Avery Schrader is the founder and CEO of Modash, a leading influencer marketing platform that helps brands scale partnerships with content creators. With a background in building relationships and driving results for companies like Bolt and Verif, Avery’s journey to creating Modash stems from firsthand experience in the creator economy. Modash now serves over 1,500 customers globally, including brands like Victoria’s Secret and Birkenstock, enabling them to discover and manage influencer campaigns effectively. The company recently raised an impressive 11mEUR Series A round.

On this episode we talk about:

• Why influencer partnerships outperform traditional ads and how brands can leverage authentic storytelling.
• Avery’s entrepreneurial journey, including product validation and pivoting to focus on search functionality.
• Practical advice on selecting creators, setting expectations, and adopting a portfolio-based approach.
• How startups can use influencers creatively for brand awareness and niche audience engagement.
• Key metrics to track, attribution challenges, and strategies for ensuring ROI.
• The importance of hiring top talent, structuring company values, and fostering a high-performance culture.

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If you liked this episode or simply want to support the work we do, buy us a coffee or two, or a hundred, with just a few clicks at: https://buymeacoffee.com/pursuitofscrappiness

Find all episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/

Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA

Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/

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Vlad Zhovtenko is the founder and CEO of RedTrack, a leading ad tracking platform used by over 800 businesses to measure and optimize ad performance across 60,000 ad accounts worldwide. With deep experience in marketing technology, Vlad has built a solution that simplifies complex ad attribution, helping companies better understand their campaign ROI and maximize advertising budgets. The company recently raised 2.9mEUR to fulfill their mission.

On this episode we talk about:

• How AI improves ad performance tracking and automates decision-making processes for marketers.
• Why accurate tracking remains difficult across multiple touchpoints and devices.
• Why B2B companies should embrace Black Friday.
• Why smaller companies often overlook valuable tools and strategies for optimizing ad spend.
• How tracking and observing data daily helps founders identify key patterns and make better decisions.

Resources referenced in the episode:

• Book Scientific Advertising for ageless marketing wisdom - https://www.amazon.com/Scientific-Advertising-Claude-C-Hopkins/dp/1453821082

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If you liked this episode or simply want to support the work we do, buy us a coffee or two, or a hundred, with just a few clicks at: https://buymeacoffee.com/pursuitofscrappiness

Find all episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/

Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA

Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/

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Ragnar Sass is a serial entrepreneur, co-founder of the unicorn Pipedrive, and an active investor in the Baltic and Ukrainian tech scenes. Beyond his entrepreneurial success, Ragnar has emerged as a leading advocate for Ukraine during its time of crisis, founding the Help99 Convoy initiative, which has delivered over €10 million in aid and critical supplies. With deep ties to Ukraine through business and personal connections, Ragnar is leveraging his expertise to support defense tech innovation and foster resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges.

On this episode we talk about:

• The Role of drone technology in modern warfare
• Stories of Ukrainian founders balancing entrepreneurship and national defense efforts amidst war.
• Opportunities in DefenseTech and how also non-technical founders can contribute
• Insights into navigating compliance, fundraising, and long sales cycles in the defense sector.
• Lessons from Israel’s defense model and how Europe must adapt to new security realities.

To continue supporting Ukraine financially, go to: https://www.help99.co/
==

If you liked this episode or simply want to support the work we do, buy us a coffee or two, or a hundred, with just a few clicks at: https://buymeacoffee.com/pursuitofscrappiness

Find all episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/

Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA

Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/

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Martin Sokk is the Founder and CEO of Lightyear - the greatest investing app for stocks, bonds, ETFs, you name it. The company raised 25mUSD back in 2022 from such big name investors as Lightspeed venture partners, Virgin Group, Taavet+Sten, Metaplanet and others and has been building relentlessly since. Martin was on our show before on episode 81 shortly after their Series A round, so you are welcome to scroll back!

On this episode we talk about:

- Navigating Regulatory Challenges in Fintech
- The Importance of Localization in European Markets
- Building a Simple and Intuitive User Experience
- Balancing Sustainability and Profitability
- Fundraising Strategies and Longevity in Startups

==
If you liked this episode or simply want to support the work we do, buy us a coffee or two, or a hundred, with just a few clicks at: https://buymeacoffee.com/pursuitofscrappiness

Find all episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/

Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA

Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/

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This is an insight from our previous conversation on making your visual presentations more powerful:

• Breaking down complex concepts into essential elements to make them easier to understand
• Avoiding clutter in visual presentations, highlighting that simplicity and minimalism
• A method for testing visuals you can apply today

Janis Ozolins is an illustrator known for his compelling visual content on LinkedIn and Twitter. He has built an impressive following on these platforms, showcasing his unique ability to visualize and simplify complex life and business concepts. His work, which often addresses themes like productivity, procrastination, and overcoming perfectionism, resonates with a wide audience. Janis's skills have not only attracted the attention of top LinkedIn influencers like Justin Welsh and Sahil Bloom but have also made him a sought-after figure in the realm of content creation. Through his work, Janis demonstrates how to make business presentations more effective and points more relatable, turning content creation into a thriving business​​.

Listen to the full conversation with Janis here on Episode 140:

• Link to Spotify
• Link to Apple Podcasts
• https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/episodes/140-janis-ozolins

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Find all episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/

Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA

Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/

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Anna-Liisa Palatu is the co-founder and CEO of Woola, an Estonian startup transforming waste wool into sustainable packaging to replace plastic. Under her leadership, Woola has gained recognition across Europe, securing high-profile clients like LVMH and raising €2.5 million to scale operations.

On this episode we talk about:

• Why plastic is harmful, from fossil fuel origins to its lack of recyclability.
• The challenges of pricing sustainable packaging in a plastic-dominated market.
• How end-user demand is driving companies to adopt eco-friendly solutions.
• Why founders are the best salespeople and how Woola built its customer base from day one.
• Staying true to company values while navigating crises and rejecting unethical opportunities.

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Find all episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/

Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA

Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/

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This is an insight from our previous conversation on product-market fit:

• What is product-market fit and how do you know you have it?
• Measuring product-market fit
• Methodology for continuous work with product-market fit

Rahul Vohra, the CEO and founder of Superhuman, has revolutionized the email experience by creating the world's fastest email service. A seasoned entrepreneur, Vohra previously sold his first startup to LinkedIn and has since grown Superhuman into a notable presence in the email and productivity sphere, backed by 125mUSD in venture capital funding from investors such as Dropbox founders, Jason Calacanis, Ashton Kutcher, Will Smith and Tiger Global. He is also an angel investor and frequently appears in media such as Forbes, Fortune as well as on many podcasts you might also be a listener of such as Acquired, This Week in Startups or My First Million.

Listen to the full conversation with Rahul here on Episode 155:

• Link to Spotify
• Link to Apple Podcasts
• https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/episodes/155-rahul-vohra

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Find all episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/

Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA

Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/

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Kieran Donovan is the Founder and CEO of k-ID, a company dedicated to protecting children and teens online. Earlier this year the company raised a 45mUSD Series A round led by A16Z and Lightspeed Venture Partners. With a background in privacy law, Kieran combines his expertise with a commitment to creating age-appropriate online experiences.

On this episode we talk about:

• Challenges of trust and safety in digital spaces for kids
• How traditional controls often fall short of creating safe online spaces for children.
• Why parent involvement is critical in creating positive online experiences for kids.
• Insights on navigating legal, ethical, and technical challenges in the trust and safety space.
• How advancements in AI and tech can support safer digital environments.

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Find all episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/

Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA

Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/

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Mathias Eklof is a Swedish impact entrepreneur and investor with Hype Ventures. He has remained steadfast in supporting Ukrainian founders as war continues raging on in Ukraine. Since his last appearance on the show in 2022, he has been spending considerable time in Kyiv and with his military background being able to offer unique insights into Ukraine’s tech and investment scene during this critical period. More recently Mathias has co-founded a new higher education product called Pareto School, which offers an alternative to traditional business education.

On this episode we talk about:

• Applying the 80/20 Pareto principle in life and business
• Reimagining business education
• The role of AI and skillful prompting in education
• The power of cohort-based learning

Listen to the first part of this recording discussing building companies in wartime Ukraine on the previous episode from this Tuesday!

Listen to the 2022 recording with Mathias on episode 70: https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/episodes/70-mathias-eklof-hypeventures

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Find all episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/

Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA

Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/

===============

Support the show

Mathias Eklof is a Swedish impact entrepreneur and investor with Hype Ventures. He has remained steadfast in supporting Ukrainian founders as war continues raging on in Ukraine. Since his last appearance on the show in 2022, he has been spending considerable time in Kyiv being able to offer unique insights into Ukraine’s tech and investment scene during this critical period. More recently Mathias has co-founded a new higher education product called Pareto School, which offers an alternative to traditional business education.

On this episode we talk about:

• The mood on the ground in Kyiv tech scene
• Challenges with mobilization and “booking”
• Investing when founders and key people can be mobilized
• Growth of Ukrainian DefenseTech sector

Listen to the second part of this recording discussing the future of education on the next episode this Thursday!

Listen to the 2022 recording with Mathias on episode 70: https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/episodes/70-mathias-eklof-hypeventures

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Find all episodes on >  https://www.pursuitofscrappiness.co/

Watch select full-length episodes on our YouTube channel > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6ueaLnjS-CQfrMCm2EoTA

Connect with us on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/company/pursuit-of-scrappiness/

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Support the show