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CHICAGO, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mintel, the global leader in market intelligence, today announced the acquisition of Black Swan Data, an AI-native company specialising in analysing and predicting trends from social media.
The ambitious partnership brings together two market leaders united by the ambition to revolutionize predictive intelligence and reshape the future of insights. Combining Mintel's deep consumer, product, and category expertise with Black Swan's real-time social predictive analytics gives CPG brands a clearer, more dynamic understanding of what's emerging and why it matters. The combined datasets enable expanded predictive capabilities, accelerate innovation timelines, and allow clients to forecast trends with greater accuracy and confidence.
"Mintel's acquisition of Black Swan Data unites our strengths in structured data, advanced technology, human expertise, and real-time social analytics to deliver unparalleled predictive intelligence for our clients," said Matt Nelson, Mintel CEO. "Our immediate goal is to transform front-end innovation, delivering the clarity CPG brands need to understand where to play, what to prioritise, and how to win with greater precision and confidence."
"Great marketing begins with great diagnosis. Always has, always will. Mintel's acquisition of Black Swan is just a super smart move because it makes them all the better at understanding and predicting the consumer. " Prof. Mark Ritson
The New Standard in Front-end Innovation
Mintel and Black Swan Data are already demonstrating the power of their combined capabilities through recent consulting engagements, enabling clients like Pepsi Co. to navigate front-end innovation with greater precision and certainty.
"In a fast-changing world, we're always looking for better ways to anticipate and act on where the consumer is headed. The Mintel and Black Swan partnership brings together two of the most forward-thinking players in the insights space. Combining their data sources and capabilities has the potential to redefine how we identify emerging consumer needs and accelerate better products to market. It's a win for insights, innovation, marketing, and ultimately, the consumer," said Stephan Gans, Chief Consumer Insights and Analytics Officer, PepsiCo.
See Further, Act Faster with Innovation Foresight
As the insight industry evolves, the combined strength of Mintel and Black Swan Data positions both companies to lead through disruption. The growing role of AI is transforming how insight is delivered and consumed, but it's not smarter AI that will define success; it's smarter data. The quality, clarity, and contextual value of the data, as well as how it's applied through expert human interpretation, will be the real differentiator for brands navigating complexity and change.
Together, Mintel and Black Swan are setting a new standard for predictive intelligence, one that enables faster and more precise business decisions grounded in evidence. This partnership empowers clients to unlock opportunities for sustainable and profitable innovation by understanding not just what people are doing now, but what they will want next and why.
"Together, Black Swan Data and Mintel are taking an ambitious step forward for our industry," added Hugo Amos, co-founder and CEO of Black Swan Data. "In an era of increased pressure to innovate quickly, responsibly, and with impact, CPG brands need clarity, precision, and the confidence to act at the right time, in the right way. That is exactly what we deliver, powered by smarter data, expert thinking, and a shared ambition to help clients grow their business."
About Mintel
As a market intelligence agency, our understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets gives our clients the clarity to act and the confidence to lead. With over 50 years of expertise and millions of data points, we fuse the real-world understanding of Mintel's experts with cutting-edge technology to uncover patterns and predict the future. Next starts here. Visit mintel.com.
About Black Swan Data
Black Swan Data is a London-based technology and market research company founded in 2011 by Steve King and Hugo Amos. Specialising in predictive analytics, Black Swan leverages artificial intelligence to analyse millions of unprompted consumer conversations across platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. By identifying emerging trends and uncovering the drivers behind shifting behaviours, Black Swan empowers global brands like PepsiCo and Nestlé to act with foresight, optimising marketing strategies and accelerating innovation in line with future consumer demand.
CHICAGO, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mintel, the global leader in market intelligence, today announced the acquisition of Black Swan Data, an AI-native company specialising in analysing and predicting trends from social media.
The ambitious partnership brings together two market leaders united by the ambition to revolutionize predictive intelligence and reshape the future of insights. Combining Mintel's deep consumer, product, and category expertise with Black Swan's real-time social predictive analytics gives CPG brands a clearer, more dynamic understanding of what's emerging and why it matters. The combined datasets enable expanded predictive capabilities, accelerate innovation timelines, and allow clients to forecast trends with greater accuracy and confidence.
"Mintel's acquisition of Black Swan Data unites our strengths in structured data, advanced technology, human expertise, and real-time social analytics to deliver unparalleled predictive intelligence for our clients," said Matt Nelson, Mintel CEO. "Our immediate goal is to transform front-end innovation, delivering the clarity CPG brands need to understand where to play, what to prioritise, and how to win with greater precision and confidence."
"Great marketing begins with great diagnosis. Always has, always will. Mintel's acquisition of Black Swan is just a super smart move because it makes them all the better at understanding and predicting the consumer. " Prof. Mark Ritson
The New Standard in Front-end Innovation
Mintel and Black Swan Data are already demonstrating the power of their combined capabilities through recent consulting engagements, enabling clients like Pepsi Co. to navigate front-end innovation with greater precision and certainty.
"In a fast-changing world, we're always looking for better ways to anticipate and act on where the consumer is headed. The Mintel and Black Swan partnership brings together two of the most forward-thinking players in the insights space. Combining their data sources and capabilities has the potential to redefine how we identify emerging consumer needs and accelerate better products to market. It's a win for insights, innovation, marketing, and ultimately, the consumer," said Stephan Gans, Chief Consumer Insights and Analytics Officer, PepsiCo.
See Further, Act Faster with Innovation Foresight
As the insight industry evolves, the combined strength of Mintel and Black Swan Data positions both companies to lead through disruption. The growing role of AI is transforming how insight is delivered and consumed, but it's not smarter AI that will define success; it's smarter data. The quality, clarity, and contextual value of the data, as well as how it's applied through expert human interpretation, will be the real differentiator for brands navigating complexity and change.
Together, Mintel and Black Swan are setting a new standard for predictive intelligence, one that enables faster and more precise business decisions grounded in evidence. This partnership empowers clients to unlock opportunities for sustainable and profitable innovation by understanding not just what people are doing now, but what they will want next and why.
"Together, Black Swan Data and Mintel are taking an ambitious step forward for our industry," added Hugo Amos, co-founder and CEO of Black Swan Data. "In an era of increased pressure to innovate quickly, responsibly, and with impact, CPG brands need clarity, precision, and the confidence to act at the right time, in the right way. That is exactly what we deliver, powered by smarter data, expert thinking, and a shared ambition to help clients grow their business."
About Mintel
As a market intelligence agency, our understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets gives our clients the clarity to act and the confidence to lead. With over 50 years of expertise and millions of data points, we fuse the real-world understanding of Mintel's experts with cutting-edge technology to uncover patterns and predict the future. Next starts here. Visit mintel.com.
About Black Swan Data
Black Swan Data is a London-based technology and market research company founded in 2011 by Steve King and Hugo Amos. Specialising in predictive analytics, Black Swan leverages artificial intelligence to analyse millions of unprompted consumer conversations across platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. By identifying emerging trends and uncovering the drivers behind shifting behaviours, Black Swan empowers global brands like PepsiCo and Nestlé to act with foresight, optimising marketing strategies and accelerating innovation in line with future consumer demand.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Mintel Acquires Black Swan Data, revolutionizing predictive intelligence and reshaping the future of insight
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- Expanded new mixed-gender team competition, Hexagon World Series will feature multiple events per year in iconic global cities with equal prize money
- Series becomes the first fully FIP - governed team circuit, included into the official FIP calendar to complement existing professional and amateur events, encompassing Cupra FIP Tour and Premier Padel
- This evolution represents a major opportunity for the Hexagon Cup to be fully integrated within the federative padel pyramid
- Official recognition builds on strategic partnership announced in February 2025 between Hexagon Cup, Premier Padel and FIP, under which Premier Padel is also a shareholder and major strategic partner in the new series
LONDON, Dec. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexagon Cup, the team-based Padel tournament established in 2024 that revolutionised the sport's international landscape, has today announced an historic strategic alliance with 54, the global sport and entertainment agency behind the creation of LIV Golf, and the game's global governing body, International Padel Federation (FIP).
Under this agreement, 54 will invest and partner with Hexagon Cup to expand and elevate the initial project into its next phase: a new global team circuit, officially named the Hexagon World Series, in what will become the first team Padel series to be delivered under the governance of FIP, fully integrated into the federative padel pyramid.
The agreement positions Hexagon World Series as the sport's official global team circuit, governed by FIP and integrated fully into the official FIP calendar. The Hexagon World Series will expand the revolutionary team-based format of the Hexagon Cup into a series model, adding multiple events per year across new international locations. This expansion will open fresh commercial opportunities for fans, players and partners, while strengthening the overall FIP ecosystem and the Olympic dream alongside existing tours and FIP's governance.
The new circuit will complement Premier Padel, FIP's flagship professional tour for individual pairs, elevating Padel to a new level, whilst creating new value within a fully integrated commercial structure to sit at the top tier of the world's fastest growing sport.
Together, Premier Padel and the Hexagon World Series will form the global professional circuit for elite players: one tour for the world's top pairs, and one groundbreaking teambased competition, both under the governance of FIP.
Details of the new competition format, teams, calendar of events and global host cities will be unveiled in 2026.
54's investment is also the closing of an international financing round for Hexagon Cup, backed by a diverse group of global investors. These include PadelPark India, the British operator Padel Hub, the US-based Padel operator Epic Padel, as well as investment funds and platforms such as Players Fund (United Kingdom) and LinkinFirm (Brazil), alongside other strategic partners from Mexico, Spain, the United States and the Middle East. This multi-regional capital structure reinforces the strength of the project and its position to lead the international expansion of Padel.
Enrique Buenaventura, Founder of Hexagon Cup, said: "This partnership marks a new chapter in the history of padel. Together with 54, FIP and the support of, and fantastic relationship with, Premier Padel, we will build the first truly global team circuit, expanding the vision of the Hexagon Cup and creating something never seen before in our sport. Our mission is to help grow padel worldwide, unlock new commercial opportunities, and contribute decisively to its Olympic journey."
Luigi Carraro, President of FIP, said: "FIP's mission is to develop and grow Padel at every level of the pyramid – from grassroots and amateur participation to elite professional - all around the world. The launch of Hexagon World Series - under the umbrella and governance of FIP and as part of our official international calendar, already including the Cupra FIP Tour and Premier Padel – further enhances, consolidates and stabilizes our ecosystem with the most prestigious competitions in the sport. Together, we will ensure Padel continues to grow with the professionalism, global visibility and collaborative structure – working with all recognized stakeholders within Padel and world sport – driving Padel's long-term success on an international scale."
Gary Davidson, Group Chief Operating Officer, 54, said: "Padel is one of the fastest growing sports globally, and we see an incredible opportunity to help accelerate its professionalisation and global reach. "Teaming up with Hexagon Cup and FIP to create the Hexagon World Series is a natural extension of our commitment to building the world's most exciting sporting properties, molded through modern commercial structures and integrated into the existing ecosystem to deliver the best experiences for athletes and fans, and the best performance for partners and investors."
- Expanded new mixed-gender team competition, Hexagon World Series will feature multiple events per year in iconic global cities with equal prize money
- Series becomes the first fully FIP - governed team circuit, included into the official FIP calendar to complement existing professional and amateur events, encompassing Cupra FIP Tour and Premier Padel
- This evolution represents a major opportunity for the Hexagon Cup to be fully integrated within the federative padel pyramid
- Official recognition builds on strategic partnership announced in February 2025 between Hexagon Cup, Premier Padel and FIP, under which Premier Padel is also a shareholder and major strategic partner in the new series
LONDON, Dec. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexagon Cup, the team-based Padel tournament established in 2024 that revolutionised the sport's international landscape, has today announced an historic strategic alliance with 54, the global sport and entertainment agency behind the creation of LIV Golf, and the game's global governing body, International Padel Federation (FIP).
Under this agreement, 54 will invest and partner with Hexagon Cup to expand and elevate the initial project into its next phase: a new global team circuit, officially named the Hexagon World Series, in what will become the first team Padel series to be delivered under the governance of FIP, fully integrated into the federative padel pyramid.
The agreement positions Hexagon World Series as the sport's official global team circuit, governed by FIP and integrated fully into the official FIP calendar. The Hexagon World Series will expand the revolutionary team-based format of the Hexagon Cup into a series model, adding multiple events per year across new international locations. This expansion will open fresh commercial opportunities for fans, players and partners, while strengthening the overall FIP ecosystem and the Olympic dream alongside existing tours and FIP's governance.
The new circuit will complement Premier Padel, FIP's flagship professional tour for individual pairs, elevating Padel to a new level, whilst creating new value within a fully integrated commercial structure to sit at the top tier of the world's fastest growing sport.
Together, Premier Padel and the Hexagon World Series will form the global professional circuit for elite players: one tour for the world's top pairs, and one groundbreaking teambased competition, both under the governance of FIP.
Details of the new competition format, teams, calendar of events and global host cities will be unveiled in 2026.
54's investment is also the closing of an international financing round for Hexagon Cup, backed by a diverse group of global investors. These include PadelPark India, the British operator Padel Hub, the US-based Padel operator Epic Padel, as well as investment funds and platforms such as Players Fund (United Kingdom) and LinkinFirm (Brazil), alongside other strategic partners from Mexico, Spain, the United States and the Middle East. This multi-regional capital structure reinforces the strength of the project and its position to lead the international expansion of Padel.
Enrique Buenaventura, Founder of Hexagon Cup, said: "This partnership marks a new chapter in the history of padel. Together with 54, FIP and the support of, and fantastic relationship with, Premier Padel, we will build the first truly global team circuit, expanding the vision of the Hexagon Cup and creating something never seen before in our sport. Our mission is to help grow padel worldwide, unlock new commercial opportunities, and contribute decisively to its Olympic journey."
Luigi Carraro, President of FIP, said: "FIP's mission is to develop and grow Padel at every level of the pyramid – from grassroots and amateur participation to elite professional - all around the world. The launch of Hexagon World Series - under the umbrella and governance of FIP and as part of our official international calendar, already including the Cupra FIP Tour and Premier Padel – further enhances, consolidates and stabilizes our ecosystem with the most prestigious competitions in the sport. Together, we will ensure Padel continues to grow with the professionalism, global visibility and collaborative structure – working with all recognized stakeholders within Padel and world sport – driving Padel's long-term success on an international scale."
Gary Davidson, Group Chief Operating Officer, 54, said: "Padel is one of the fastest growing sports globally, and we see an incredible opportunity to help accelerate its professionalisation and global reach. "Teaming up with Hexagon Cup and FIP to create the Hexagon World Series is a natural extension of our commitment to building the world's most exciting sporting properties, molded through modern commercial structures and integrated into the existing ecosystem to deliver the best experiences for athletes and fans, and the best performance for partners and investors."
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Hexagon Cup, 54 and International Padel Federation unite to create the Hexagon World Series, the sport's first official team circuit, unifying the padel calendar alongside Cupra FIP Tour and Premier Padel
