Firms Merge to Launch Youth Insights Service

In the US, youth marketing blog YPulse and student online research community SurveyU have merged to form Youth Pulse Inc., a service offering research among tweens, teens, college students and young adults.

SurveyU was set up by a group of researchers and technologists focused on conducting interactive survey research with college students. The firm's online panel comprises nearly 58,000 individuals aged between 13 and 30 years of age.

Ypulse was founded by Anastasia Goodstein as a platform for youth media and marketing professionals. The company comprises a blog (Ypulse.com), an e-mail newsletter (Ypulse Daily Update), a series of web-based briefing sessions and the annual Ypulse Youth Marketing Mashup Conference.

Employing an expanded team of youth specialists, the new firm has been established to help marketing, brand and media professionals learn about how to reach, engage with and market to the youth community. The merged service will include research and strategy, as well as daily news, commentary and events.

'What began as Anastasia's personal passion has evolved into an important voice within the youth marketing industry,' states Dan Coates, co-founder of SurveyU and President of the new Youth Pulse Inc. 'Our goal is to work closely with Anastasia and her team to deliver a comprehensive set of products that deliver a full understanding of youth culture.'

Coates takes up his new role after two decades of experience in technology and survey research. He previously worked as VP of Sales & Marketing at Polimetrix (acquired in 2006 by YouGov), served as VP of Surveys and Samples at SPSS and co-founded consumer affairs portal PlanetFeedback.com. He spent the first decade of his career with Burke Marketing, Millward Brown Interactive and the Angus Reid Group.

Web site: www.ypulse.com .