InfluenceLogic

There are two really important steps to being a great startup investor: 1. Send money in the most frictionless way possible 2. Use your networking energy to get portfolio companies that can help each other For my 30 years of being a startup investor, I have tried to be someone that lives by those two simple rules. These past few weeks I have had a ton of opportunities to exercise rule #2. One of those occasions happened just last week, when I put long time portfolio companies, Dokkio and InfluenceLogic together to symbiotically help each other. Dokkio was looking for a plan to expand their customer base via performance-based influencer marketing and InfluenceLogic is the world's leading influencer-based sales agency. I made the connection by putting Matt Castaldo from Dokkio & Samantha P. from InfluenceLogic together. From there, each of them did their expert work to find a way to make both of their companies successful in the engagement. Great startup investors understand that using their network to help foster symbiotic wins for portfolio companies is a core part of being useful. In this case, I am glad that it worked out for Dokkio and InfluenceLogic.

ASW is almost here! For those attending, here's a golden opportunity: Want to see if your brand vibes with the team that built two of the world's biggest YouTube creator partnership programs? Struggling to scale your YouTube partnerships without sacrificing tracking, accuracy, or control? We've cracked the code. Reach out to us at brandpartnerships@influencelogic.com or find my awesome colleagues Lu, Cass, or Sam on the event app. Let's chat!

📢 Connect with the Brand Partnership Team at ASW! 📢 Ready to grow your brand? Reach out to Samantha P. and take the first step toward success! 📈

New Year, New Habits! 🎆

A great reflection from Cassandra S.! How will you boost your EQ in the New Year? 📚

I just wrapped up a creator call that got me thinking. They asked me, “what type of brands does your agency work with?” The creator mentioned that they were impressed that the answer wasn’t simply fluff. Candidly, it wasn’t the first time I got this reaction, and I never gave it too much thought. But this time it hit me: there’s something deeper here. Most people expect a generic response, something like “We work with X category or Y vertical.” And sure, those answers help align with creators’ aspirations or agent rosters. But we’re doing so much more than that. We’re working with brands that truly change lives. From improving mental health to simplifying healthcare. From helping people save money, to protect their identities, and even get affordable college degrees, we are as mission driven as the brands we work with. Birds of a feather flock together, we just added 17 new brand partners in Q3 and Q4 of this year alone. If you or someone you know is on a mission to help people, let’s connect. I’d love to ensure the right folks at our company talk with you. Who knows? Maybe you’ll become part of our growing family too.

Has been a really big second half of the year for Wasabi Ventures, LLC portfolio company, InfluenceLogic. Just did an update call with the leadership of their brand team yesterday and in the last six months they have signed and onboarded 17 new brands (!). InfluenceLogic was already the leading performance-based influencer sales agency in the world and adding so many new brands to the mix has them poised for massive growth in 2025. NOTE: They already manage the two largest YouTube brand programs in the world.) What was even more amazing about the brand growth for them is that they have expanded well beyond the traditional b-to-c, direct to the consumer brands. They are executing on brands that are enterprise software, productivity, fin-tech, and communications solutions as well. Amazing growth from this company in the last eight years since our investment!

YouTube isn’t just for entertainment anymore—it’s a powerful sales tool shaping the future of customer engagement and brand growth. With its unmatched reach and ability to guide buyer journeys, investing in YouTube is essential for businesses looking to thrive. #youtube #sales #influencelogic

In this new article from Bethanie Stephens, learn what the FTC’s new “Click to Cancel” rule means for your marketing strategy. 👇

I'll let you in on a little secret about influencer marketing... Quick spikes in engagement from one-off campaigns are nice, but let’s be real: developing lasting partnerships with creators is where the real magic happens. Long-term partnerships don’t just boost ROI; they build trust, authenticity, and a brand story audiences believe in. Creators are more than just content machines—they’re entrepreneurs and storytellers who can make your brand genuine and relatable. In my latest article, I share strategies for building partnerships that go beyond “we pay, you post.” Learn how to: 🎯 Find the right creator for your brand. 🤝 Treat creators as partners, not billboards. 📆 Build consistency with a sustainable program that audiences trust. 📈 Measure success beyond the dollar signs (but yes, those matter, too). Ready to ditch the “one-and-done” approach to influencer marketing? Check out the full article for tips on developing long-lasting relationships with creators. 👇 Connect with me, and let’s build something meaningful. #influencermarketing #creatorpartnerships