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Rob Dawson - Chief Strategy Officer - Creator.co Mar 20, 2026

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Rob Dawson is the Chief Strategy Officer at Creator.co, a Vancouver, Canada-based all-in-one influencer marketing platform (founded in 2016) that connects brands with creators for authentic collaborations, campaign management, performance tracking, and AI-powered tools like their "London" AI agent for matching, outreach, and scaling campaigns.In his role, he leads corporate strategy, growth initiatives, strategic partnerships, and the push toward AI-powered creator commerce—helping brands discover fitting creators, automate workflows, and drive measurable ROI in the creator economy. With over 25 years of experience in digital transformation, innovation, and scaling businesses, he's positioned at the forefront of bridging brands and creators through data-driven, authentic partnerships.

Mark Connon - CEO - Bombora Mar 13, 2026

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Mark Connon is a seasoned executive in the adtech, martech, and data industry, currently serving as CEO of Bombora, a leading provider of B2B intent data and audience solutions that helps marketers identify in-market buyers through aggregated, privacy-compliant signals from publisher content consumption.He joined Bombora as President in May 2023 and assumed the CEO role around mid-2024, succeeding founder Erik Matlick. Under his leadership, the company focuses on open B2B ecosystems, bridging B2B and B2C-style targeting precision, combating data fragmentation, and enabling actionable, high-precision audiences for performance marketing and sales alignment.His career includes key roles such as:

Chief Operating Officer at TapAd (acquired by Experian in 2020), transitioning to General Manager and EVP of Product and Marketing for Experian Marketing Services.
SVP and Global Chief Mobile and Data Officer at AOL (later Verizon Media), where he led mobile advertising, data strategy, and enterprise data commercialization.
Various C-level positions at public and private marketing/advertising companies.

A business strategist and entrepreneur, he serves as an advisor or board member for multiple ad/martech firms. He's a frequent speaker and contributor on topics like intent data, B2B targeting evolution, privacy-compliant innovation, and the future of open data ecosystems (e.g., podcasts like The Agile Brand, op-eds in The Current, and interviews in SalesTechStar).Based in New York, he's active on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/markconnon) and recognized for his expertise in scaling data-driven marketing solutions.

Ajay Gupta - Founder and CEO - Stirista Mar 12, 2026

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Ajay Gupta is the Founder and CEO of Stirista (often phonetically similar to "Sistra" in queries), a San Antonio, Texas-based data-driven marketing and identity solutions company specializing in combining identity-level data, email marketing, digital execution (including DSP ownership), and multichannel campaigns to help brands and agencies acquire, activate, and retain customers.He founded Stirista in 2009/2010 at age 26, starting as a two-person operation in a small San Francisco apartment without external funding. Under his leadership, it has grown rapidly into a full-service provider serving Fortune 500 companies, agencies, and SMBs—expanding to nearly 100 employees across three continents, earning spots on the Inc. 5000 list (fastest-growing private companies), Ad Age's Best Places to Work, DMA awards (e.g., Silver ECHO for Best Retail Campaign), and other recognitions.Gupta is a thought leader in performance marketing, personalized campaigns, data transparency, email/bot fraud prevention, and blending data with storytelling. He's a Forbes Agency Council member, International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) inductee, judge for industry awards, former San Antonio Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, and Marketing EDGE Rising Star. He contributes articles to publications like Ad Age and appears on podcasts/radio.Born and raised in a small city in India (no phone until age 12), he holds a degree from Texas State University, is bilingual (English/Hindi), and is based in San Antonio. He's active on X as @realAjayGupta, sharing marketing insights and company updates.

Domenic Venuto - EVP and Chief Product & Data Officer - Horizon Media Mar 12, 2026

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Domenic Venuto is a prominent executive in the advertising and media technology space, currently serving as EVP and Chief Product & Data Officer at Horizon Media, one of the world's largest independent media agencies (based in New York).In this role (appointed in late 2024), he oversees enterprise-wide product, data, and AI strategy, driving innovation through Horizon's AI-native Blue Platform—which integrates data analytics, audience planning, measurement, and marketing to deliver transparent, trustworthy AI solutions for clients. He emphasizes avoiding "tech debt," prioritizing trust as the new currency in an AI-driven advertising world, and using first-party data enrichment to enhance brand-consumer relationships without black-box opacity.His career spans cross-disciplinary experience in product development, data analytics, client services, ad tech, and investment banking. Before Horizon, he held leadership roles including at Progress Partners (a merchant bank focused on tech and media M&A, capital raising, and advisory), and earlier positions in agencies and publishers. He's recognized as a thought leader on ethical AI innovation, interconnectivity in advertising, and evolving marketing beyond traditional broadcasting.Venuto is a frequent speaker at industry events like CES (2025/2026), Advertising Week, and podcasts/interviews (e.g., with Beet.TV, Teads, Marketecture, and others), where he discusses topics like trustworthy data over flashy AI demos, brand trust in media, and AI's role in rewriting agency-client dynamics.He is active on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/dvenuto) and Instagram (@aussiedish), sharing insights on media, tech, and personal interests. Based in New York/Brooklyn.

George Baker, Sr. Founder and Managing Partner - 2 the Moon Ventures Mar 12, 2026

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George Baker (often referred to as George Baker, Sr.) is an award-winning American entrepreneur, innovator, investor, and mentor based in Dallas, Texas. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of 2 the Moon Ventures, an investment vehicle he established to back early-stage companies and high-impact founders, particularly those needing an extra "boost" to scale—drawing from the playful "one small step" to greatness theme. His investments leverage expertise in parking management, SaaS platforms, technology, commercial real estate, and extend to sectors like apparel, food & beverage, sports & entertainment, and the outdoors.He is best known as the Founder (and former CEO/Chairman) of ParkHub, a leading parking technology company he built starting around 2010. ParkHub provides integrated parking management solutions, contactless payments, data analytics, and operations optimization—serving major sports leagues, venues, and commercial clients. Under his leadership, it grew into a multimillion-dollar (reportedly $100M+ valuation) global player, earning him recognitions like EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Southwest finalist (2023) and Forbes Business Council membership. He holds five patents in parking, sports, and entertainment tech.A servant leader focused on team-first culture, MVP thinking, agile innovation, and community impact, he serves on boards including Engage Dallas, Texas Discovery Gardens, and the Alliance for Parking Industry Data Standards. He lives in Dallas with his wife Chelsey and children George II and Kuper.

Nikos Iatropoulos - Managing Partner - IA Global Ventures Mar 12, 2026

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Nikos Iatropoulos is a venture capitalist and entrepreneur based in Austin, Texas. He currently serves as Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at IA Global Ventures, a fund focused on supporting foreign-born founders and early-stage tech startups, where he leads investment strategy and operations.His career includes roles such as:

Managing Partner of Rex Tech Ventures (joined in 2022).
Regional Partner and Head of Operations at Kairos Ventures (joined in 2017).
Co-founder and CEO of Lingospot, an enterprise software company.

With a background as a software entrepreneur spanning over 16 years, he has experience mentoring and advising early-stage companies. He is active in the Texas tech ecosystem, particularly Austin's growing venture scene, and has investments in areas like tech, biotech, and hardware (e.g., MixComm, Actinobac Biomed, Tanvas). He holds certifications in Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy, among others.He is active on X as @iatropoulos and frequently comments on Austin's tech growth, venture capital trends, and opportunities outside Silicon Valley.

Sanjoy Paul - Executive Director - Rice Nexus Mar 11, 2026

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Sanjoy Paul is an Indian-American computer scientist, engineer, and innovation leader (born January 22, 1962). He currently serves as Executive Director of Rice Nexus (Rice University's premier innovation and prototyping hub) and AI Houston, as well as Associate Vice President for Technology Development at Rice University, where he also lectures in Computer Science.He is a Fellow of the IEEE (FIEEE) and was recently elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (FNAI) in 2025 for his contributions to AI, IoT, and related technologies. With 95 patents to his name, his work focuses on integrating artificial intelligence/machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), computer networking, 5G, and extended reality (XR) to create intelligent systems for industries like healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and space.His career includes senior roles such as Managing Director at Accenture Technology Labs (leading R&D in robotics, 5G, digital twins, and AI), Global Digital Head at Wipro, leadership positions at Infosys, Bell Labs, and as Founder/CEO of RelevantAd Technologies. He holds a B.Tech from IIT Kharagpur (1985), a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland (1992), and an MBA from Wharton (2005).

Sarah Romanko - Associate - Geek Ventures Mar 10, 2026

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Sarah Romanko is a venture capital investor and startup ecosystem leader based in the United States. She serves as an Associate at Geek Ventures, where she focuses on sourcing, evaluating, and supporting early-stage technology startups, particularly those founded by immigrants in the U.S.

Romanko has experience working with several venture capital firms and startups, including companies such as Bulletpitch and WingDriver (Techstars ’23), giving her a blend of venture investing and startup-operations expertise.

She is active in the broader startup and venture capital community as a speaker, mentor, and startup judge, having participated in dozens of speaking engagements and mentorship sessions with organizations such as Startup Grind, Founder Institute, and major university programs.

Romanko is also involved in venture and innovation events, serving in leadership roles such as Chief of Staff for the Texas Venture Gala & Forum and Texas Venture Fest, and evaluating startup panels for conferences including SXSW.

Neal Bloom - General Partner - Rising Tide Ventures Mar 10, 2026

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Neal Bloom is a San Diego-based venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and ecosystem builder in the tech and startup space. A Southern California native, he studied mechanical engineering at UC San Diego (UCSD) and early in his career worked with NASA on the Space Shuttle Main Engines and aspects of the Artemis program.He co-founded the edtech startup Portfolium, which was acquired by Instructure. This experience transitioned him into angel investing, where he built strong networks in the San Diego tech community. He has been involved with Tech Coast Angels and co-founded an angel syndicate.Currently, Neal serves as Managing Partner (or General Partner) at Rising Tide Partners, an early-stage investment group focused on curating signal in the noise to back exceptional founders, particularly in innovative tech solving real-world problems. He previously held a similar role as co-founder and Managing Partner at Interlock Capital, an early-stage fund and community of experienced operators.With nearly 20 years in tech, he's passionate about fostering startup ecosystems—advising on community building, events, and public outreach. He runs the Rising Tide Partners Substack (covering tech trends, AI, hard tech, and San Diego venture insights), hosts or contributes to podcasts/talks (e.g., Tacos and Tech), and is active in San Diego's startup scene through groups like Startup San Diego (where he's held leadership roles in sponsorships and partnerships).He's a frequent speaker, LinkedIn thought leader (15K+ followers), and connector in areas like AI for Main Street businesses, hard tech, and regional innovation hubs. Neal has appeared on podcasts and at events like TechCon Global discussing AI, investing, and ecosystem growth.

Susan Akbarpour - Managing Partner - Candou Ventures Mar 10, 2026

Show notes

Susan Akbarpour is an Iranian-American serial entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and venture capitalist based in Silicon Valley. She began her career as an investigative journalist in Iran before immigrating to the United States in 1997. With over 30 years of experience building innovative products and businesses in technology, media, advertising, finance, retail, and more, she is best known as the co-founder and CEO of Mavatar Technologies (launched in 2011), a consumer-centric e-commerce platform focused on personalized shopping experiences and ending the "consumer as product" model in digital advertising. She holds an MS in Management (MSx '10) from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where she founded the @Akbarpour Aalaei Fellowship to provide need-based scholarships for Farsi-speaking MBA, MSx, or PhD students. Thanks to Strike Social for sending me.

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