Why some startups print money while others burn it

In partnership with

Hey ,

, If you’re a tech founder that’s relying on the same growth tactics that worked in 2020 — paid ads, founder-led sales, and word-of-mouth — you’re already behind. 

The game has changed. What scaled startups five years ago isn’t enough to survive today, let alone dominate.

Here’s why:

🚀 Customer Acquisition Costs Have Skyrocketed – Paid ads that used to print money are now burning cash. Platforms are saturated, and without a structured demand-gen system, your CAC is eating your margins.

🚀 AI Has Flattened the Playing Field – Every competitor is leveraging AI for automation and personalization. The advantage isn’t in having AI — it’s in how you position and execute.

🚀 Founders Are Burnt Out – Many startups still depend on the founder to drive growth. But if you’re the bottleneck, you can’t scale. Growth needs to be systematic, predictable, and independent of your personal hustle.

🚀 Investors Expect Faster Results – The funding landscape has shifted. Investors want to see traction and scalable systems, not just vision. A great product isn’t enough—you need a repeatable revenue engine.

So, what actually works now? A structured, scalable growth system that compounds over time.

Instead of chasing quick hacks, top startups are winning by building demand-gen machines that: 

✔ Turn organic & paid traffic into predictable revenue 

✔ Remove the founder as the sole driver of growth 

✔ Position their brand as the must-have solution (not just another AI tool) 

✔ Leverage scalable GTM systems that grow with them

I’ve helped founders break free from random, unscalable tactics and build real, compounding growth engines. If you’re ready to make that shift, let’s talk.

Click here to book a quick clarity call.

It’s time to stop playing by outdated rules and start scaling smarter, don’t you think?

All the best,

Lillian Pierson, P.E.

Author, The Data & AI Imperative
Fractional CMO & Founder, Data-Mania

Run IRL ads as easily as PPC

AdQuick unlocks the benefits of Out Of Home (OOH) advertising in a way no one else has. Approaching the problem with eyes to performance, created for marketers with the engineering excellence you’ve come to expect for the internet.

Marketers agree OOH is one of the best ways for building brand awareness, reaching new customers, and reinforcing your brand message. It’s just been difficult to scale. But with AdQuick, you can plan, deploy and measure campaigns as easily as digital ads, making them a no-brainer to add to your team’s toolbox.

You can learn more at AdQuick.com