LiveRamp vs Ramp

Neutrality has two tests, but vendors keep answering the easy one

Erin Lutenski, Head of Marketing at Decentriq, discusses the industry's conflation of two distinct neutrality questions following data platform acquisitions. The first question concerns data exposure, which technical measures like encryption and trusted execution environments can address. The second, harder question concerns incentives: who decides product roadmaps, measurement standards, and partner integrations, and whether a parent company's commercial interests will compromise the platform's neutrality. Using LiveRamp's acquisition by Publicis and the earlier case of Acxiom's acquisition by IPG, Lutenski argues that vendors often provide technical reassurances that do not resolve the underlying incentive concerns. She contends that governance policies are reversible and architecture alone cannot ensure neutrality. The article concludes by urging stakeholders to identify which question a neutrality statement actually answers.

• LiveRamp filed neutrality commitments with the SEC ahead of its acquisition by Publicis.
• Publicis is acquiring LiveRamp.
• LiveRamp was formed in 2018 after Acxiom split and IPG acquired Acxiom Marketing Solutions.

Ramp is now live in the UK

Ramp announces its expansion into the UK market, marking a significant international growth milestone.

Ramp Launches in UK, Launches AI Token Spend Platform

US expense management startup Ramp has launched in the UK, its first market outside North America, following its acquisition of Swedish payments firm Billhop. Ramp, which competes with Brex, offers a unified platform for payments, corporate cards, vendor management, and automated bookkeeping. The company has onboarded UK customers since the summer, including ElevenLabs and Attio, and is highlighting its AI token spend intelligence tools. Ramp reports AI spending among its customers has grown 21 times since June 2025. It also announced a collaboration with Visa to support its UK corporate card offering.

• Ramp launched in the UK, its first market outside North America.
• Ramp acquired Swedish payment infrastructure firm Billhop earlier this year.
• Ramp raised $750 million at a valuation of $44 billion in June 2026.

Khosla Ventures Opens First New York Office on 14th Street

Khosla Ventures, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm, is expanding to New York with its first office outside Sand Hill Road. The new outpost on 14th Street is expected to open this fall, according to partner Keith Rabois. The office will house several investors and feature an 'executive briefing center' where portfolio companies can meet with Fortune 500 companies. Rabois discussed talent density in New York, noting strong junior talent but challenges in hiring senior executives due to commuting. The move follows his relocation to the East Coast and comes as a CBRE report shows New York overtaking the Bay Area in tech talent headcount.

• Khosla Ventures is opening its first office outside Sand Hill Road in New York on 14th Street, expected this fall.
• The office will include an 'executive briefing center' for portfolio companies to meet with Fortune 500 companies.
• Keith Rabois confirmed the opening at TechCrunch's StrictlyVC event in New York.