Earlier this 12 months, Lightspeed made headlines when it introduced that Claire Zau, an investor and fashionable tech content material creator, would be a part of the enterprise agency. She has greater than 100,000 followers on TikTok and over 250,000 followers on Instagram, the place she breaks down the day’s greatest tech traits.
Lightspeed companions Josh Machiz and Zau stopped by the Fairness studio to speak in regards to the technique behind their rising social media presence; their podcast, Lightwork; and the way it began with a direct message on Instagram.
“Lots of people wish to take part sooner or later and are enthusiastic about know-how,” Zau informed Fairness. “They only don’t have the details offered to them in an accessible manner. In order that’s hopefully the position I really feel very fortunate and privileged to play.”
Zau, in some ways, is a part of a brand new class of enterprise operators utilizing social media to attach with new audiences, whether or not that’s people who find themselves merely tech curious or future founders who might then flip to Lightspeed for a verify.
The podcast she co-hosts with Machiz, Lightspeed’s CMO, is a part of the brand new media development that many enterprise corporations are embracing, the place corporations tackle a higher position in serving to their portfolio corporations share their tales with the world.
“There’s much less and fewer conventional journalism on the market due to layoffs and the consolidation in media,” Machiz stated. “Should you’re a startup, it’s tougher to get your story on the market. There are much less locations to go to get it out. There’s now fairly heavy bars to get your funding story out. And so we hope to additionally have the ability to present within the new media world one other alternative to inform your story.”
Up to now, the duo — and the agency — see some advantages to increasing the Lightspeed media empire. Connecting with early founders is the principle one, however being on-line additionally helps them get real-time suggestions on investments and new know-how. For instance, Zau talked about how, throughout the Silicon Valley bubble, everybody was so excited to chop a verify for a brand new AI startup, however then she would discuss in regards to the funding on-line and get the sense that Gen Z was truly fairly anti-AI.
“It was, I might even say, humbling,” she stated of the direct suggestions she would get to a few of her movies. “It’s so useful to have principally real-time visibility into how individuals are utilizing these applied sciences and what sorts of narratives are hitting.”
Machiz and Zau additionally spoke to Fairness about what comes subsequent for them. One other podcast? A TV present someday? “Our purpose is to be the place the place hopefully future founders find out about enterprise, perceive the ecosystem,” Machiz stated. “We’re nonetheless early days.”
Hear to listen to extra of the dialog — and what Machiz and Zau have deliberate subsequent.
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