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The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was delete. Liz Read! Talk! 21:38, 4 November 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Contentsquare

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Contentsquare (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) – (View log | edits since nomination)
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Fails WP:NCORP, WP:CORPDEPTH, WP:SIRS. scope_creepTalk 19:27, 28 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]

These are funding announcements, nothing at length about the company. Oaktree b (talk) 20:11, 28 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Significant funding announcements - not routine. So they technically don't fall afoul of WP:NCORP. And for the people who can't read the sources, just using the first one as an example: Wall Street Journal 1 - after the first two paragraphs, which I agree are about funding, we get this: Contentsquare’s artificial intelligence-powered technology helps clients across sectors, from Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten Group Inc. to German automaker Bayerische Motoren Werke AG , or BMW, analyze and respond to the behavior of customers on websites and mobile apps. The company analyzes some 3.2 trillion customer interactions a month to create what it calls “more human” digital experiences. “Today, the digitalization of the world is touching every industry,” Contentsquare founder and Chief Executive Jonathan Cherki said. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated consumer use of technology to interact with companies, he added. “The digital experience market’s potential is expansive and still in the early innings of adoption,” said Bo Stanley, a Sixth Street partner who is co-head of Sixth Street Growth. “We believe the best companies use times of uncertainty to build value by investing in their products and markets, and that’s what Contentsquare is doing and why we are investing.” Contentsquare’s technology focuses on customer intent rather than identity or other personal information, Mr. Cherki said. For example, the company offers clients “cookieless analytics” that zero in on the experience of their customers without attaching digital tags that let internet and advertising companies follow users. “You do not need to choose between privacy and personalization,” Mr. Cherki said. Mr. Cherki started to work on what would become Contentsquare while studying at ESSEC Business School near Paris. Founded in 2012, the company has since grown to employ around 1,500 people, including more than 400 in research and development roles, working from 17 locations worldwide. Contentsquare will use the latest cash infusion to expand both product offerings and the company’s geographic reach as well as for investments in accessibility, privacy and sustainability. Mr. Cherki sees growth opportunities through acquisitions as well. Contentsquare acquired six operations in the past three years, including last September’s purchase of Hotjar Ltd.—a provider of analytics and customer-feedback tools—to broaden its offerings for small and midsize businesses.
That's certainly not just a "routine funding announcement". And certainly not a rehashed press release. Is it possible you just read the title and jumped to conclusions? Just pointing this out since the closer may read your comments and not actually see that the source is different than how you described it. And nobody will admit they are wrong. I'm not going to respond to each comment below, but when I see someone parrot "routine funding announcement" it's clear the person didn't do WP:BEFORE and actually read the source. There's an unfortunate amount of hostility here due to the bad faith nom who I have a history with, but if any experienced business editors want to read the full text of any of the paywalled articles, email me and I'll send it to you. TimTempleton (talk) (cont) 07:07, 2 November 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment When you remove the content regurgitated from Cherki and the generic descriptions of their "artificial intelligence-powered technology" analysing "3.2 trillion" customer interactions a month, there's nothing left. There's no "Independent Content" as required by ORGIND. HighKing++ 17:38, 2 November 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • Delete - Nothing has changed in the 3 months since this was last deleted at AfD. The sources in this version of the article are different but problematic for other reasons, as 8 of the 9 references are routine funding announcements, and the 9th is churnalism based off a press release. When a company's only claim to notability is that investors have given them money, that's a dead giveaway that notability isn't there. The company claiming that they are a "multi-billion dollar international company" is not a criteria of WP:NCORP, which specifically points out that big numbers like that don't mean anything. - Aoidh (talk) 19:40, 28 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • Delete All sources are funding announcements and each appears to basically be a rehash of the other. Many, many PR sources, few if any about the company. Directory listings in Gbooks, it peters off from there. Nothing for GNG we can use. Oaktree b (talk) 20:13, 28 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Not much in French-language sources [1] five things you need to know about the company, [2] This in Forbes France talks briefly about the unicorn funding, rest are funding announcements and PR type stuff. Blogs and the like. So, one ok-ish source, one brief mention and tons of fluff, I don't think we have GNG. Oaktree b (talk) 20:20, 28 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
UTC)
Comment - Posting links to press releases that aren't even in the article and then using that to attack the sourcing is classic WP:STRAWMAN. Instead, please review the best sources I pointed out above. TimTempleton (talk) (cont) 07:13, 2 November 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment - If you did more than just cursory skimming of the titles, you would see that there’s a lot of in-depth coverage beyond funding. And don’t kid yourself. Billion dollar companies are not ”routine”. Don’t do the encyclopedia a disservice. The nom has stated in the past that he doesn’t have access to the WSJ, so we know he’s not reading the sources. The rest of you can do better. Otherwise, what’s the point? TimTempleton (talk) (cont) 08:44, 29 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
    Per WP:ORGSIG, No matter how "important" editors may personally believe an organization to be, it should not have a stand-alone article in Wikipedia unless reliable sources independent of the organization have given significant coverage to it. I regret not referencing the previous AfD in my previous comment, because NCORP and the issue of dependence on press releases was discussed. Also, via ProQuest, I can access the WSJ.
    • "Sixth Street Leads $600 Million Investment in Contentsquare; The transaction values the Paris-based customer experience analytics firm at $5.6 billion" Armental, Maria. Wall Street Journal 20 July 2022, ProQuest 2692226382. This is a 493-word article.
      • The WSJ begins: "Investment firm Sixth Street Partners led a $600 million growth investment in digital analytics company Contentsquare, which included $200 million in debt." The press release noted above begins: "Contentsquare, the global leader in digital experience analytics, announced today that it has closed a $600 million growth investment round, including $400 million in Series F equity and $200 million in debt financing"
      • The WSJ continues: "The transaction values the Paris-based company, whose legal name is Content Square, at $5.6 billion, double the $2.8 billion it reached following an investment round last year led by SoftBank Group Corp.'s Vision Fund 2." The press release states, "Since raising its Series E of $500 million in May 2021, the company’s valuation has doubled to $5.6 billion."
      • The WSJ notes other investors include "SoftBank, French national investment bank Bpifrance, Eurazeo SE, KKR & Co. and BlackRock Inc" and the press release notes Sixth Street "joins new and existing investors Bpifrance, Canaan, Eurazeo, Highland Europe, KKR, LionTree, SoftBank"
      • The WSJ includes quotes from the company's self-description, Contentsquare founder and Chief Executive Jonathan Cherki, and Bo Stanley, a Sixth Street partner who is co-head of Sixth Street Growth. The press release includes different quotes from Jonathan Cherki and Bo Stanley.
    This WSJ article is the most-frequently cited source in the article. However, per WP:CORPDEPTH, trivial or incidental coverage of a subject is not sufficient to establish notability and examples of trivial coverage include standard notices, brief announcements, and routine coverage, such as [...] a capital transaction, such as raised capital, so this source does not offer sufficient depth per the guideline to support notability.
    In addition, per WP:ORGIND, examples of dependent coverage include any material that is substantially based on such press releases even if published by independent sources (churnalism) and works in which the company, corporation, organization, or group talks about itself—whether published by itself, or re-printed by other people. If the WSJ had more than churnalism from the press release and quotes from the company, a company employee, and investor employee, i.e. greater depth and distinct independence as outlined in the guideline, we might have a discussion about how strictly to interpret the guideline when a source also includes quotes from the subject. However, this brief article lacks the depth and independence needed, per WP:ORGCRIT, to prevent gaming of the rules by marketing and public relations professionals. Beccaynr (talk) 13:44, 29 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
    Beccaynr, thank you for your detailed comments on the WSJ article. It is very helpful. Regards, MrsSnoozyTurtle 21:16, 29 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • Keep Thanks for trying to recreate this. I added Forrester's and Frost and Sullivan's analyst coverage of the company, which shows independent notability. The description of the funding as "routine" is deceptive. See the Forrester coverage naming the March 2021 funding as the largest ever for a French company. The later round was even larger. Certainly not routine. To say otherwise insults careful readers and business experts. TechnoTalk (talk) 21:38, 29 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
    The Forrester blog/advertisement ("Schedule an inquiry with us if you want to know more about the experience analytics space") discusses the "French Tech Ecosystem" and then is largely an announcement of Contentsquare plans, e.g. "Continue international expansion, by focusing on the US (already 50% of its business) and expanding more in Asia", "Accelerate product and AI innovation", "Continue M&A to enter new analytics segments", similar to what the press release dated the day before says, e.g. "Contentsquare will use the capital to further develop its platform and advance AI innovation to accelerate its market vision", "The newly secured funding will also support Contentsquare’s rapid growth and geographic expansion, M&A activities". Also, Frost & Sullivan appears to require payment for its prizes, and the eight-page report consists of:
    • a cover page
    • a page of introduction about Frost & Sullivan, its award and brief mentions of Contentsquare
    • a page about "the business advantages of digital customer journey analytics" without any mention of Contentsquare
    • a page that continues on about "the business advantages of digital customer journey analytics", then a large paragraph introducing Contentsquare, and then the beginning of a superficial 3-paragraph analysis
    • a page with the continuation of the 3-graf analysis, a brief summary of acquisitions, and the beginning of a superficial overview of key features
    • a page with more key features and a conclusion section
    • a page about the Company of the Year recognition
    • a page about Frost & Sullivan
    so the independence and depth of these sources do not appear sufficient for supporting notability. Beccaynr (talk) 22:33, 29 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
The largest funding round is certainly a WP:BIGNUMBER, but since there's 0 coverage that isn't churnalism parroting a press release or in some way non-independent, it is indeed the very definition of routine, and non-independent to boot. Throwing around claims of large funding doesn't escape the fact that this article is lacking significant coverage in third-party reliable sources, which per WP:GNG is the bare minimum required. - Aoidh (talk) 23:24, 29 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Gaslighting. All the coverage is in reliable third party sources. Lots of in-depth coverage. Largest TWO funding rounds in French tech history. Hopefully the closer will be more discriminating. I’m disappointed at the lack of business savvy editors coming to this article’s defense. This is a glaring problem with Wikipedia. TimTempleton (talk) (cont) 01:36, 31 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment Other sources in the article can be compared to the press releases listed in my first comment above:
    • ContentSquare raises $20 million to boost its global expansion plans (Tech.eu 18 Oct 2016) begins: "Paris-based ContentSquare, a web and mobile optimisation platform, has raised $20 million in a Series B round from Highland Europe." The press release dated 18 Oct 2016 begins: "ContentSquare, an experience optimization platform for online and mobile businesses, announces today the completion of $20 million in Series B funding. The capital investment by Highland Europe will support ContentSquare’s global expansion and attract new talent to advance the company’s vision." Tech.eu continues: "The fresh round of funding will be used for ContentSquare’s global expansion as well as hiring new talent" and quotes founder and CEO Jonathan Cherki as well as Tony Zappala, Highland Europe, for exact quotes from the press release.
    • Contentsquare, the digital experience insights platform, raises $60M Series C (Techcrunch, Jan. 28, 2019) begins: "Contentsquare, the cloud-based software that helps businesses understand how and why users are interacting with their app, mobile and web sites, has raised $60 million in further funding."
      • The press release dated Jan 28, 2019 begins: "Contentsquare, a fully-automated SaaS digital experience insights platform that drives leading global enterprises to improve engagement and revenue, announced today that it has raised a $60 million Series C funding round led by Eurazeo".
      • Techcrunch: "Leading the Series C round is global investment company Eurazeo." [...] "the company has released two new solutions for customers: CS Live and AI Alerts, which deliver customer experience information in real time. CS Live provides Contentsquare’s clients with a way to immediately identify consumer metrics on their websites without the need for a dashboard."
      • Press release: "two new solutions for customers, CS Live and AI Alerts, which deliver customer experience information in real-time. CS Live has provided Contentsquare's clients with a unique way to immediately identify consumer metrics, on their website with no need for any dashboard."
      • Techcrunch: "Its customers include Walmart, Samsung, Sephora, Tiffany, LVMH, AccorHotels, Goldman Sachs, Avis, GoPro, Ikea, Nissan and others."
      • Press release: "Contentsquare works with a roster of top companies in retail, luxury, travel, hospitality, automotive, finance insurance space, including the global major brands like Walmart, Samsung, Sephora, Tiffany, LVMH, Accorhotels, Avis, BNP Paribas, GoPro, Ikea, Nissan, and more."
      • Techcrunch also appears to be quoting from Contentsquare's self-description in its report.
    • Contentsquare puts the four corners around $600 million at $5.6 billion valuation (Tech.eu, 21 July 2022) begins: "Parisian customer experience platform Contentsquare has raised $400 million in a Series F financing round that is complemented by $200 million in debt financing. With the company now valued at $5.6 billion, this brings the firm's total funding raised to $1.4 billion." The press release dated 21 July 2022 begins: "Contentsquare, the global leader in digital experience analytics, announced today that it has closed a $600 million growth investment round, including $400 million in Series F equity and $200 million in debt financing, bringing total funding to $1.4 billion" and states "Since raising its Series E of $500 million in May 2021, the company’s valuation has doubled to $5.6 billion." This Tech.eu post includes a direct quote from Bo Stanley that appears in the press release, a link to ContentSquare's blog, "According to the firm", "The startup reports", and "The company reports" information, as well as other churnalism from the press release.
  • Also, this: Contentsquare closes a mammoth $600M round as customers clamor for digital analytics (Techcrunch, July 20, 2022) contains substantial quotes from CEO Cherki from an email interview and "the company today announced", "according to Cherki", "He says", "Cherki says" forming most of the article.
  • And this: Over half of Aussie customers leave a website after page one (IT Brief Australia, 30 Mar 2022) has quotes from Cherki about a ContentSquare report, some information from the report, and a quote from Albert Nel, senior VP at ContentSquare, without analysis or commentary from the writer of the post.
These sources are also not sufficiently in-depth nor independent to support this article, which should be excluded as WP:PROMO based on the available sources. Beccaynr (talk) 02:23, 31 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment I have emailed functionaries about concerns regarding undisclosed paid editing and sockpuppetry in this AFD. It would be helpful if it could be kept open until they have been able to investigate. SmartSE (talk) 18:17, 31 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
    • Note As I suspected, TechnoTalk has been confirmed as a sock of Timtempleton and they have both been indeffed: [4] [5]. It is reasonable to assume that they are also undisclosed paid editors, although we cannot be sure. SmartSE (talk) 11:49, 2 November 2022 (UTC)[reply]
The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.
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