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Oracle Memories, With Omar Tawakol

Oct 1, 2024
Omar Tawakol, a serial entrepreneur known for selling BlueKai to Oracle, shares insights on his latest venture, a virtual product placement startup called Rembrand. He discusses the evolution of advertising technology, the shift towards privacy-focused strategies, and the unexpected closure of Oracle Advertising Services. Tawakol reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, the complexities of patent innovation, and how AI is revolutionizing product placements, emphasizing a more integrated and consumer-friendly advertising approach.
51:17

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Omar Tawakol reflects on Oracle's shutdown of its advertising services, emphasizing the need for adaptability in the evolving ad tech landscape.
  • Rembrandt's innovative virtual product placement technology aims to create engaging, non-disruptive advertising while enhancing revenue opportunities for content creators.

Deep dives

The Impact of Oracle's Advertising Shutdown

Oracle Advertising officially shut down its services on September 30th, a move that caught many employees by surprise, especially given the lack of communication prior to the announcement. This decision underscores the challenges Oracle faced in the ad tech space, particularly around privacy concerns and changing industry dynamics. Omar Tawakal, who previously held a significant role at Oracle after the acquisition of BlueKai, reflected on the development with mixed feelings. Although he has fond memories of his time there, Tawakal acknowledged that the company could have adapted its strategy to prioritize data processing over third-party data ownership for better long-term viability.

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