In this milestone 30th episode of Founders’ Marketing Compass, host Etgar Shpivak sits down with Ron Oren, co-founder and CMO of Imagen, to explore the delicate balance between brand building and performance marketing in early-stage startups. The conversation dives deep into translating company-level KPIs into actionable marketing metrics, the power of local marketing strategies, and why startups should resist the temptation to pour money into paid ads right away.

Ron candidly discusses failed campaigns, the importance of proxy metrics, and offers practical advice for CMOs navigating the tension between short-term performance pressure and long-term brand investment. A must-watch for founders and marketers seeking sustainable growth strategies.

Key Takeaways

* Proxy metrics evolve with your business - Start with simple subscriber metrics, then layer in ROI and LTV:CAC as you scale paid acquisition

* Don’t blindly trust platform analytics - Build your own internal measurement systems rather than relying solely on Facebook or Google’s reported metrics

* Local marketing ownership drives results - Allocating dedicated local managers in strategic geos yields better creativity and cultural relevance than centralized global campaigns

* Optimization events should change every few months - Start by optimizing for subscribers, move to mid-funnel events, then shift to top-of-funnel as you scale

* Brand building should come before performance marketing - The recommended sequence: build brand → leverage influencers → foster community → then invest heavily in paid ads

* Test brand impact with geographic lift studies - Use specific cities or regions to measure awareness lift, CTR improvements, and signup increases from brand campaigns

* Promotions aren’t automatic wins - Even month-long prepared discount campaigns can fail if not properly validated with your audience

* Cultural differences matter more than keywords - German photographers care about GDPR while US photographers focus on competitive differentiation

* Hire for ownership above all else - In small teams, every marketer must be the “CEO of their position” with full accountability

* Data should back every decision - Marketing without data tracking will fail in startup environments where resources are constrained

* Balance performance pressure with brand patience - Founders tend to measure everything by the hour, but brand building requires quarter or year-long cycles

* Run blackout tests on paid campaigns - Temporarily pause performance marketing to understand true organic impact and avoid over-attribution

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Ron Oren’s Entrepreneurial Journey

03:00 What Imagen Does: AI Photo Editing for Professionals

05:30 Translating Company KPIs into Marketing Metrics

08:30 The Love-Hate Relationship with Proxy Metrics

11:00 Evolution of Optimization Events in Paid Ads

13:10 Local Marketing Strategy: Germany Case Study

15:45 Failed Birthday Promotion: Learning from Mistakes

17:05 Founder-CMO Tension: Brand vs Performance Marketing

21:37 Biggest Marketing Mistakes Startups Make

24:50 Hiring Philosophy, Startup Inspiration, and Life Balance

Connect

Ron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-oren/

Etgar’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/etgar/

Keywords: startup marketing, brand vs performance marketing, CMO advice, marketing KPIs, proxy metrics, local marketing strategy, paid advertising optimization, AI startup, photographer tools, marketing metrics, founder advice, marketing team building, startup growth, community marketing, work-life balance, Imagen AI, performance marketing mistakes, marketing attribution, geo-specific marketing

In this insightful episode of Founders' Marketing Compass, host Etgar Shpivak interviews David Howland, CMO of Earnix, about navigating the complex world of B2B SaaS marketing. With extensive experience as a three-time B2B SaaS CMO and a decade at NASDAQ, David shares valuable perspectives on translating high-level business metrics into actionable KPIs, measuring both performance marketing and brand awareness, and building successful CEO-CMO relationships. The conversation explores how to effectively run intent-based ABM campaigns targeting enterprise clients, create meaningful industry thought leadership, and avoid common marketing pitfalls. David emphasizes the importance of curiosity, enthusiasm, and humility when building marketing teams, and provides insights into how the CMO role has evolved to become more strategic and integral to overall business success.

Key Takeaways

Modern CMOs need to be data-centric, able to directly tie 85% of marketing spend to pipeline impact and revenue generation

For brand awareness measurement, focus on analyst coverage, win-loss analysis, and anecdotes from sales teams to complement performance metrics

Successful CEO-CMO relationships require clear communication, alignment, and transparency about expectations and goals

Long-term marketing success requires looking beyond immediate quarters to 2-3 years ahead

The "hero mentality" in startups is unsustainable; building scalable marketing processes is essential

When targeting enterprise clients, focus on qualifying accounts rather than individual leads (MQLs)

Intent-based ABM campaigns are highly effective for enterprise sales, with Earnix averaging 150+ touches before securing a meeting

Position your company as a facilitator of industry connections rather than just selling your product

When implementing new marketing tools or strategies, ensure you have the right resources, people, and infrastructure

The top three qualities to look for when hiring marketing talent are curiosity, enthusiasm, and humility

Startups often mistakenly believe a single marketing tactic will drive growth instead of building a comprehensive foundation

CEOs sometimes set mandates that aren't aligned with market signals, creating misalignment with marketing teams

The CMO role has evolved to be more strategic, integrated across all aspects of the business, and a potential pathway to CEO

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and David's professional background

04:10 - Translating business metrics into actionable marketing KPIs

08:23 - Measuring brand awareness and thought leadership impact

12:03 - Building effective CEO-CMO relationships

18:33 - Setting clear expectations and communication channels

23:04 - Resource allocation and prioritization strategies

27:18 - Successful intent-based ABM campaigns for enterprise

30:29 - Creating industry events as relationship-building platforms

34:55 - Lessons from marketing campaigns that didn't succeed

37:16 - Top qualities to look for when hiring marketing talent

39:45 - Common mistakes and advice for marketing leaders

David's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmhowland/

Etgar's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/etgar/

Keywords

B2B marketing, CMO, CEO relationships, intent-based marketing, marketing metrics, brand awareness, thought leadership, enterprise sales, ABM campaigns, marketing talent, digital marketing, marketing strategy, trust building, marketing KPIs, category leadership

Join host Etgar Shpivak on Founders' Marketing Compass as he interviews Jason Harper, founder of Ready Signal and AI economist. Jason shares his journey from economist to GoDaddy employee to Ford executive, before founding his own successful consulting company. Discover his unique perspective on marketing effectiveness, team building, and the critical founder-marketer relationship. Jason reveals practical insights on measuring marketing ROI, setting proper expectations, and balancing startup growth with marketing investment.

Key Takeaways:

* Hard metrics like cash flow and booked meetings are crucial for evaluating marketing effectiveness in early-stage startups

* The top three qualities Jason looks for when hiring are attitude, effort, and competence - in that exact order

* Founders often make the mistake of having unrealistic expectations about marketing timelines and results

* Senior marketing roles need competitive compensation - underpaying leads to poor outcomes

* Bridging the gap between founder expectations and marketing realities requires clear communication and concrete KPIs

* When investing in startups, Jason values people with the right attitude over specific marketing expertise

* For startups to succeed, founders need to be "all in" - side hustles rarely work for launching successful companies

* Startup cash reserves typically last half as long as founders initially estimate

* Marketing leaders must understand both immediate sales needs and long-term brand building

Jason's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximizeroi/

Etgar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/etgar/

Keywords: startup marketing, founder-marketer relationship, marketing KPIs, marketing team building, startup investment, marketing ROI, sales metrics, marketing expectations, AI economist, Ready Signal, entrepreneurship journey, marketing budget, startup funding, marketing leadership, B2B marketing

In this enlightening episode of Founders' Marketing Compass, host Etgar Shpivak sits down with Talor Sax, Managing Partner at eHealth Ventures, recently recognized as a leading health tech VC. With over two decades of experience in health tech, Talor shares crucial insights on what investors look for in early-stage health tech startups. From understanding market dynamics and establishing value propositions to navigating different healthcare systems globally, this conversation offers invaluable guidance for founders looking to secure funding in the health tech space. Talor's candid perspective on the realities of healthcare economics and the importance of founder location makes this a must-watch for any health tech entrepreneur.

Key Takeaways:

* Health tech startups typically require a 10-year journey from idea to exit, significantly longer than other tech sectors

* Early-stage health tech founders often come from medical or engineering backgrounds with limited business experience

* For pre-commercial startups, showing market value through initial revenue or strategic partnerships is more compelling than just having great technology

* Understanding the complex decision-making process involving multiple stakeholders (patients, providers, payers) is crucial

* Investors conduct deep analysis of financial models and assumptions to evaluate founders' thinking processes

* Pilots in Israel demonstrate clinical value but have limited business value for international markets

* Having the CEO physically located in the target market accelerates growth and regulatory processes

* While many Israeli founders focus exclusively on the US market, European countries offer valuable opportunities with less competition

* The Netherlands has the highest-paying health system in Europe, while Germany offers a larger market at lower price points

* For international investment appeal, health tech companies should consider early corporate restructuring ("flipping")

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction and Talor's background in health tech

2:28 - Helping early-stage founders with limited business experience

4:27 - What investors look for in pre-commercial health tech startups

6:40 - Setting realistic KPIs and fundable milestones

10:13 - The due diligence process for health tech investments

14:52 - The business value of Israeli pilots in international markets

17:39 - Common misconceptions about health tech startups

18:22 - Should entrepreneurs start health tech companies in Israel?

20:52 - Recommendations on company structure and founder location

24:15 - Promising European markets for health tech expansion

Talor's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talorsax/

Etgar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/etgar/

Keywords:

health tech, venture capital, healthcare startups, medical device investments, healthtech funding, digital health, healthcare economics, founder journey, Israeli startups, international expansion, healthcare systems, early-stage investments, KPI setting, digital therapeutics, healthcare pilots

In this insightful episode of Founders' Marketing Compass, host Etgar Shpivak interviews Lior Handelsman, Partner at Grove Ventures and co-founder of SolarEdge (a company that reached a $20B valuation). Drawing from his 15 years of experience leading product strategy and marketing, Lior shares invaluable wisdom on building effective marketing teams for early-stage startups. From understanding market dynamics to knowing when to hire in-house versus outsourcing, Lior dispels common myths about marketing organization structure and offers practical frameworks to help founders make better decisions about their go-to-market strategy.

Key Takeaways:

* Market immersion is essential. Successful founders and marketing teams must go beyond surface-level insights to deeply understand market players, trends, and sales mechanisms.

* Founder-led marketing first: Even tech-focused founders need to lead initial marketing and sales efforts before hiring specialists - only founders can discover what truly works.

* Start with VP, not CMO: To reduce risk and maintain flexibility, begin with a VP of Marketing rather than a CMO when hiring full-time marketing leadership.

* Fractional expertise works early: Advisors and fractional CMOs are valuable for early-stage guidance while founders handle execution.

* Repeatability test: Before scaling your marketing team, verify that your sales process is repeatable across similar customer types with consistent pitches.

* Track the right metrics: Beyond ACV and CAC, monitor time-to-close and performance uniformity across team members to determine scaling readiness.

* Marketing compensation structure: Performance-based compensation works better for sales than marketing; annual bonuses based on overall performance are more effective for marketing teams.

* Process over perfection: Establish transparent marketing processes that are understandable, effective, and measurable, especially by Series A.

* Know who you're NOT targeting: Understanding who isn't your target can be as valuable as knowing who is when building marketing strategies.

* Accept constant improvement: Nothing in a startup ever reaches "smooth sailing" - the key is prioritizing what needs fixing today versus tomorrow.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction and Lior's background 02:26 - What makes startup marketing teams successful 03:44 - Handling founding teams with technical expertise but marketing gaps 06:32 - When to hire full-time vs. fractional CMOs 09:14 - Repeatability as the key metric for scaling marketing 10:50 - Setting the right marketing KPIs 14:13 - Marketing budget allocation benchmarks 15:10 - In-house marketing vs. external agencies 17:14 - Marketing team compensation strategies 21:26 - Due diligence process for marketing teams 23:02 - Addressing short tenure in marketing roles 26:36 - Common startup misconceptions debunked

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Lior's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liorhandelsman/

Etgar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/etgar/

Keywords: startup marketing, founder-led sales, fractional CMO, marketing KPIs, marketing budget allocation, marketing compensation, marketing team structure, early-stage startups, go-to-market strategy, B2B marketing, Grove Ventures, marketing metrics, seed-stage marketing, startup scaling

In this episode of Founders' Marketing Compass, host Etgar Shpivak sits down with Ira Belsky, the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Artlist. Ira shares his journey from video creator to entrepreneur, explaining how Artlist emerged from his own need for better content licensing for creators. The conversation delves into how Artlist navigated the rise of generative AI, maintained impressive marketing ROI metrics, balanced performance marketing with brand building, and fostered strong relationships between marketing and sales teams. Ira's insights into creating a customer-centric company that is both profitable and growing offer valuable lessons for founders at any stage.

Key Takeaways:

* Artlist started as a bootstrapped solution to a personal need Ira faced as a video creator, rather than an effort to build a large company.

* The company has remained profitable throughout most of its history, achieving exceptional marketing ROI metrics (reaching 500%).

* With annual subscriptions, Artlist could instantly measure marketing ROI without complex LTV calculations.

* As the company expanded, it needed to transition from pure performance marketing to brand building to ensure long-term sustainability.

* Ira advises testing brand marketing effectiveness through incrementality testing (e.g., conducting campaigns in select states).

* Artlist shifted from B2C to B2B by initially targeting existing customers who fit B2B profiles.

* The company upholds strong sales and marketing relationships by enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for finger-pointing.

* Ira appreciates marketing leaders who are deeply aligned with the company mission, highly analytical, and focused on nurturing team culture.

* Startup success stems from "many small good decisions" rather than a single groundbreaking idea.

* CEOs must continually adapt their roles based on the company's needs at each stage.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction and welcome

2:01 - Impact of generative AI on Artlist

3:49 - Defining marketing KPIs and their evolution

6:45 - Challenges with LTV calculations for early-stage startups

10:30 - Balancing performance marketing with brand building

13:58 - Measuring brand marketing effectiveness

18:20 - Managing the relationship between sales and marketing teams

24:10 - Top qualities to consider when hiring marketing leadership

26:43 - Common mistakes founders make with marketing teams

27:36 - Debunking misconceptions about running startups

28:15 - Advice to his younger self when founding Artlist

Thanks for reading Founders' Marketing Compass! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Ira's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ira-belsky-8aa090126/

Etgar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/etgar/

Keywords:

startup marketing, B2B marketing, B2C marketing, SaaS marketing, LTV, CAC, ROI, brand building, marketing KPIs, marketing leadership, Artlist, content creation, generative AI, bootstrapped startup, marketing and sales relationship

In this episode of Founders' Marketing Compass, host Etgar Shpivak interviews Alex Frenkel, CEO and co-founder of Kai.ai, a platform revolutionizing mental health support. Frenkel shares his journey from clinical psychologist to tech entrepreneur, explaining how Kai.ai evolved from a B2C to B2B2C model. The platform combines AI with human therapists to provide scalable emotional support, enabling clinics to serve more patients effectively. Alex discusses crucial insights about pivoting based on unit economics, the importance of local marketing teams, and building strong advisory boards for international expansion.

Key Takeaways:

* Early-stage startup success often requires co-founder-led marketing initiatives

* B2C growth metrics (low CAC) don't guarantee business success without sustainable LTV

* Having local marketing teams is crucial for understanding market nuances

* CEOs should be the first salespeople before building a sales team

* Building a strong advisory board is essential for international expansion

* Entrepreneurial background is crucial when hiring early-stage marketing talent

* Timing is critical when hiring senior marketing executives

* Focus on co-founders first, then problem-solution fit

* Perseverance through multiple pivots is essential for startup success

* The willingness to iterate quickly and adapt marketing materials is crucial

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction & Background

3:20 - Kai.ai's Evolution

7:34 - Unit Economics & Pivot

10:43 - Marketing KPIs

13:08 - CEO as First Salesperson

15:03 - Marketing Team Qualities

19:05 - Building Advisory Board

23:01 - Marketing Compensation

24:14 - Common Marketing Mistakes

25:29 - Startup Misconceptions

28:10 - Entrepreneurial Advice

29:19 - Marketing Iterations

Thanks for reading Founders' Marketing Compass! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Alex's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefrenkel/

Etgar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/etgar/

Keywords: mental health tech, startup pivot, unit economics, advisory board, marketing KPIs, Israeli startups, B2B2C, entrepreneur hiring, startup perseverance, product-market fit

In this insightful episode of Founders' Marketing Compass, host Etgar Shpivak sits down with Udi Ledergor, Chief Evangelist & former CMO at Gong, to explore the strategic landscape of B2B marketing leadership. Udi shares his revolutionary "95-5 Rule" of B2B marketing, revealing that only 5% of your potential market is ready to buy at any given time. This principle fundamentally changes how companies should approach their marketing strategies and resource allocation.

Key Takeaways:

* The 95-5 Rule: Focus primary resources on the 5% ready to buy, while nurturing the 95% differently

* Different CEO types require different CMO approaches - from the marketing-savvy CEO to the hands-off leader

* Before starting a CMO role, assess product-market fit, existing KPIs, and team capabilities

* Category creation requires patience and a long-term vision - it's not an overnight process

* Data-driven decision-making is essential for validating marketing strategies and investments

* Building a marketing team requires careful consideration of both immediate needs and future scalability.

* Marketing leaders should align their approach with their CEO's background and vision

* Content and campaigns should be designed differently for immediate buyers versus future prospects.

* Personal branding and thought leadership can be powerful tools when used authenticall.y

* Focus your highest-converting marketing activities on the ready-to-buy segment

Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction and Career Background 5:32 - Marketing KPIs and Measurement 15:40 - CEO-CMO Relationship Dynamics 22:15 - Category Creation Strategy 28:00 - Data-Driven Marketing Decisions 33:15 - Building Marketing Teams 40:18 - Case Studies and Success Stories 44:46 - Learning from Marketing Challenges 49:52 - Leadership Advice for Marketing Executives 54:38 - Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Thanks for reading Founders' Marketing Compass! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Connect with UsUdi's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/udiledergor/

Etgar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/etgar/

Keywords: B2B Marketing, Marketing Leadership, Category Creation, CMO Strategy, Marketing KPIs, Marketing Analytics, Marketing Operations, CEO-CMO Relationship, Marketing ROI, Marketing Team Building, B2B SaaS, Marketing Metrics, 95-5 Rule, Marketing Transformation, Growth Marketing

In this enlightening episode of Founders' Marketing Compass, host Etgar Shpivak interviews Dor Eligula, CEO and co-founder of Bridgewise. As a second-time founder at just 29, Dor shares invaluable insights from his journey leading a successful FinTech enterprise. The conversation delves deep into the evolution of marketing KPIs in B2B enterprise software, featuring a fascinating case study of Bridgewise's successful expansion into the Japanese market. Dor reveals how his team's data-driven approach led them to pursue Japan despite skepticism from investors, ultimately securing partnerships with giants like the Japanese Stock Exchange and Rakuten Securities. The episode offers unique perspectives on managing marketing-sales team dynamics, compensation structures that align interests, and crucial qualities to look for when hiring marketing leadership. Whether you're a founder navigating growth stages or a marketing professional in the B2B space, this episode provides actionable insights for building successful marketing strategies.

Key Takeaways:

* Marketing KPIs should evolve with company growth stages - what works in year one won't necessarily work in year three

* Data-driven market research can reveal unexpected opportunities - as demonstrated by Bridgewise's successful Japan expansion

* High-touch, relationship-based marketing activities like intimate executive dinners can yield better ROI than large-scale campaigns

* Aligning sales and marketing team compensation with the same metrics reduces interdepartmental tension

* Look for marketing leaders with actual sales experience who understand the day-to-day challenges of closing deals

* Strong personal references are crucial when hiring marketing leadership

* Don't settle for less than A-players, even if it means hiring fewer people

* Founders should trust their marketing experts and provide them with necessary resources rather than trying to control everything

* Early investment in top talent, though expensive, yields better results than trying to save money on personnel

* Build your company's motivation around something that drives you to make "irrational" decisions necessary for success

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction and Background

3:05 - Defining Marketing KPIs in B2B

5:50 - Market Expansion Strategy

7:36 - Japan Market Entry Decision

10:47 - Building Trust in New Markets

14:13 - Managing Sales-Marketing Alignment

16:23 - Key Qualities in Marketing Leadership

20:18 - Identifying Genuine Marketing Talent

22:53 - Common Founder Mistakes

24:55 - Startup Management Misconceptions

28:06 - Finding Entrepreneurial Motivation

Thanks for reading Founders' Marketing Compass! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Dor's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreligula/

Etgar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/etgar/

Keywords: B2B marketing, enterprise software, startup growth, marketing KPIs, sales-marketing alignment, talent acquisition, Japanese market entry, FinTech, leadership development, entrepreneurship, market research, team building, business development, startup scaling, international expansion

In this enlightening episode of Founders' Marketing Compass, host Etgar Shpivak sits down with Barrel Kfir, Partner at Dell Technologies Capital. With an impressive background in computer science intelligence corps and venture capital, Barrel shares invaluable insights about marketing strategies for startups at different stages. As a seasoned investor focused on cybersecurity, enterprise infrastructure, and deep tech, he emphasizes the critical importance of balancing lead generation with brand building - even in early-stage startups. The conversation delves into crucial topics like marketing budget allocation, compensation structures, and the delicate balance between stealth mode and market presence. Drawing from his decade of investment experience across firms like JVP, Intel Ignite, and Vintage, Barrel provides practical advice for founders on building successful marketing teams and avoiding common pitfalls in the startup journey.

Key Takeaways:

* Technical founders often underestimate the importance of branding and messaging from day one

* The marketing budget should not exceed 20% at the seed stage and 30% at Series A

* The ideal time to hire a full-time CMO is around Series B, with several million in revenue and multiple customers

* Working with branding agencies or fractional CMOs is recommended for early-stage startups

* Marketing KPIs should be divided between awareness, consideration/decision, and delight stages

* Short marketing team tenure is often due to easier measurability compared to other roles

* Thought leadership is crucial for early-stage startups, especially in competitive spaces

* Creating brand awareness needs to be balanced with maintaining stealth mode

* Marketing compensation should combine base salary with performance metrics

* Early validation of marketing hires is crucial for startup success

Chapters:0:00 - Introduction and Background 3:07 - The "Dark Side" of VC 3:59 - Marketing Team Success Factors 6:05 - VC Involvement in Marketing KPIs 8:11 - Marketing Budget Allocations 11:01 - Fractional CMO vs Agency Discussion 14:04 - Marketing Team Compensation Structure 18:04 - Marketing Role Retention Challenges 20:43 - Evaluating Marketing Success 22:48 - Marketing Due Diligence Process 25:23 - Common Marketing Mistakes 26:07 - Startup Misconceptions and Advice

Thanks for reading Founders' Marketing Compass! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Connect with our Guest:

Barrel's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrel-kfir-1597a8a6/

Etgar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/etgar/

Keywords:

#StartupMarketing #VentureCapital #MarketingStrategy #StartupGrowth #MarketingTeam #BrandBuilding #LeadGeneration #MarketingBudget #StartupInvestment #MarketingKPIs #DellTechnologiesCapital #StartupFounders #MarketingLeadership #TechStartups #StartupAdvice