Aubrie-Ann Jones

I don't usually do LI on Saturdays but this was too good to not share. For the Founders in my community this advice from Angel Investor Katie Dunn provides The How-To on introducing yourself to others at Pitch events. While it's for the upcoming #NYTW it applies in anywhere. Study it. Follow it. If I may add: 🙂 Remember investors are human, not ATMs. Connect from a place of sincerity and don't just ask about them as a gesture, sincerely be more curious and care. While you may be anxious and/or excited about the opportunity of getting a deal, building relationships and reciprocity is always the most valuable win. Maybe they don't invest in your business today, but they may another time, or may be a better match for someone else in your network (offer the introduction). 💰 The money and the match is out there. Be assertive, but patient. Remember, you're not proving your self-worth as a human being, you are already doing your damn best being where you are. You are proving why your product/service is of benefit to the world today, that there's market demand for it, that it's able to generate an ROI and scale, and why you and your team are the best suited to lead the company forward. 💪 Own your strengths with confidence, these are your gifts, but also be humble and don't downplay your weaknesses. Know what they are and what's required to solve for them, see them as opportunities for growth and outside support. ⚡️ Psych yourself up, and ground yourself to find a healthy balance of energy. Athletes do this before the game, musicians before the show, speakers before the stage. Get good rest and sleep, hydrate, eat well, don't overdo the caffeine, go barefoot outside (true grounding on the Earth), stretch, and then do some jumping jacks, pushups - or similar to take that grounded energy and lift it up into a place of confidence and go-get-em attitude and helping get everything flowing through your body. You got this. Put on the music that makes you feel good, squeeze your loved ones, and breathe. ⭐️ Last but not least, remember your North Star. Remember why you're doing this in the first place. What sparked you on this journey, how would those engaged with your product/service be better off because of your success, what happened along your journey in life that put you in the right place and the right time to be where you are today. Find the thread. This will help you feel a connection to something greater than just you... whatever that is... In sum - treat this as a human experience, not a transactional one. ✌️ #pitching #networking #founders #startups

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Planning your channel strategy for an upcoming medical conference? Check out this article from Amanda Changuris breaking down volume of conversation on X. ⬇️

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Brit Morin, Jessica E. Lessin, Sam Lessin and Dave Morin had a really interesting conversation on a podcast this week about media businesses, the tribulations of the The Washington Post and how it's losing piles of money and subs. The discussion dipped into something Chris Anderson coined 20 years ago, perhaps before their time, called "long tail" content. Essentially his thesis called on creators to hyper-focus only on their niche, becoming the expert in hacking heat pumps or the best practices of dog grooming. Now, I'm one of those always looking to appeal to the broadest audience possible so naturally I've pushed against this framework, considering it too limiting. Then I met and worked under Robert Allbritton at POLITICO, where in spite of many in the company not on board with the philosophy, he talked about starting the company to deliver value to a sliver of the audience: those most powerful in the halls of government and soup of politics (and charge significant money for it). Needless to say it was a winning approach, because it's unlikely Axel Springer paid a billion dollars a few years ago for the ad-supported general news side of the house - as terrific as that content is. It was the subscription "Pro" product that overdelivered to that wonky sliver. And while the chatters on the pod did not say so, a similar strategy could well work for the Post: Turn 80% of the operation toward finding a little white space in the "political and policy makers" space, and become an absolute authority there ... and then, of course, license all that to the LLMs ;-) (But that's a story for another post.)

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Roon's most recent launch, Roon Fertility, is an exciting one. If you're navigating a fertility journey, or are even fertility curious, I encourage you to check it out! It's a labor of love that brings you trusted responses to any question – all through short-form videos and AI instant answers, powered by fertility experts. From the very basics (Should I freeze my eggs? What factors impact male fertility?) to the most specific (Can I do PGT-M to select embryos without the BRCA mutation?). Personally, it's been a dream to work with my childhood idol (and name twin), Olympian Tara Lipinski, to bring this to life. Check out this People article on why she's passionate about Roon: https://lnkd.in/e3BpxgdY & join Roon for free at roon.com

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Fundamentally, advertising is akin to financial services. Marketers give agencies a budget just as investors give financial advisors investment dollars. Advertising and Marketing has lost sight of this notion and it's exciting to see events like AdTech Economic Forum address the ROI factor of this industry. mktg.ai is looking forward to seeing Brian Wieser, CFA Madison and Wall and a host of industry leaders. #marketing #advertising

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$40M isn’t just a win for TailorMed—it’s a seismic shift for healthcare’s affordability game. Out of New York City, co-founders Israel (Srulik) Dvorsky (the vision guy) and Adam Siton (the tech genius) are taking a broken system and building something that actually works. Their play? Smashing the financial barriers that leave patients stranded, one automated solution at a time. Here’s the magic: TailorMed’s platform doesn’t just identify funding gaps—it connects the dots. Think 750+ hospitals, 1,300 clinics, and 600 pharmacies using their tech to access 6,000+ financial resources with zero friction. Real-time API connections? Check. Insurance coverage analysis? Check. Automated enrollment that actually works? You get the idea. It’s seamless, it’s scalable, and it’s changing the way healthcare providers and patients approach affordability. This latest round—$27.5M in equity and $12.5M in debt led by Poalim Tech —brings their total funding to $69M, and the backers read like a who’s who of impact-driven investors. Windham Capital Partners is leading the charge, with Samsung Next, BrightEdge - American Cancer Society , Citi (Impact Fund), and a slew of hospital investment arms doubling down. The faith is justified—TailorMed’s already a key player for healthcare giants like Providence Health & Services, UnityPoint Health, and Yale New Haven Health. And let’s not miss the real story: TailorMed’s not just building tools—they’re driving a movement. They’ve been named to the 2024 New York Digital Health Innovation Lab 100, and they’re only heating up. The goal? Scale harder, expand partnerships, and keep sharpening the tech that’s making “unaffordable care” an outdated concept. When Srulik says, “We’re creating a healthcare system where affordability is the standard,” it’s not just words—it’s a battle cry. TailorMed’s smashing walls, rewriting the rules, and proving that the future of healthcare isn’t just hopeful—it’s inevitable. #Startups #HealthCare #HealthTech #Innovation #PatientFinancing #AffordableHealthCare #Technology #NYCTech #NYCTechEcosystem #TechEcosystem #StartupEcosystem #VentureCapital #StartupFunding

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A very special package landed on my front porch yesterday - I was honored to be named by both Pavilion & TrustRadius as Fractional Advisor of the Year at this year's GTM awards. This recognition has me reflecting on a critical decision many scaling businesses face: when to hire a full-time CMO versus bringing on a Fractional CMO. Both options offer unique advantages tailored to diverse needs. As your high-growth business scales, understanding which approach best aligns with your strategic marketing objectives and growth ambitions can make all the difference in driving sustainable success. Let's dig into each: Understanding the Distinctions: - Full-Time CMO: Is dedicated to crafting and implementing marketing strategies, leading teams, and driving growth efforts daily. They're fully immersed in company culture and have a thorough understanding of its goals and challenges. - Fractional CMO: A Fractional CMO is an outsourced, part-time marketing expert providing high-level guidance on a contract basis. This role offers flexibility, giving businesses access to marketing expertise without the commitment or cost of a full-time executive. Cost Breakdown - Full-Time CMO: The average annual salary for a full-time CMO in the U.S. ranges from $150,000 to $250,000, excluding bonuses, benefits, equity, and other compensation. - Fractional CMO: Fractional CMOs work part-time with businesses typically paying $8,000 to $30,000 per month, based on factors like expertise level and scope. Pros and Cons: - Full-Time CMO: -- Pros: Offers dedicated leadership and is integrated into the company's operations and goals, ideal for long-term planning. -- Cons: Can be challenging for smaller companies, especially with added expenses for overhead. - Fractional CMO: -- Pros: Offer a cost-effective way to bring in expert guidance without a full-time commitment, offering flexibility to adjust marketing efforts. -- Cons: May not be as integrated into company culture and have limited ability as they often work for multiple companies. When to Choose a Full-Time CMO -Long-Term Strategy Execution: For sustained marketing goals and brand-building, a full-time CMO provides continuous leadership and cohesive strategies. -In-House Integration: Companies needing a marketing leader embedded in the organization to drive cross-department collaboration may benefit from a full-time CMO. When to Choose a Fractional CMO - Budget Constraints: For startups and scaling businesses with limited budgets, a fCMO allows access to expert marketing without high costs. - Specialized Expertise: A fCMO brings targeted skills for specific initiatives, such as product launches or digital campaigns. - Scalability: As needs fluctuate, businesses can easily adjust the scope of an engagement. Ultimately, choosing between a full-time CMO and a Fractional CMO depends on your business's unique needs, resources, and growth stage. #ScalingBusiness #FractionalExecutive #BusinessStrategy #GrowthHacking #fCMO

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Wondering what's new in the world of early-stage innovation research? Katie Sheehan's team has helped many brands use conversational research to better explore unmet needs and whitespace territories, understand their real potential in the market, and refine ideas. Register for the next Reach3 Insights masterclass webinar featuring Katie and Matt Kleinschmit to hear what they're learning and best practices you can use right away: https://lnkd.in/gwrpUxga #innovation #marketresearch #productresearch

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Syracuse, New York has 253,108 likely hip or knee patients. We know this thanks to our consumer data. It’s smart. It's collected ethically (with permission and opt-in). And gives insights into people's lives - who they are and what they do, from both offline and online perspectives. We build personas of people's attributes and behaviors: Ages, lifestyles, sports they enjoy, activities they engage in, purchase patterns, app download/usage and more. For example, we know that likely total joint patients are: over the age of 50, have active lifestyles (including golf, tennis, yoga, pickleball, etc.) and about 12 other demographic and psychographic data points... We link our persona to a geography, like 30 miles around Syracuse, and  *Cha-CHING* we have our audience: these 253,108 individuals. We serve ads just to these people in our audience, directly on their devices and in the places online where they already go, promoting you and your solution to their problem. THESE PEOPLE NEVER SEARCH TO SEE YOUR AD. Why is this important? ➡️ Because when you put yourself directly  in front of your most-likely audience,  you will influence their behavior. This exact total-joint strategy generated 859 NEW patients for one group this year (Jan-May). Question for you, Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists, PC Upstate Orthopedics St. Joseph's Health How are you getting the attention of these people? You can't maintain market share without being strategic and proactive. If you have: ✅ the desire to increase procedure volume, ✅ the process to convert traffic to patient visits, ✅ the ability to see value in this strategy,  we should chat. #Syracuse #NewYork #hip #tha #knee #tka #data #healthconsumers #DTC #patientacquisition #healthcareDTC

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"Purpose is dead. Long live purpose!" Two or so weeks ago, I had a thought-provoking conversation with Ken Beaulieu, head of the Association of National Advertisers' Center for Brand Purpose, about whether marketers are truly moving on from purpose or if it's simply evolving into something more profound. Ken shared research he conducted this past Spring with Internationalist Insights and was curious to learn my take on what it said about the evolving role of purpose in today's complex landscape. Some key topline insights I shared with Ken include: 🔍 Purpose: Evolving, Not Fading Despite sentiment among some marketers that purpose is "one and done," the ANA-Internationalist research reveals that purpose is very much alive and evolving. While 85% of marketers acknowledge that insubstantial purpose can harm a company, a strong brand purpose remains a “North Star” for organizational alignment and impact. 🔗 Beyond Marketing: A Holistic Commitment Purpose is maturing into what it is meant to be: much more than a marketing strategy. It's a company-wide effort transcending PR tactics, one that requires the commitment of the entire organization, from the C-suite to front-line employees to ensure it is embedded into brand DNA and business operations. 💡 Five Guidelines for Embracing Purpose: 1. Align Purpose with Organizational Goals: Purpose is most effective as a driver of decision-making and operations, not a stand-alone initiative or after-thought. 2. Communicate Authentically: Sincere messaging, backed by tangible actions, is crucial for resonating with all material stakeholders. Empower Stakeholders as Advocates: Engaged communities amplify brand reach and grow impact. 3. Cultivate an Ethical Supply Chain Across Sectors: Partnering with nonprofits and maintaining responsible practices enhance the honesty of purpose. 4. Embrace Continuous Improvement: Purpose is an ongoing tool for risk management and innovation. When activated effectively, purpose serves as a strategic compass for modern brands, guiding them to navigate today's shifting social landscape more fluidly. Embedding purpose in a brand’s DNA and business operations cultivates genuine engagement, enhances social impact, and drives profitable growth. For more in-depth insights, read my full article on the ANA's Industry Insights blog. (https://lnkd.in/eX7uGgcR) What do you think about purpose in today's landscape? Is it one and done or is its role evolving? Share your thoughts in the comments below! #Purpose #MarketingStrategy #Growth #Performance #CorporateResponsibility #SustainableBusiness #SocialImpact #BrandCitizenship #DoGood

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Last year I put together as comprehensive of a list as I could of every single active venture backed startup in Boston over the last 5+ years. Very useful exercise! ...very difficult to maintain. Friends of LinkedIn - do you know of a tool that can automatically & publicly update this table for me weekly to keep the people of Boston informed of their venture backed population? I will highlight the tool on the page to the hundreds (soon thousands) of people that view it every month! Link to the manual version here: https://lnkd.in/ek9wSfUD The AI should also be able to answer this question: Which weighs more? A pound of bricks or a pound of feathers? Happy Friday to you!

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Just dove into Nate Nasralla's 🌟'60 second deal review'🌟 framework, and I'm blown away by the insights! The comparison of Hollywood screenplays to client reviews of new product offerings is absolutely brilliant. 🎬 As attention spans continue to diminish, Nate's framework emphasizes the importance of capturing your audience's interest quickly. By creating contrast between the current state and the potential future, you can effectively guide your buyers from "what it is now" to "what it could be" This approach is a game-changer 🚀 Moving forward, I’ll aim to streamline my pitch to create contrast and leave a lasting impact. Thanks Nate for sharing such invaluable wisdom! PS: check out the full write-up, link in the comments below #Sales #Strategy #Salespitch #storytelling

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If you know anyone who wants a guest to talk about the Tenet/Pool/Rubin situation -- this is the one thing I am most qualified to talk on. Influence ops, the role agencies play in dark money and astroturfing etc. I can talk about how they do it, from strategy to tactical to how they approach people and the tactics they use. I literally ran this experiment using myself as a crash test dummy. Needless to say, it kinda backfired, because I had no idea a) the extent of the problem b) how damaging it would be and c) how uninterested people were when I talked about the problem.... until it affects people they personally don't like. I am a little frustrated and depressed about dedicating so many years to this specific thing so that when it did explode and the conversation occurred, that I would be front of mind. It seems I failed there, mostly because by simply talking about these sorts of things - platform manipulation, influence ops etc - I found myself mass reported into oblivion so that nobody sees me. So this is me offering to be on any things, talking about the systemic problems with independent media, and content creation and the reforms that need to occur. I don't regret it, because it led me to deciding to practice law. But I'm serious... this is my lane and I can talk about it.

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Great post from Grace Carney Union Square Ventures on The Fragmentation Of Search: https://lnkd.in/egwnR95D Are consumers willing to pay for Search? We'll be able to answer that question in a subset of what current search excludes, when we launch our edtech MVP of MakeLoveNotPorn Academy in a few months' time: https://lnkd.in/e3jbrak6 - the aggregator hub for the best of the world's #sexed, searchable by age-appropriateness, cultural sensibility etc. At a time when open healthy #sexed is being censored and deplatformed everywhere (including deliberately in search), parents and teachers have told me for years, we'll pay anything for this service (while VCs/investors have refused to fund anything to do with this topic). We'll see - watch this space 😎

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Politics aside, there is a yawning gap between one industry that “move(s) fast and break(s) things” and healthcare providers committed to “first, do no harm.” Even the most accelerated drug approvals include years of accumulated safety and efficacy data from controlled human trials. How many generations of iPhones will be released in the years it takes to run one of these studies? But we should not underestimate the potential of novel technology and devices in identifying, treating and monitoring people living with different diseases. The FDA will need resources and talent to balance the opportunities afforded by the dissemination of rapidly evolving technology with health risks that may not be understood for years.

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Amazing week at Brandweek last week- Spending time with fellow marketers reminded me why I love media, experiences and brands so much. Had a fun chat with Nicole Parlapiano and Adam Grossman (and thank you Mark Stenberg!) about changes in the TV landscape- how/when fans view, how TV lives beyond the screen and what makes for an authentic and compelling ad experience in this new fragmented world. Key takeaways: being a TV fan today is both amazing and a lot of work. There are more opportunities to reach fans than ever before but it takes a lot more insight and planning to get it right. Attended the Marketing Vanguard dinner at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's school and "lab" where we experienced his creative genius and how he thought about the fit of environment + structure + human was inspiring. Key Takeaway: the details matter- if you want your guests to sit, relax and get to know each other, keep the ceilings low! And learned more about the journeys of heritage brands including Crayola, Hilton and Wendy's (with amazing CMOs Victoria B. Lozano, Mark Weinstein, Lindsay Radkoski), all of which have become so much more than a product. They're experience brands with loyal fans for whom these brands are part of their identities (I pulled my Wendy's booklet out of my wallet as Lindsay was speaking, a roadtrip isn't a roadtrip without a stop at Wendy's for my family!) Key Takeaway: Brands that focus on who their fans are and what they care about beyond a transactional moment will thrive for (hundreds of) years! Big thank you to Jenny Rooney for getting this amazing community together to take a moment to remember why we love what we do- bringing joy to fans! #fortheloveoffans #brandweek #adweek https://lnkd.in/eTmxpU2Y

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#Speaker #Announcement #AdTech #Economic #Forum returns to the fabulous New York Times Center on March 19.  It's the best place to be if you're interested or vested in #adtech. Last April at our inaugural forum we brought 34 of the brightest minds to the stage to deliver #enlightenment 💡  #enlightenment is our primary unit of production. We produce it with four raw materials: #Content at the intersection of adtech, economics, and finance. #Conversation in the raw with zero no trade-press listening in. #Connecting with friends new and old. #Collaboration that turns into #deal making. If there is one thing that makes curating #ATEF worth all the effort it's hearing from so many people about the deals they got done by being there. When we produce #enlightenment, our guests get #deals done. Today we are announcing 12 #returning speakers and one #new speaker with several more speaker announcements happening over the coming weeks: Sir Martin Sorrell Brian Wieser, CFA Sanja Partalo Rishad Tobaccowala Joe Marchese Laura Martin, CFA, CMT Shweta Khajuria, CFA Eric Franchi Reed Rayman Brian O'Kelley Stephen Master Bob Lord and... Daniel Salmon #ATEF #NYC is invite-only or apply to attend. Are you in? https://lnkd.in/ewR6wpV3 If you're interested in #sponsoring ATEF NYC, reach out to me or Rob Beeler. We've curated a handful of creative sponsorships and we go "logo lite" at #ATEF so get involved soon and lock it in.

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In our most recent podcast, Avery Akkineni and I spoke with Ray Chan, CEO of 9GAG about Meme culture, financialization and how brands can (and often should not) try and use meme moments to build their voice. Take a look and full episode in the comments

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