In partnership with

The TL;DR:

• Let’s Chat D2C: The Rise of Memberships in Ecommerce

• Building in Public with SCALIS: From Seed to Series A

• What I’m Thinking about this Week: When to Kill an Idea

• The D2Z Podcast: In this week’s episode, I sat down with Barbara Wardell and Ernesto Cullari to discuss how geofencing is revolutionizing advertising by delivering hyper-targeted campaigns.

• Upcoming Events: I’m headed to speak at the DTC Wine Symposium this week in Monterrey, CA with a quick stop in SF on my way back on Friday!

Click this link to help support my newsletter! Every click is worth half a Starbucks cold brew to me 🙂 

JOIN 1,000+ BRANDS WHO TRUST MINISOCIAL

minisocial helps consumer brands create UGC that converts, goes viral, and drives engagement. By coupling micro-influencer activations with UGC creation.

Join brands like Plant People, immi, Imperfect Foods, and Topicals and see results like TikTok ads performing in the top 1% CVR, a 50% decrease in costs per add-to-cart, a 92% increase in organic video views, and over a 30% increase on ROAS.

Seamlessly activate 10, 25, 50, or 100 micro-influencers without any of the lift AND get content that converts, it's the best of both worlds.

See why brands love minisocial

Let’s Chat D2C: The Rise of Memberships in Ecommerce

While subscriptions have long been a staple in eCommerce, a new trend is emerging: memberships. Unlike traditional subscriptions that focus on recurring product delivery, memberships are about building deeper connections with customers through exclusive benefits, services, and experiences. Memberships are a powerful way for eCommerce brands to create deeper connections with their customers.

What’s Driving the Shift?

1. Loyalty Through Community:

Memberships foster a sense of belonging, turning customers into brand advocates. Merchants can create VIP-style experiences that customers feel proud to be part of.

2. Revenue Diversification:

Memberships provide predictable revenue streams while adding value beyond just the products. For example, perks like free shipping, early access to launches, and members-only products create a premium experience.

3. Evolving Consumer Expectations:

Today’s shoppers want more than products—they crave experiences and exclusivity. Membership programs let brands meet this demand while increasing customer lifetime value.

Examples in Action

• Nike Membership: Offers members early access to products, training programs, and rewards, creating an ecosystem for loyal fans.

• Shopify Brands Adopting Memberships: Merchants like Black Rifle Coffee and Outdoor Voices are pairing memberships with content and community perks to deepen engagement.

How to Get Started with Memberships

1. Identify Your Value Proposition: Determine what exclusive benefits your customers would value most—free shipping, early access, or exclusive content.

2. Leverage Inveterate: Use the app to build and manage your membership program with ease, offering flexibility to scale as you grow.

3. Promote Memberships Strategically: Use email, SMS, and website banners to communicate the unique value of your membership program.

Memberships are redefining how eCommerce brands interact with their customers. With tools like Inveterate, building a strong, loyal community has never been easier—or more effective.

Building in Public with SCALIS: From Seed to Series A

As we wrap up our seed round, the momentum we’re building has us already looking ahead to our next milestone: raising a Series A. While the seed round gave us the resources to get started and achieve early traction, the Series A will be about scaling, expanding our team, and solidifying SCALIS as the go-to solution in our space.

Laying the Groundwork for Series A

One of the key lessons we’ve learned during this process is the importance of building relationships with potential investors early—long before you’re officially raising. That’s why I’ve created a monthly updates newsletter for potential investors.

What the Updates Newsletter Will Include

1. Growth Metrics: Key performance indicators like ARR, customer growth, and retention rates to showcase momentum.

2. Milestones Achieved: Product launches, new hires, or strategic partnerships that reinforce our market position.

3. Challenges and Opportunities: A transparent look at the hurdles we’re overcoming and where we see future opportunities.

This newsletter will serve as a teaser to keep potential investors engaged, demonstrate our execution capabilities, and create a sense of FOMO as we approach the Series A timeline.

The Goal: Building Awareness and Relationships

By sharing regular updates, we’re not just showcasing growth; we’re fostering relationships and keeping SCALIS top of mind. The more aligned investors feel with our vision and progress, the easier it will be to build excitement when we officially open the next round.

Fundraising is more than securing capital—it’s about creating a network of partners who believe in your mission. With the seed round nearly closed, we’re ready to tackle what’s next.

What I’m Thinking About This Week: When to Kill an Idea

One of the hardest parts of building a business is knowing when to walk away from an idea that isn’t working. As entrepreneurs, we’re trained to persevere, but sometimes the best decision is to let go.

How I Think About This

1. Is the Market Speaking? If you’ve tested extensively and aren’t seeing traction, it may be time to pivot.

2. Is This the Best Use of Resources? Every minute and dollar spent on one idea is an opportunity cost for another.

3. Does It Align with the Mission? If an idea doesn’t fit your long-term vision, it’s likely more distraction than opportunity.

The Takeaway

Killing an idea isn’t failure—it’s clarity. It frees up time and resources to focus on what truly matters. This week, I’ve been reevaluating some initiatives at SCALIS and asking tough questions. Sometimes, the courage to move on is what drives the biggest wins.

This Week’s The D2Z Podcast

#136 – Geofencing Advertising

🎧 Listen Now 🎧

In this week’s episode, I sat down with Barbara Wardell and Ernesto Cullari to discuss how geofencing is revolutionizing advertising by delivering hyper-targeted campaigns. Specifically, we explored the following:

💡 What geofencing advertising is and how it works

📈 How brands are using location-based marketing to increase conversions

🧠 Overcoming challenges with geofencing implementation

🔑 Real-world examples of successful geofencing campaigns

🚀 The future of location-based advertising and its potential impact

Upcoming Events

I’m headed to speak at the DTC Wine Symposium this week in Monterrey, CA with a quick stop in SF on my way back on Friday!

There’s a reason 400,000 professionals read this daily.

Join The AI Report, trusted by 400,000+ professionals at Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Get daily insights, tools, and strategies to master practical AI skills that drive results.

Sign up now for free and work smarter, not harder.

Get Your Team Booked on 3.8 Million Podcasts Automatically

It's 2025. Want to finally be a regular podcast guest in your industry? PodPitch will make it happen. Even the beehiiv team uses it!

The best way to advertise isn't Meta or Google – it's appearing on podcasts your customers love.

PodPitch.com automates thousands of weekly emails for you, pitching your team as ideal guests.

Big brands like Feastables use PodPitch.com instead of expensive PR agencies.

Get your FREE personalized demo!