Acceleration Community of Companies (ACC)

Congratulations to our very own Monica Chun, President of ACC, for being shortlisted for the Future is Female Awards 2025 at Advertising Week New York! 🎉 This recognition celebrates trailblazing women who are shaping the future of our industry through their leadership, impact, and dedication. We couldn’t be prouder to see Monica honored alongside such an inspiring group of leaders. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/enT9-GzK

I'm very proud that our new report on Gen Alpha, a collaboration with the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism x Acceleration Community of Companies (ACC) Think Tank, serves as a landmark case study demonstrating the predictive power of synthetic audiences in market research. It is a powerful public case study of this AI-driven intelligence capability. To accurately forecast the future of a generation evolving in real-time, we looked for a dynamic approach that could provide a continuous view of their trajectory. Using Acceleration Community of Companies (ACC) Definity platform, we constructed high-fidelity "digital twins" of Gen Alpha and their parents. These are sophisticated, AI-driven models trained on personified data, cultural intelligence, and more, designed to simulate human nuance and predict reactions. The results were staggering. Our synthetic Gen Alpha model aligned with the opinions of their real-world counterparts with 96% accuracy. This breakthrough empowered us with true forecasting. We moved beyond asking what they think now to simulating how they will behave later. This capability led directly to some of the report's most powerful predictions, coming straight from our "AI Parents": - The Rise of "Human-Made": In a world saturated by AI, "AI-free" or "Made by Humans" will emerge as a new status badge, much like "hand-crafted" is today. Authenticity will be the ultimate premium. A good example: photos that will be Getty Images certified. - The (Current) Irrelevance of Legacy: Brand heritage, right now, has little influence on Gen Alpha. Our models show they are more likely to trust a product recommended by their AI assistant or seen in a stranger's TikTok than a brand their parents have used for decades. - As I'm quoted in the report, this research revealed a critical future challenge. Gamification has created a more 'level playing field,' as kids are often better than adults at using points and rewards to their advantage. This has fundamentally changed the nature of competition. With so many brands using these tactics, indirect competition is disappearing; everyone is now vying for the same limited resource: attention. The full report is a testament to this incredible team and a new way of seeing the future. Special thanks to Willow Bay and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism along with Michael Nyman, Monica Chun, Madison Grubb and more. Link: https://lnkd.in/g57RZ-bd #SyntheticAudiences #AIinMarketing #MarketResearch #Innovation #PredictiveAnalytics #DigitalTwins #GenAlpha #FutureOfMarketing #USCAnnenberg

Today marks the release of our new report, “Alpha Rising: The World’s Gateway Generation Is Already in Charge,” exploring how Gen Alpha is already shaping what families buy, watch, and try. Key insights include: • 96% influence family purchases via social or friends • 76% say their opinions shape what families buy and try • 35% already use AI for advice or personal chats The second annual report is the culmination of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism X ACC Think Tank, a months-long directed research course that brings together industry leaders at ACC with graduate students at USC Annenberg. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ennXn-5e

We're excited to welcome Cosette R., who’s joining ACC as our first-ever Creator-in-Residence.🎉 As a digital strategist and creator with 2M+ followers, Cosette will work across our agencies to bring creator-first thinking into the heart of our work, shaping trend-driven strategies, campaigns, and experiences that resonate across culture and platforms. Welcome to the ACC family! Full release here: https://lnkd.in/eDmhBUsG

Community voting is now open for SXSW 2026 and we have two panels in the running. 1. Avoiding the Product Trap: Brand-First Strategy Saves Careers Featuring CEO Michael Nyman and Adweek Commerce & Sustainability Editor Kathryn Lundstrom in a fireside chat on why building a great brand matters more than building a great product. Vote here: https://lnkd.in/eBreP9y3 2. Why 15 is the New 25: The Adultification of Childhood Gen Alpha isn’t waiting their turn, they’re running the household, curating family culture, and skipping “tween” entirely. Join ACC President Monica Chun, Adweek Editor-in-Chief Ryan Joe, TikTok influencer Cosette R., and USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Professor Matthew Le Veque for a high-energy conversation on how the youngest generation is shaping taste, spending, and rituals long before they can drive. Vote here: https://lnkd.in/e4DfVtrK Voting closes August 24! Your vote helps us bring these conversations to SXSW.

Solid conversation between our Founder & CEO Michael Nyman and Variety’s Cynthia Littleton on the Strictly Business podcast. Their discussion covers the evolution of ACC, our vision for the future and what it takes to win in today's marketing & media landscape. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gqB3EJ-G