Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Jared Siegal, CEO and Founder of Aditude, a monetization operating system for publishers that has raised $15 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
- Jared's Unconventional Path to Tech: Originally aiming to become an architect, influenced by George Costanza from Seinfeld, Jared pivoted to business school, which led to a serendipitous meeting with the founders of Answers.com, setting his tech and ad industry journey in motion.
- The Birth of Attitude: Faced with a grueling five-and-a-half-hour daily commute, Jared made a spur-of-the-moment decision to quit his job, without a clear plan for the future. This bold move marked the beginning of Aditude, initially as a consultancy, before evolving into the tech company it is today.
- Transition from Consultancy to Tech Company: The turning point came when a VC firm's offer made Jared realize the potential to pivot Aditude into a SaaS model, leading him to hire his CTO and transition to offering tech-based solutions.
- Publisher-Centric Approach: Aditude's success is deeply rooted in its close relationships with publishers, treating them not just as clients but as part of the family, a philosophy that has been crucial to the company's growth and client loyalty.
- GTM and Marketing Strategies: Initially relying on word-of-mouth for growth, Aditude has recently expanded its marketing efforts, including hosting unique, engaging events for publishers, to build relationships and drive business.
- Future Vision for Aditude: Looking ahead, Jared outlines ambitious plans for Aditude, from aggressive growth and potential acquisitions to becoming the largest ad tech company globally, all while maintaining a founder-friendly, relationship-first approach to business.