experience as key priorities. Agency lens: The clearest near-term workstreams are brand strategy, adoption, product marketing, and messaging around trust, privac… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro