Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $191 million for the fiscal third quarter 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 25.5% and a sequential increase of 6% [7][23] - Non-GAAP operating margins improved by over 400 basis points year-over-year, with non-GAAP operating income of $5 million, or 2.7% of revenue, compared to a non-GAAP operating loss of $2 million in the prior year quarter [7][28] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $18 million, a significant improvement from a negative free cash flow of $14 million in the prior year quarter [7][29] - The total remaining performance obligation (RPO) was $891 million, up 24% year-over-year, while current RPO was $573 million, up 25% year-over-year [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Subscription revenue accounted for 95% of total revenue, with the remaining 5% from professional services and one-time fees [23] - The company added 106 new customers sequentially and 317 year-over-year, bringing the total customer count to 2,528, a 14% increase [8][23] - Large customers (those spending at least $500,000 annually) grew by 29% year-over-year to 303, contributing 63% to total annual recurring revenue (ARR) [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue outside the U.S. contributed 45% of total revenue, consistent with previous quarters [24] - Dollar-based net retention was 108% overall and 110% for large customers, indicating strong customer retention and expansion [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to position itself as the global standard for omnichannel customer engagement, leveraging AI-driven solutions to enhance customer experiences [7][8] - The introduction of new AI capabilities and the Braze AI Decisioning Studio is expected to drive future growth and customer engagement [19][31] - The company is focused on innovation and product development, particularly in AI, to maintain competitive advantage in the customer engagement landscape [14][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about continued market demand and strong pipeline generation, indicating a positive outlook for fiscal year 2027 [7][8] - The company anticipates revenue for the fourth quarter to be in the range of $197.5–$198.5 million, representing a year-over-year growth rate of approximately 23% [30] - Management highlighted the importance of first-party data and customer engagement strategies in navigating the evolving market landscape [70][74] Other Important Information - The company achieved a record of 102.5 billion messages delivered during Cyber Week, showcasing the platform's scalability and reliability [10][12] - The integration of Braze with ChatGPT apps is expected to enhance customer engagement and provide new monetization opportunities [20][70] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on the Braze healthcare customer using the AI agent - Management highlighted the agility of deploying AI solutions within the Braze Canvas, allowing for enhanced customer interactions and support [35][39] Question: Drivers of improving trends in key metrics - Management attributed improvements to ongoing productivity enhancements, mitigation of downsell activity, and effective sales strategies [40][42] Question: Factors driving momentum in legacy replacement cycles - Management noted that the competitive landscape is shifting, with increased awareness and differentiation for Braze, leading to more enterprise replacements [45][47] Question: Impact of AI on growth strategy - Management discussed the monetization of AI, emphasizing the potential for real-time AI functionalities to enhance customer engagement and operational efficiency [54][56] Question: Customer interest in ChatGPT integration - Management explained that the evolution of app ecosystems will determine the role of Braze in enhancing customer engagement through first-party data [68][70]

Summary of Braze FY Conference Call - September 10, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: Braze (NasdaqGS:BRZE) - **Industry**: Customer Engagement and Marketing Technology Key Points Data Architecture and Competitive Advantage - Braze emphasizes the importance of data architecture as a competitive advantage in the AI era, focusing on real-time data processing rather than traditional data warehousing [7][12][11] - The company has built a stream processing engine similar to high-frequency trading systems, allowing for real-time updates and actions based on customer engagement data [8][9][10] - Braze processes over 10 trillion data points annually, highlighting its capability to handle massive data flows efficiently [29] Business Momentum and Growth Outlook - Braze has shown an improving growth outlook for margins and profits, with increased productivity in its sales force over the last two quarters [34][36] - The company has improved its renewal processes, leading to lower downsell risks and better customer retention [38][40] - The overall effectiveness of the sales team has increased, contributing to a positive forecast for future performance [41] Replacement Cycle and Market Position - Braze is four years post-IPO and is analyzing changes in enterprise replacement cycles, indicating a shift in customer engagement strategies [7] - The company is focusing on enhancing its international strategy and verticalization to improve efficiency [38] AI and Composable Intelligence - Braze is transitioning to a new framework of context, intelligence, and interaction, leveraging advancements in AI and machine learning [20][21] - The concept of "composable intelligence" is introduced, where models are imbued with brand knowledge and can operate autonomously, enhancing marketing strategies [24][23] - The integration of AI tools aims to improve marketer productivity and customer engagement by automating decision-making processes [22][28] OfferFit and Unit Economics - OfferFit, a new product line, has two SKU types priced between $100,000 and $300,000, targeting enterprises with high-leverage use cases [49][50] - The potential for cross-selling between OfferFit and Braze's existing customer base is significant, with many OfferFit customers not currently using Braze's customer engagement solutions [51] - The decisioning products have higher gross margin potential compared to traditional messaging services, positioning Braze favorably in the market [52] Future Outlook - Braze is excited about upcoming developments in AI-centric customer engagement and plans to share more at the Forge event [53] - The company is focused on enhancing its product portfolio and leveraging AI to drive customer engagement strategies [52][53] Additional Important Insights - The company has made significant investments in first-party data and real-time context understanding, which are crucial for effective customer engagement [29][30] - Braze continues to expand its channel offerings, including new functionalities for messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Kakao [30]

Core Insights - Braze reported a 20% year-over-year revenue increase to $162.1 million for fiscal Q1 2026, with a non-GAAP operating margin improvement of over 900 basis points and a non-GAAP net income of $7 million [1][5] Financial Performance - The company achieved a non-GAAP operating margin of 2%, a significant turnaround from a negative 7% in the prior-year period, and generated free cash flow of $23 million, despite acquisition-related expenses [4][5] - Non-GAAP R&D spending rose by $2 million to $25 million, representing 15% of revenue, while sales and marketing expenses increased by $4 million to $64 million, accounting for 39% of revenue [4] Strategic Developments - Braze acquired OfferFit, an AI decisioning platform, which is expected to contribute approximately $11 million to $12 million in fiscal 2026 revenue, equating to about 2% incremental growth [2][3] - The acquisition enhances Braze's AI product suite and positions the company for increased wallet share capture against competitors [3] Pricing Strategy - The company implemented a new pricing model in May, shifting from data point-based limits to API rate-based usage, which has already shown positive results in sales cycles and customer satisfaction [6][7] - This pricing overhaul is expected to facilitate workload expansion and strengthen Braze's competitive differentiation [8] Future Outlook - For fiscal Q2 2026, management projects revenue between $171 million and $172 million, reflecting an 18% year-over-year growth rate, with a non-GAAP operating margin of approximately 1% [9] - The fiscal 2026 revenue guidance is set at $702 million to $706 million, indicating a 19% growth at the midpoint, with OfferFit contributing an estimated 2% incremental uplift [9]