Aivanta Announces Acquisition of FPT Media, Parent Company of Brand Storytelling and Elevate Conferences

New York, NY — January 6th, 2026 — Aivanta, the AI-first experiential media and technology holding company, today announced its acquisition of FPT Media, the organization behind the renowned Brand Storytelling and Elevate conferences. The acquisition marks a significant milestone in Aivanta’s mission to build a next-generation global platform at the intersection of media, marketing, creativity, and AI-driven innovation.

For more than a decade, Brand Storytelling—held annually during the Sundance Film Festival—has established itself as the largest brand-funded content event in North America, convening leading marketers, creators, publishers, platforms, and storytellers. Founded by industry leaders Rick Parkhill and Mike Pubentz, the organization has been instrumental in defining brand-funded content as a transformative force in modern advertising.

Parkhill reflected on the milestone, stating, “Over the last ten years, Brand Storytelling has built a community we’re incredibly proud of—bringing together some of the most influential brands and creative leaders in the world. It has been a privilege to help shape the future of brand-funded content, and we couldn’t be more excited to see the organization move forward in such great hands. Aivanta’s vision ensures this platform will continue to grow, evolve, and lead the industry into its next chapter.”

Co-founder Mike Pubentz echoed the sentiment, adding, “When we started Brand Storytelling, we believed brand-funded content would become a significant force in the future of media ad marketing—and that belief has only grown stronger. After a decade of remarkable events and community building, we’re thrilled that Aivanta is carrying the torch. Donnovan brings a powerful combination of strategic vision, technology expertise, and deep industry relationships that will take the platform to entirely new heights.”

Aivanta was built for this moment of global reassembly—when media, marketing, entertainment, and technology are being rewritten by the collision of creators, platforms, and artificial intelligence. More than a conference producer or brand-funded content platform, Aivanta is a next-generation holding company designed to scale experiences, communities, and intelligence across multiple sectors and formats. Structured as AI-first by architecture—not branding—Aivanta embeds human-centric AI across the organization to accelerate decision-making, deepen personalization, expand operational efficiency, and unlock new creative and commercial possibilities. This approach enables Aivanta to evolve beyond any single category, building a connected ecosystem where events, content, research, and innovation programs continuously learn, adapt, and compound value over time.

With this acquisition, Aivanta will integrate Brand Storytelling and Elevate into a broader, AI-powered global events and content ecosystem. The company plans to extend the Brand Storytelling platform across new U.S. markets and international regions, while deploying technology to modernize operations, expand programming, and deliver deeper intelligence to partners and attendees.

AIVANTA Founder & CEO, Donnovan Andrews, underscored the vision ahead:

“Brand Storytelling is a rare platform—trusted, respected, and beloved by the world’s leading marketers. We’re honored to carry forward the legacy built by Rick and Mike. Aivanta will leverage advanced technology, human-centric AI, and operational excellence to bring new efficiency, scale, and innovation to the Brand Storytelling and Elevate properties. We will expand these events in the U.S. and internationally, transforming them into a year-round global ecosystem for brands, creators, and the future of content.”

The acquisition accelerates Aivanta’s development of a globally connected suite of experiences—spanning conferences, salons, content series, award programs, and industry research—supported by the company’s proprietary AI technologies.

About Brand Storytelling & Elevate

Brand Storytelling is the premier gathering dedicated to brand-funded content, engaging senior marketers, creators, studios, and platforms each January. Elevate, its companion summer/fall gathering, provides immersive learning, workshops, and connection around the evolution of storytelling, media, and brand-supported creativity.

About Aivanta

Aivanta is an AI-first experiential media and technology holding company building the next generation of conferences, content platforms, and strategic intelligence tools. With a mission to empower creativity and commerce through human-centric AI, Aivanta develops global experiences at the intersection of marketing, technology, entertainment, and innovation.

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