Marketing In The Now

Why Channels are the New Moat for Startups

In this episode of "Marketing in the Now," David Reske interviews Michel Moravia, CEO of Qualiverse, an AI-native SaaS solution for MedTech QA/RA teams. Michel shares his go-to-market philosophy that "distribution channels are the new moat". He argues that startups should prioritize building partnerships with trusted industry leaders—such as accelerators, law firms, and VC firms—to gain credibility and access to early customers, rather than relying on heavy spending on traditional marketing and branding. Michel emphasizes that the CEO must personally own this channel strategy in the early stages and that a company's ambition level, from a side hustle to a billion-dollar enterprise, should dictate its approach.

Digital Transformation: Catching Up with the Market

In this episode of "Marketing in the Now," David Reske interviews Becky Chandler, a P&L leader and former VP at Bright Horizons with deep expertise in business and digital transformation. Becky discusses the common challenges faced by tech-enabled businesses that have fallen behind their competitors due to tech debt, complacency, and underinvestment. She explains that successful transformation is not just a technology project, but a strategic effort that requires aligning people, process, and technology. The conversation delves into the importance of balancing investments (pebbles, rocks, and boulders), using a prioritization framework like RICE, and proactively managing the risk and resistance that often accompany significant organizational change.

Why Emotions, Not Logic, Drive Marketing

In this episode of "Marketing in the Now," David Reske interviews J.D. Pincus, PhD, a psychologist and researcher who applies his expertise in human emotion to marketing. Dr. Pincus challenges the traditional view that marketing is a logical exercise, explaining that emotions are the primary drivers of decision-making in both consumer and B2B contexts. He discusses his 3x4 emotional needs model and the AgileBrain measurement technique, an image-based exercise that identifies a person's core emotional motivators. By focusing on emotional insights over logical differentiators, Dr. Pincus argues that marketers can create campaigns that truly resonate with their audience, avoiding the "logic trap" and missing "90% of what’s going on".

Beyond Personalization: Mastering ABM in the AI Era

In this episode of "Marketing in the Now," David Reske speaks with serial entrepreneur and martech expert Nick Zeckets about the evolving world of Account-Based Marketing (ABM) and the strategic role of AI. Nick argues that true ABM is not about mass ad campaigns, but about deeply understanding and engaging ideal customers with hyper-relevant messaging. He introduces a powerful framework—Create, Harvest, Activate—for turning human insights from real-world conversations into scalable, automated campaigns. Nick also shares his perspective on the future of the martech landscape, predicting that lightweight, AI-first startups will challenge the dominance of traditional platforms and force marketers to prioritize adaptability over tool-specific skills.

From Idea to App: A Startup's Go-to-Market Plan

In this episode of "Marketing in the Now," Nowspeed CEO Dave Reske interviews Kushagra Mallick and Alisha Mehta, co-founders of the startup SelfServe. The app allows guests at boutique hotels to control in-room devices and make service requests via their smartphones, eliminating the need to call the front desk. The idea was born from Kushagra's personal experiences with inefficient hotel service and the observation that the hospitality industry is lagging in digital transformation compared to large chains like Marriott. The co-founders explain their go-to-market strategy, which starts with a free beta program through university networks to build credibility and secure case studies. They plan to scale by targeting small hotel groups rather than individual properties, leveraging live showcases and a marketing strategy focused on LinkedIn, thought leadership, and industry publications to build trust in a relationship-driven market.

Nonprofit Marketing in the Digital Age

In this episode of "Marketing in the Now," Nowspeed CEO Dave Reske interviews Mary Crean, Marketing Director at Nassau Financial Group, about the biggest marketing mistakes nonprofits make and how to overcome them. Mary explains that many nonprofits treat digital presence as an afterthought, relying on outdated tactics like direct mail while ignoring their websites, which 72% of donors say influence their giving decisions. She highlights the pitfalls of neglecting data-driven decisions, mistaking volume for strategy, and failing to use impactful storytelling to convey their mission. Mary advises nonprofits to build a strong digital foundation, leverage data to refine their approach, and focus on consistent, authentic stories of impact to inspire action and thrive in the digital age.

Optimizing Marketing for Lifetime Value

In this episode of "Marketing in the Now," Nowspeed CEO Dave Reske interviews Tim Hamelen, CMO of iDesign, about shifting marketing strategies from traditional lead generation to a focus on customer lifetime value (LTV). Hamelen critiques the outdated "spray and pray" model, explaining how prioritizing low cost-per-lead often attracts unqualified customers who increase downstream costs and damage brand perception. He advocates for precision marketing, which involves analyzing ideal customer traits, micro-targeting audiences with integrated campaigns across multiple channels, and fostering a "symbiotic relationship" between front-end marketing and back-end performance data. Tim emphasizes that this transition to an LTV-focused model requires cultural transformation and alignment across marketing, sales, operations, and customer service, urging marketers to optimize for value rather than volume.

The Rise of Lean Marketing Teams

In this episode of "Marketing in the Now," Nowspeed CEO David Reske speaks with Andy Zimmerman, CMO of Tamr and a veteran marketing and tech leader, about the evolving landscape of marketing teams. Andy discusses the strategic imperative of running lean marketing teams, emphasizing the shift towards leveraging contractors, agencies, and AI to deliver more with fewer full-time staff. The conversation highlights how versatility is now prioritized over seniority in hiring, as marketers must be able to navigate diverse tools and functions, amplified by AI as a powerful accelerant. While acknowledging challenges like burnout, Andy offers strategic advice for CMOs on assessing talent, filling gaps wisely, and optimizing tech stacks for efficiency and impact.