‘Aura’ named Word of the Year after generating 31.9B impressions and showcasing how social moments reshape culture and languageCHICAGO, Dec. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sprout Social (Nasdaq: SPT), an industry-leading provider of social media management and analytics software, today released its first-ever Social Media Dictionary, a comprehensive analysis of the words, phrases and viral movements that shaped global culture in 2025. Drawing on a year of cross-platform conversations, Sprout’s analysis shows ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sprout Social reported revenue of $115.6 million for Q3 2025, reflecting a 13% year-over-year growth and a non-GAAP operating margin expansion of nearly 460 basis points to a record high of 11.9% [5][24] - Remaining performance obligations (RPO) grew 17% year-over-year to $258.5 million, indicating strong demand and execution [5][26] - Non-GAAP operating income totaled $13.7 million, up from $7.5 million a year ago, marking a significant increase in profitability [24][26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Subscription revenue reached $114.7 million, also up 13% year-over-year, with the number of customers contributing more than $50,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR) growing by 21% [25] - The $50,000-plus ARR customer segment is now approaching 2,000 customers, accounting for nearly half of total revenue [6][7] - The company launched several new features, including AI-powered translation and integrations with Canva and Adobe Express, enhancing its service offerings [16][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced strong go-to-market momentum with the acquisition of NewsWeb, generating more pipeline than any new product in its history [14] - Strategic wins included partnerships with major global brands, indicating a strong market presence and customer commitment [6][14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Sprout Social is focusing on enhancing its capabilities to serve larger customers while refining its approach to smaller accounts [7] - The company is rolling out a long-term AI strategy, anticipating significant product expansion in Q4 2025 [8][11] - The integration of NewsWeb is expected to create new pipelines and increase deal sizes, demonstrating the effectiveness of the company's social intelligence strategy [14][15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate the macro environment and highlighted the strong demand trends observed in Q3 [6][8] - The leadership emphasized the importance of social data and AI in shaping future business strategies, positioning Sprout Social as a leader in the next era of business software [10][11] Other Important Information - The company achieved a 19% automated resolution rate and a 65% reduction in time spent in the help center, showcasing improvements in customer support efficiency [21] - Sprout Social was named a preferred partner in Reddit's official data partner program, enhancing its standing in the social technology landscape [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the company view its revenue growth and market momentum? - Management acknowledged the stable revenue growth and highlighted the progress in moving upmarket, with a focus on larger deals and customer segments [30] Question: What factors contributed to the increase in profitability this quarter? - Management attributed the profitability increase to revenue overperformance, improved efficiency, and strategic hiring [32]

Company's Origin and Mission - The company was founded on February 20, 2021, with a mission to support entrepreneurs, specifically micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) [1] - The company's mission is to support entrepreneurs who are struggling, addressing the gap in support for MSMEs who may not be able to afford larger consulting firms or find adequate solutions from junior consultants [1] Market Focus and Impact - The company focuses on the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector in India, which accounts for 14 million (1.4%) registered organizations and contributes 30% to the country's GDP [1] - The company aims to create a supportive ecosystem for MSME business owners, addressing their specific needs and challenges [1] Growth and Development - Starting with a team of two members and two clients, the company has grown to serve 80 clients with a team of 30 people who have experience from Fortune 500 companies [1] - The company has expanded its reach beyond India, including Thailand, Dubai, and Malaysia [1] Core Business Pillars - The company operates on three core pillars: People, Process, and Technology, focusing on addressing gaps in each area [1] - The company emphasizes the importance of intelligence, including social, market, and emotional intelligence, in developing solutions for clients [1] Societal Impact and Vision - The company aims to create a positive impact on society by supporting MSMEs, which in turn contributes to job creation and economic growth [2][3] - The company encourages individuals to support small business owners and contribute to their dreams, emphasizing that collective effort can lead to significant societal upliftment [2][3] Achievements and Recognition - The company has created a world record by supporting more than 70 thousand (70,000+) entrepreneurs and impacting 1 million lives [1]

Core Insights - The article discusses a recent competition organized by Foaster Labs, where seven large language models (LLMs) participated in a controlled game of Werewolf to evaluate their social intelligence and strategic capabilities [1][2][4]. Group 1: Model Performance - GPT-5 demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving an ELO rating of 1492 with a win rate of 96.7%, significantly outperforming other models [3][5]. - Gemini 2.5 Pro and Gemini 2.5 Flash followed with ELO ratings of 1261 and 1188, respectively, but their win rates were considerably lower at 63.3% and 51.7% [3][5]. - The performance of open-source models like GPT-OSS-120B was notably poor, with an ELO of 980 and a win rate of only 15.0% [3][5]. Group 2: Social Intelligence Evaluation - The Werewolf game was chosen as it effectively measures social intelligence, including the ability to engage in multi-agent games, adapt in real-time, and strategize under uncertainty [6][26]. - GPT-5's ability to control the game was highlighted, as it consistently led the outcomes whether playing as a villager or a wolf, showcasing its superior strategic capabilities [4][9][15]. Group 3: Key Findings - Three major findings emerged from the competition: 1. GPT-5's dominance was evident as it consistently outperformed all opponents, leading to significant drops in the win rates of other models when it played as a wolf [15][19]. 2. Kimi-K2 showed moderate performance, capable of overcoming mid-tier villagers but struggled against top-tier models like GPT-5 [15][19]. 3. The models exhibited distinct strengths based on their roles, with Gemini 2.5 Pro performing better as a villager than as a wolf [15][19]. Group 4: Control and Manipulation Metrics - GPT-5 achieved a manipulation success rate of approximately 93% on both the first and second days of gameplay, indicating its strong control over the game dynamics [19][20]. - The self-destruction rate for GPT-5 was recorded at 0%, meaning it never misidentified its own team's roles, while GPT-OSS-120B had a high misidentification rate [20][22]. - GPT-5 also had a 100% success rate in identifying wolves on the first day, showcasing its exceptional ability to discern hidden threats [22][24]. Group 5: Model Evolution and Capabilities - The study found that model capabilities evolve non-linearly, with significant jumps in performance once certain thresholds are crossed, particularly in relation to model size and training quality [24][26]. - Smaller models tend to mimic larger models but fail to grasp the underlying strategies, leading to inconsistent performance [24][26]. - The research emphasizes that social intelligence is crucial for AI agents transitioning from tools to collaborative partners in various tasks [26][27].

Core Insights - Sprout Social has introduced new features and partnerships aimed at enhancing brand engagement in the Social Intelligence era, focusing on platforms like TikTok and Bluesky for customer interaction and sentiment analysis [1][2][3] Group 1: New Features and Capabilities - The latest release includes TikTok Listening, expanded Bluesky publishing and reporting, and new creator collaboration tools, all designed to convert social interactions into actionable insights and measurable business impact [1][6] - New capabilities also encompass influencer marketing, publishing, listening, and analytics, providing brands with tools to deepen customer relationships and leverage social media as a revenue-driving channel [2][3] Group 2: Strategic Importance of Social Media - Social media has evolved into a critical platform for brand discovery, product research, and real-time decision-making, presenting significant opportunities for brands to enhance customer engagement and drive revenue [2][3] - The integration of social media into the customer journey is emphasized, with a focus on creating a cohesive experience that aligns various touchpoints from awareness to long-term engagement [3] Group 3: Partnerships and Integrations - Sprout Social has established partnerships with platforms like Adobe Express and Canva to streamline creative workflows, enabling brands to publish high-quality content more efficiently [6] - Upcoming integrations with Salesforce aim to enhance customer service across multiple digital channels, further solidifying Sprout's position in the social media management space [6] Group 4: Recognition and Market Position - Sprout Social is recognized as a leader in social media management and analytics, serving approximately 30,000 brands and providing tools that facilitate smarter, faster business impact [5][7] - The company has been awarded the 2024 Best Software Award, highlighting its comprehensive functionality across major social media networks and digital platforms [7]