IgniteTech Unveils Strategic AI Initiatives for Khoros Growth

AUSTIN, Texas, July 10, 2025 — IgniteTech, an AI-first enterprise software company, has announced a series of strategic investments and initiatives focusing on customer engagement as part of its next phase for the Khoros platform, following the acquisition of Khoros in May 2025. This move aims to enhance Khoros's capabilities in delivering AI-powered community solutions that foster customer collaboration and innovation.

The CEO of IgniteTech and Khoros, Eric Vaughan, stated, "With the acquisition of Khoros, we're not just investing in the product, we're rebuilding it. We're partnering with customers, bringing in experts, and applying the same operating discipline we've used to successfully transform dozens of enterprise software companies." This commitment to modernization is particularly focused on integrating AI features into Khoros's platform architecture, known as Aurora, which is designed for scalability and enhanced customer engagement.

According to the official announcement, IgniteTech is ramping up its engagement with Khoros customers and the global community ecosystem. Michael Puhala, Chief Community Evangelist at Khoros, will lead these customer interactions. Puhala expressed optimism regarding IgniteTech's approach, stating, "Khoros has a strong heritage, and I'm excited to see IgniteTech building on that with urgency and clarity. This is a real opportunity to bring community leadership into the AI era, ensuring customers have a voice in shaping what comes next."

In addition to internal initiatives, IgniteTech has enlisted Jake McKee, a renowned community strategist known for his work with brands like LEGO and Apple, as a strategic advisor. McKee's role will involve aligning Khoros's community strengths with IgniteTech's vision for product development. "IgniteTech's approach to Khoros puts people and customers at the center," McKee remarked, highlighting the importance of combining Khoros's legacy with the necessary AI capabilities.

Alongside these developments, IgniteTech has announced its sponsorship of the Community-Led World Conference at London Community Week 2025, where company leaders will engage with global community professionals to better understand both current customer needs and future trends in community management. This initiative represents a commitment to a customer-centric development strategy, moving from traditional support models to AI-driven community ecosystems.

The new capabilities being introduced are expected to enhance brand presence in AI-generated responses, elevate content from highly engaged users, and encourage active participation within the community. While the Classic Community platform will continue to be supported, IgniteTech will ensure that migrations to the Aurora platform occur only when it meets or exceeds customer expectations.

Vaughan concluded, "Khoros is moving forward with a clear plan, a dedicated team, and customers at the center. We're not maintaining the old model. We're building what comes next." This strategic pivot underscores IgniteTech's commitment to innovation and customer partnership in the evolving landscape of community engagement driven by artificial intelligence.

About IgniteTech: IgniteTech is a global, AI-first enterprise software company with a proven track record of successful technology acquisitions and rapid innovation. Since its transformation into an AI innovation organization in 2024, IgniteTech has developed new AI-powered solutions and integrated AI capabilities across its product portfolio. For more information, visit IgniteTech's official site.

About Khoros: Khoros provides award-winning enterprise software that facilitates customer engagement across digital, social, and brand-owned channels. The company serves 2,000 major brands, including one-third of the Fortune 100, and is recognized for its commitment to customer success and employee satisfaction. Following its acquisition by IgniteTech, Khoros aims to advance its community-focused solutions powered by AI.