Ziggy Zografakis

It’s upfronts week, with many of the big TV networks, from NBCUniversal, to Fox to Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery hosting their annual presentations. Streaming giants Netflix and Amazon are also joining the festivities.   Measurement is emerging as an important part of this upfronts season, as advertisers are searching for more than just scale — they want to tie measurement and attribution data back to business results — meaning there is a bigger focus on the full loop from reach to conversion. Add in all the jockeying to be the dominant measurement currency and there’s a lot to talk about - with perhaps nothing more foundational than #identityresolution (especially for the connected household). It was a pleasure to join Chris Brooklier from The Trade Desk to talk about all of these things--and how Blockgraph is playing the important role of "data draino" unclogging the pipes of addressable television (credit Jonathan Heller). #householdidentity #measurement #attribution #signalloss #connectedTV #privacy

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Having a Cars and Capital event tomorrow in Southern California with Oren Klaff. If you want to join message me. https://lnkd.in/gDQ4D39u Oren Klaff Bridger Pennington #InvestorEvent #FamilyOffice #InvestmentOpportunity #CarlsbadEvent #PrivateEquity #WealthManagement #InvestmentConference #CapitalRaising #NetworkingEvent #IndustryLeaders #FinancialGrowth #InvestorsMeetup #WealthBuilding #BusinessGrowth #InvestmentForum

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TV's landscape is rapidly evolving, and this year's upfronts shed light on the emerging battle lines. Traditional TV networks are shoring up their defenses against the onslaught from Big Tech, while streaming platforms are capitalizing on surging viewership. What's fueling these strategies? Networks are fixated on measurement, believing they're not getting their due: "Despite all the talk about streaming, linear still has a higher percentage of usage when you think about the big screen” However, there's reluctance to embrace open measurement and on previous announcements: “99.9% of it turned out to be bullshit.” The rigidity in buying is a vulnerability for networks, which streamers are exploiting by emphasizing ease of transactions: “The biggest struggle with the upfront is that traditional media sellers are still not able to work in a modern world” On the other hand, Big Tech has the luxury of being able to play the long game, prioritizing innovation. But what about the currency discussions dominating prior upfronts?  “I think increasingly we’ll migrate away from a currency more towards a measurement framework, third party verifications and confidence that comes along with that.” Quotes from Adweek: https://lnkd.in/gUCXC-Qz Craig Service, Mark Schanzl, Isaac Stefaniw, Stu Carr, Simon Eames, William Montessori, Sam Bentley, Amie Warner, Cassidhe Lock, Erin Rolla, Kayla Jooste, Liz Lohman, Emily Duff, Helana Viliamu, Anthony Fitzgerald, Adrian Gonzalez, Grant Wechsel, Justin Lebbon #technology #tvmeasurement #adtech #insights #tvadvertising #vod #measurement #ai #aiadvertising

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At Costanoa Ventures, we pride ourselves on identifying and supporting exceptional founders poised to create impactful, lasting change. Hona is a shining example, driven by a trio of extremely talented founders: Manny Griffiths, Joshua Christensen, and Matt McClellan. They each bring unique, differentiated expertise to the table, and Amy Cheetham and I are extremely excited to partner with them. There are approximately 450,000 law firms in the United States, with half of those firms being B2C - think personal injury, mass tort, or immigration law as opposed to BigLaw. One of the reasons we love how Hona is tackling this market is their focus on B2C law firms and product excellence - B2B firms are historically difficult to sell brand new software products into, but B2C firms are completely different buyers. Oftentimes there's just a handful of lawyers and paralegals in a partnership, and any piece of technology they can use to give them an edge would be valuable. 44% of negative Google reviews on law firms directly reference poor communication as the reason for a negative experience, and the number 1 reason for Attorney Bar complaints in the U.S. is "lack of communication". On the lawyer's side, attorneys, paralegals and legal assistants spend an average of 7.4 hours per week on unnecessary updates, redundant communication, and activities that aren't directly contributing towards getting a client's case solved. Manny and the team at Hona are working to change all of that. Hona delivers a tightly-integrated communications platform to help facilitate better communication between law firms and their clients. During legal proceedings, client communications tend to be a large resource-stressor for law firms. Clients will frequently call firms for case updates, legal explanations, or general administrative questions that tend to eat away at firm resources without providing any additional progress toward case resolution. Hona exists to ease that burden - it’s a platform that allows law firms to efficiently communicate with their clients over text, easily build customizable web pages and embed videos, and share information on case status and basic legal process education. This crucial communication processes allow attorneys to focus on their job – moving cases forward, while keeping their clients informed and educated. If you're a lawyer dealing with these problems - don't hesitate to reach out to us or the Hona team! It's a privilege to work with Hona on this journey. The company has been growing at a rapid pace, and they're delivering meaningful technology to help people get through legal proceedings in a much more fluid, transparent, and easy process. Manny, Joshua, and Matt are exceptional founders whose combined skills and dedication to continuous learning position them perfectly to lead Hona to success. They're just getting started, and we can't wait to see what they'll achieve.

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I had an absolute blast today discussing increased demand and enthusiasm in the ad market at Viva Technology. Loved having the opportunity to delve into topics like trust, streaming, and generative AI alongside Milka Privodanova, David A Steinberg, Adam Bishop, and Tom Pepper on an amazing panel. Thank you! #VivaTechnology #AdMarket #AI #TechTalks (To get into the spirit of things, I let AI write this post)

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Announcing our commitment to enabling clients to buy Roku #CTV inventory the way they want with all the necessary signals and data

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It is no secret that fundraising has been incredibly challenging for founders at all stages. According to Carta’s Q1 2024 State of Private Markets report, Seed stage deal count fell 33% from Q4 2023 and Series A deal count fell 36%. Additionally, total cash raised in the same period was 30% less at each stage suggesting rounds sizes are also getting smaller. In this next edition of Collaborative Fund's Founder Support Series, I get into the details of how to prepare to fundraise in a challenging environment. Have a read and let me know what you think: https://lnkd.in/gJjqhsCd

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Streamline Your AdTech Stack - It's Time to Simplify! 💡 Targeting the right audience has never been more complex. Media companies need innovative solutions to bridge gaps in audience knowledge, but the temptation to add layers of tech to meet new ad formats and privacy regulations can be costly and complex. Covatic’s on-device technology provides a simple, cost-efficient, and highly effective solution with no need for cookies, IDs, or tracking. Find out how you can streamline your approach while still delivering results in my piece on overcoming signal-loss. ⬇ Learn more about Covatic’s technology here ▶ https://lnkd.in/ek8TaFvu #Marketing #Advertising #DataPrivacy #Innovation #AdTech #Media #Publishing #Marketing #Cookieless

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I'm generally supportive of the PET sub-sector, which is innovating not only to protect personal privacy, but to preserve the commercial model that underlies digital, and especially open-web programmatic advertising. It does, however, worry me when browser and device companies are in the privacy and data protection driver's seat. This approach is likely to mean more fragmentation, which makes it harder for brands and publishers to coordinate their audience addressability and measurement across media types, platforms and devices. It also creates an economic unevenness that has nothing to do with the actual value of an audience (see exhibit A: cookieless Safari CPMs). By way of example, let's take a look at Google Privacy Sandbox. Notwithstanding the multiple millions of dollars of investment required of most of us in adtech, Sandbox was designed to work initially with Chrome and eventually Android. That's nice, but totally unhelpful for brands and publishers that want to protect audiences using Safari, Firefox or any app in the iOS environment. And what about CTV? Mozilla is in a totally different category than Google, and as Allison reports, "... but as to whether Anonym will create any privacy-focused technology specifically for Firefox, Mozilla’s web browser, nothing’s been planned yet." Nonetheless, I think a degree of independence and cross-platform capabilities is key if we're going to succeed in preserving the value of trusted personal data relationships.

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For everyone following along with the #USvGoogle adtech antitrust trial, check out this helpful explainer by Adam Heimlich, featuring Brian O'Kelley on the history of header bidding. According to the DOJ's complaint "publishers used header bidding to take back some degree of power over their own advertising transactions" - and Google saw that as an "existential threat" that needed to be neutralized. Here's why. Link: https://lnkd.in/e8kKnxRh #adtech #competition #bigtech

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IYKYK. This is how we harness the chaos for brands and agencies. And it’s why we are the #1 multiscreen video provider in our markets. Spectrum Reach #builtforwhatsnowandwhatsnext

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🌟Innovative VC Firm Overcomes Exits Drought with Secondary Sales🌟 ⛵Navigating a challenging landscape where exits are scarce, Santa Barbara Venture Partners (SBVP) has pioneered a novel approach to sustain its growth and attract investors for its second fund: secondary sales. Instead of waiting for traditional exits like IPOs or acquisitions, SBVP opted to sell shares of its portfolio companies, demonstrating its ability to generate returns for investors and stand out in a competitive market. 🎤According to Dan Engel, founder and managing partner of SBVP, these secondary transactions have been a game-changer, sparking investor interest and bolstering the firm's credibility. By leveraging its recent successes, including a lucrative stake in sports-betting company DraftKings Inc.' acquisition of digital lottery app Jackpocket, SBVP seized the opportunity to return profits to its limited partners (LPs) and pave the way for its second fund. 💡Engel highlighted the challenges faced by young VC firms in raising subsequent funds, particularly amid a downturn in exit activity and heightened investor scrutiny. With traditional exit routes becoming increasingly elusive, the pressure is on for firms to demonstrate tangible returns and establish a track record of success. ✨"For us, secondary sales have been a game-changer. They've helped us return profits to our LPs and attract investors for our second fund," said Dan Engel. 💰For SBVP, the decision to pursue secondary sales was driven by the need to provide liquidity to LPs and validate its investment thesis in the eyes of prospective investors. By strategically offloading portions of its holdings in high-performing portfolio companies like Bark Technologies and Rad AI, SBVP not only generated substantial returns but also bolstered investor confidence in its ability to deliver results. ⚠Despite the complexities and potential stigma associated with early share sales, Engel emphasized the importance of prioritizing investor returns and seizing opportunities to unlock value for stakeholders. With a focus on profitability and transparency, SBVP remains committed to its mission of delivering sustainable growth and maximizing returns for its LPs. 🔍 "Returning profits to our investors is our top priority. By strategically selling shares, we're proving our commitment to delivering results and driving value for our stakeholders," added Engel. As SBVP continues to explore secondary transactions and expand its investor base, the firm stands as a testament to innovation and resilience in the face of market challenges. 🚀 ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #fund and increase the international pool of your LP #investors?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE #VCInnovation #SecondarySalesSuccess #InvestorReturns #ValueCreation 

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In our March San Francisco Beelieve Conference, Adam Lifshitz, Sr. Director of Product Subscriptions from Condé Nast, opened the Chargebee audience eyes to how Conde's media brands are constantly improving at acquiring and retaining millions of media subscribers through targeting, testing, and engagement of niche audiences. This has had had an "immense" impact on Conde's top line. 📈 From our new case study, now live: "Deploying Chargebee Retention transformed our strategy, allowing us to craft targeted experiences for niche audiences. By simply introducing this technology, we witnessed a notable increase in customer retention. Through a customized approach to retain subscribers, we initially focused on simply reiterating the value they gain by staying with us, which in itself resulted in a significant boost in retention right out of the gate." Adam Lifshitz thank you for you/your teams' efforts to constantly improve your subscription business with Chargebee - and for being a great partner! Case study linked in comments below ⬇

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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. 👇

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This is such a wonderful news to learn that Connected TV is gaining traction in this marketing world. Honestly, everytime I see a brand buying the tiny bottom footer of the top header banners with illegible fonts and images on mobile, I cringe and almost want to scream. Cheap CPM and CPC is not about sacrificing your brand image to chase the reach figure. A reach is nothing to your potential customer is you can’t even communicate your message clearly and standout from the crowd. Time to rethink everyone? What metrics matter most? Ultimate is always the revenue and margins, not your reach and frequency figures. When will we shake off this mindset?

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I recently spoke with Alyssa Boyle about why advertisers are doubling down on #CTV outcomes measurement (as affirmed by many conversations I had with industry leaders in Cannes this past week). A common theme among the marketers I talked to? They’re looking for metrics that can predict sales based on fast, accurate data. Outcomes such as search activity, website visits, and app downloads are significant indicators that a consumer is considering a purchase — and highly correlated with a brand’s market share. That’s why a brand’s Share of Search grows (or shrinks) before its market share – which our data, validated by Les Binet and the EffWorks working group of the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising), has proven time and again. Given this, it’s no wonder why modern marketers need reliable, investment-grade outcomes data to navigate this complex era of linear and streaming TV. Check out the condensed version of my conversation with Alyssa in AdExchanger for more. https://lnkd.in/erkGsKJi

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The pullback by advertisers and the demand for “rollbacks” on rates, particularly in streaming, could significantly impact the quality and type of programming offered by TV networks. There will most likely be budget cuts and shifts to more cost-effectice content. With advertisers unwilling to commit substantial amounts, networks may face reduced revenue. This financial pressure could lead to budget cuts for content creation, affecting the quality and diversity of programming. High-cost productions such as original dramas, reality shows, and exclusive sports coverage may see reduced investment. Also, we’ll see how networks might opt for even more cost-effective programming like reality TV, game shows, or reruns of popular older series, which are cheaper to produce than high-quality original content. Time will tell.

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I think adtech is having the wrong debate (open web vs walled gardens). Programmatic can live on with proper curation and specifically more engagement between players on the buy side (beyond DSPs) and sell side. https://lnkd.in/gnjynVmd

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