5 Things I Learned from Jonathan Moffie of streamr.ai (and a Bonus I Didn’t Expect)
Let’s talk about Jonathan Moffie—a guy who’s basically the MacGyver of ad tech, armed with duct tape, a surfboard, and a smirk. He’s got big ideas about CTV, walled gardens, and why small businesses deserve their 15 seconds of fame (preferably sandwiched between Succession and Love Island reruns). After spending an hour with him, I walked away with some wild insights, a newfound respect for cupcake shops, and a burning question: how does someone this smart still hate Roombas?
1) Walled Gardens Are the Velvet Prisons of Ad Tech
Jonathan says publishers need to build their own walled gardens, but it’s like handing someone a garden spade in the middle of the Mojave. The metaphor might be cheeky, but the message is clear: if you want control, you need more than a shovel.
2) Gen AI for SMBs: The Karaoke Night of CTV
Jonathan’s vision for small businesses on CTV is ambitious—imagine Linda’s Cupcake Emporium running ads that rival Netflix trailers. But it’s a revolution where everyone’s invited to the mic, even if they’re tone-deaf.
3) “The Action is the Juice” is His Life Philosophy
Borrowed from Heat, this mantra sums up Jonathan’s career: the thrill of the grind is the reward. Also, if you don’t love what you do, you’re probably in the wrong movie.
4) Privacy Isn’t a Priority; It’s a Sales Pitch
Consent pop-ups? A bad Tinder date—overused, vague, and often ignored. Jonathan’s hot take? People don’t want fewer ads; they just want better ones.
5) CTV Advertising for SMBs Could Be Revolutionary
With tools like Streamr.ai, Jonathan is trying to make TV advertising accessible to businesses like cupcake shops and local law firms. His pitch? Get on prime time for as little as $500, without the headache of figuring out what a DMA even means.
Bonus Insight: He’s a Gettysburg Reenactment Kid
Jonathan casually dropped that he once slept in tents and gnawed on Civil War beef jerky. Who knew ad tech’s future included an old-school history buff with a soft spot for rethinking walled gardens?
Jonathan’s ideas are proof that the wild world of advertising might just get more creative—and a little funnier. Stay Bold, Stay Curious, and Know More Than You Did Yesterday. The ADOTAT Show