Sean Griffey

To all #founders and #entrepreneurs out there, our intro meetings are conversational and easy going. Feel free to message me to setup a call. Learn what Pioneera Ventures can do for you!

22

Ever wondered how “Inbound Marketing” truly looks in action? Take a story from my experience: When Uber X launched in Raleigh in 2014, I crafted a detailed LinkedIn post on how we clinched a 90% market share over our competitors within just three months. The outcome? A whopping 20 high-quality inbound leads are all intrigued about our go-to-market strategies. This is a classic example of how showcasing your expertise can magnetically attract potential clients. But let's not overlook the power of outbound strategies. It's about meticulously crafting and nurturing relationships, rather than opting for a hard sell off the bat. Focus on solving a problem rather than simply 'selling' a solution. For effective outbound, pinpoint your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), understand their pain points deeply, and tailor your outreach to address these issues directly. This method drastically heightens the chances of getting a meaningful response. So, when sculpting your marketing approach, remember: inbound is about legitimizing your expertise and drawing people in, while outbound should focus on personalized, problem-solving interactions. Transform how you generate leads by seamlessly integrating both strategies for maximum impact. What’s your go-to strategy for generating leads: Inbound or Outbound? 🎯 #DigitalMarketing #InboundMarketing #OutboundMarketing #LeadGeneration #MarketingStrategy #LinkedInSuccess

5

I’ve had some thought provoking discussions with #founders, investors and fellow advisors recently on #marketing efficiency, channel mix, measurement and incrementality. As someone who’s recently transitioned from leading in enterprise environments (Google) to advising scrappier setups, I know it’s not easy. Be that as it may, here are a few observations & rules of thumb worth considering: 1️⃣𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 & 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁: ✔️Spend more time on decisions where implications cascade down vs. silo-ed ones that have less surface area impact. ✔️Therefore, when it comes to high-level channel strategy (or that eternal brand vs performance question), it's better to be directionally on track vs. obsessing with precision at a narrower level. ✔️There is no silver bullet that will solve everything overnight. Yes, some channels could give you clear signs of success early on, others give you a proxy or lagging indicator. That has no bearing on effectiveness. 2️⃣𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 (𝗖𝗔𝗖): ✔️I’m not sure how many founders or investors truly understand 'demand creation’ vs. 'demand capture’ or how to evaluate certain channels over a longer time frame. ✔️The oft quoted #CAC metric is, more often than not, a garbage in - garbage out situation. It’s the easiest metric to game in the short term. 3️⃣𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (+ 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆) 𝗳𝗼𝗿 #𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀: ✔️You could argue that at an early stage, any marketing is likely to be more 'incremental’ than not. I agree that the benefit of better measurement (better channel allocation & forecasting) should be > the cost to implement it (analytics resources, dashboards). ✔️However, when you expand to 3+ channels, it is worth knowing what channel is in the driving seat [causing your car to move] vs. tagging along [pun intended] for the ride. ✔️It’s interesting that MMMs, the stalwarts of econometric measurement, are witnessing a comeback as marketers look for a future-proof solution in light of cookie deprecation and cross-channel tracking issues. There’s likely to be more innovation here courtesy LLMs, particularly solutions that are open source, lightweight or more actionable. ✔️ While modelling & experiments are the collective holy grail, there are tactics that can improve the chances of your marketing being more incremental as you scale. a) If you’re running acquisition campaigns, exclude your existing customers from being targeted with paid ads. Sounds basic, but this often gets overlooked. b) Avoid over-indexing on brand SEM or retargeting campaigns. The last click ROI may look great, but you’re just using paid ads for use cases that your owned touch points should address efficiently.

23

Thanks to Kanhai Kapadia for hosting me on the Hindsight podcast. It was a lot of fun talking about the importance of data in helping brands manage profitability and also how both Consumer Brands and SaaS companies are transitioning to this post-zirp environment #dtc #analytics

21

1 Comment

Such an excellent conversation this week. For those in venture capital, this is a must listen. https://lnkd.in/gQUgM8q9

1

1 Comment

En route to meet a potential seller in DC, I can't help but reflect on the key considerations outlined in my recent Forbes Business Council article - "Passing The Torch: Finding The Right Buyer For Your Tech Business." Founders of SMBs pour their hearts into nurturing their ventures, so the decision to sell demands meticulous evaluation of prospective buyers. A buyer’s expertise, vision, and commitment to honoring your legacy while unlocking new growth avenues are paramount. Thoroughly vetting buyers' presentations on these aspects is crucial, as it takes decades to cultivate a thriving business, but mere minutes to undermine it. The right buyer can not only preserve your rich history but also catalyze expansion into new markets by combining complementary strengths. I invite you to read the full article for an in-depth exploration of this pivotal juncture for tech entrepreneurs, and share your thoughts in the comments! P.S. if you are in DC today and tomorrow (May 16th/17th) let’s meet up! DM me. https://lnkd.in/eytRcCjX

19

1 Comment

Darden Restaurants recently reported its quarterly results, showcasing resilience amidst a challenging environment. While Olive Garden faced a decline in same-store sales for the second consecutive quarter, Darden's overall performance remained steady, with earnings per share surpassing expectations at $2.65 and revenue reaching $2.96 billion. Looking forward to fiscal 2025, Darden projects a promising outlook with expected earnings per share between $9.40 and $9.60 and anticipated net sales of $11.8 billion to $11.9 billion. The company's LongHorn Steakhouse segment notably reported a 4% increase in same-store sales, underscoring Darden's effective management and operational strength. With plans to invest $550 million to $600 million in capital expenditures, Darden is poised to enhance its offerings and maintain its competitive edge in the market. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/eFgDC97p #hospitality #restaurants #technology #innovation Branded Hospitality Ventures Angelo Fama Jr. John Espy Dave George Daryl L. Cunningham Lisa McDowell Robert Anderson Ali Charri

18

1 Comment

It’s one thing to go to events in DTC and e-comm, it’s another to fully take advantage of them. Here are my two main takeaways from the conversations I had at Shoptalk in Vegas: 1) Meeting/chatting in person is key to deepening relationships. I had the opportunity to meet customers, partners, and even Prive team members for the first time in person while at the event. Chatting in person helped us bond and understand each other better, which holds a lot of value. It was also cool to see that even in a very competitive market, people are still genuinely kind and friendly. It might seem from the outside that competitors should dislike each other, but I saw first-hand at ShopTalk that we’re all in this together and can still be kind to one another in the process. 2. Strong partnerships are something more brands are looking for. When talking with brand founders, the one big thing a lot of them mentioned was the desire for a strong partnership with every company they work with. Many people shared that they were left unsupported with tools/tech after buying them — this underscored the value of our approach at Prive. We prioritize a partnership mentality, offering whatever help our customers need post-onboarding. For a lot of brands and industry leaders, the emphasis is on the quality of partnership, not just the product features. Overall, ShopTalk was a blast and it was great getting to chat with every single one of you. If you were there — do you feel a similar way?

19

AI will make news and content even more a commidity.. human beings, unique positions as well as human connections will become the key to the #futureofmedia

3

Today, Last Money In Media is excited to share a guest post from one of our colleagues Phil Nadel, who leads Forefront Venture Partners. Phil wrote a piece title "The Misaligned Syndicate Incentive Structure" to provide a viewpoint on syndicates doing high volume deals versus those that are more concentrated. (link to full post in comments) Forefront Venture Partners formed one of the first syndicates about 12 years ago. They have invested in more than 200 rounds in over 100 companies since then. Additionally, they started a rolling fund about 3 years ago. Given Phil’s experience across models (SPVs/Funds) and having seen the evolution of the syndicate ecosystem over the last decade, Phil has offered to share his unique perspective with Last Money In Media readers in our article published today. In this Last Money In Media article, Phil discusses: - His POV on the incentive structure in the SPV ecosystem - The landscape shift to some higher volume syndicate GPs - Why Rolling Funds may be a better alternative for some LPs - And more The full article is in the comments for further reading. Powered by Sydecar, Last Money In Media is the most actionable venture capital newsletter. Written by Zachary Ginsburg and Alex Pattis who have deployed > $200M across 700+ SPVs.

10

4 Comments

I had the pleasure of being introduced to Ralph Allen, COO at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP by Trish Lilley and he was kind enough not only to speak at CMO Series Live, but also to record this CMO Series Podcast with Passle's Edward Lovatt. Worth a listen if you are interested in how to drive new business at a law firm. I love the chat about Painkillers vs Vitamins - (15.24min) #legalmarketing #leadership #Podcast

31

In this episode, I speak with corporate punk rocker, Greg Larkin, known as the "Anthony Bourdain of Business" and founder and CEO of Punks and Pinstripes. Like Anthony Bourdain, Greg keeps it real as he authentically shares his story about moving up the career ladder while worrying about losing his true punk rock self. Greg talks about his belief in the importance of "business punks" in driving change, especially during crucial moments of disruption or organizational crisis. He shares how his amazing track record of success was based partly on the ability to pitch outcomes rather than ideas or visions. He explores strategies for navigating and overcoming the corporate immune response system, based on some hard learned lessons. Greg outlines exit strategies for those who find themselves as catalysts in environments resistant to change, including walled gardens, bear hugs, spin-offs, leaving, and transforming from within. He critiques "state-sanctioned" innovation efforts as often being mere lip service and stresses the importance of genuine empowerment and support for Catalysts. You won't want to miss this real, raw conversation: https://lnkd.in/dvs9if2A

2

If you're building a fintech startup, you likely know of this investor, but just in case... This week's findfunding.vc spotlight is on Neil Kapur from TTV Capital. He: 🛫 Is based in SF & Atlanta 💲 Has spent time at Google in consumer-facing payments & at two fintech startups  🏔️ Loves alpine mountaineering and has climbed Kilimanjaro, Denali, Rainier, and more!! Amongst founders, Neil and the team at TTV Capital , including Gardiner Garrard, Mark Johnson, Sean Banks, Lizzie Guynn, and Laney Lewis are known for saying “lift, not lean.” They believe that their job as investors is not to create work for founders, but instead ask the right questions and help navigate to the best outcomes. Knowing Neil well personally, he's not only my go-to person for anything related to fintech but I can also highly recommend having him on your cap table - he's the kind of human you want to have in your corner during both good times and bad. Make sure to: ✉️ Pitch him at nkapur@ttvcapital.com ➡️ Follow TTV Capital on LinkedIn For more, check out our funder spotlight card below along with TTV Capital's profile on findfunding.vc (link in comments).

172

16 Comments

The transition from Operator to VC Partner is not always as straightforward as we think. Some great advice today from Victor Lazarte in today's Fortune Term Sheet. I thought it was worth sharing. The heart of the matter is contained in this quote: “One mistake that I’ve made, that I think is common for operators-turned-investors, is that when someone pitches a company, you project a lot into it,” said Lazarte. “You can do this or that thing, and get very excited about the company you’d build in that person’s place—and that’s a huge mistake…This one time I brought a company in and all the partners asked why I was excited about such a small market. And I was like, yeah, but after they do this, there’s an opportunity to go much further…People reminded me then—the entrepreneur hadn’t pitched us on any of this, that [I’m thinking about] the company I would do.” Great insight for all entrepreneurs and investors! Endeavor Colorado Zeb King Tegan Stanbach Kathryn Dickson #privateequity #venturecapital #investing #innovation #entrepreneurship #founders #startups https://lnkd.in/g5-3uy5K

10

Is this the future of content creation? I created TellBrain.com to help the marketing teams at Crane Venture Partners portfolio companies to better understand the opportunities with GenAI in creating marketing content. From topic selection to published blog post (with hero image and resource links) in less than 5 minutes. #contentmarketing #aiexperiment

22

6 Comments

First reactions to noncompete ban: * Startup valuations (at certain stages) just took a significant haircut in valuation. * More capital will be required to start businesses. * EQ in management became a lot more valuable. * Employee equity pools will be critical. * Startups with real, protectable IP will not be hit as bad. https://lnkd.in/gsPnbAxf

4

1 Comment

Start-up rules - Just say no - If you get an acquisition offer don't be afraid to say no. If you think about your greatest investments in life, investing and believing in yourself is usually a great return on investment. A few years into building Tripadvisor with my partners Steve Kaufer, Nicholas Shanny and Thomas Palka, we received a very attractive offer to buy the company. For all us it would have been life changing economics and a reward for years of hard work. After consulting with our board and doing a serious gut check, we decided to say no..... I would be lying if I did not say that saying no was very hard. All of us were young, with young kids and not much in savings and the payout from this acquisition would have been significant for all the founders and employees. However, we believed that what we were building was a unique service that had a great future and that farther down the road there would be a greater financial outcome. As time went along we received a few additional offers that we also turned down. Eventually we did sell the company to IAC/Expedia at a price far above the initial offer we turned down. Obviously not all start-ups get acquired and if your company does receive an acquisition inquiry you should consider if very carefully. Talk with your board and think carefully not only about yourself but your other shareholders and employees. It is a serious decision affecting many stakeholders. However, If you are fortunate to receive an offer to buy your company, don't be afraid to say no. Your best return on investment in life is usually an investment in yourself.

38

2 Comments

Brad Vynalek, Jennifer Rupkey, and Ed Lovatt discuss the vital link between firm leadership and business development. Learn how their collaborative approach drives firm success. #LegalBusiness #Leadership #BusinessDevelopment

3

The job of a CFO in venture is "fascinating"... I've worked with the best!... Kim, Kristin, and now Mark Allen at GC. It requires precision, creativity and a collaborative spirit. Sasha Orloff captures it all in Mark's words... here in his latest podcast episode. 👇

19