Seedtag

Entries Open for ADWEEK Tech Challengers 2027

ADWEEK has opened entries for its new 'Tech Challengers to Watch' awards for 2027, a program that will replace the ADWEEK Tech Stack Awards. The award seeks rising technology companies serving marketing and advertising that can demonstrate innovative solutions, client impact, and growth. Areas encouraged to apply include AI, commerce/retail media, B2B marketing, social media/creators, creative tech, performance marketing, data & analytics, measurement, and CRM/email marketing. Early-bird entry costs $175 until Sept. 18, 2026; standard entries are $275 until Oct. 23, 2026. The final submission deadline is Friday, Oct. 23, 2026; winners will be published on ADWEEK.com in January. Questions are directed to the provided Adweek contact email.

Exte opens Hamburg office to enter German market

European adtech company Exte is launching a German operation with a new office in Hamburg to develop business with advertisers, agencies and publishers. Nicolas Poppitz has been appointed Managing Director for DACH & CEE and will lead the local sales and market organisation; Tanja Grünwaldt joins as Sales Director. Exte was formed in 2023 from the merger of Spanish firms Sun Media, Rich Audience and Adpone and combines offerings across contextual targeting and ad formats including display, video, native and CTV. The Hamburg office expands Exte’s European footprint — the company says it already operates in Spain, France, Italy, the UK and Portugal, employs over 300 people from 24 nationalities, and maintains 19 locations in 15 countries. Exte states the local presence aims to grow demand- and supply-side business in the German open web market.

Five Tips for Publishers Facing the Zero Click Challenge

MEEDIA reports that publishers are losing referral traffic from Google as AI-generated summaries (AI Overviews) reduce the need for users to click through to websites. Citing a Seer Interactive study showing a 61% drop in organic CTR and a 68% drop in paid CTR for information queries with AI Overviews, Malte Gibbe (Seedtag) and Carsten Sander (BCN) outline five practical responses: (1) analyze crawl behaviour and implement Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) using server logs, (2) design content to encourage exploration, (3) combine paywalled and free content, (4) retain audiences via newsletters/logins and first‑party data, and (5) prioritise brand building so publishers appear in LLM answers. The article warns that sustained Zero Click effects could undermine precise targeting and the open ad ecosystem, while also noting publishers can use AI as a tool to develop new formats faster.