Lying to the Secret Service, working for Obama & choosing NOT to be a unicorn | Dan Siroker, Co-Founder of Optimizely & Rewind AI
Aug 15, 2023
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Dan Siroker, Co-Founder of Optimizely & Rewind AI, talks about leaving Google for the 2008 Obama campaign, co-founding Optimizely, A/B testing, achieving security frameworks, and the pressures of being a unicorn startup.
The importance of following your instincts and finding your calling in order to make a meaningful impact in your work and life.
The value of AB testing in marketing and decision-making, and how it led to the creation of Optimizely.
The significance of experimentation and data-driven decision making in marketing, and the role of Optimizely in democratizing scientific principles.
Deep dives
Dan's Journey from Obama Campaign to Rewind AI
Dan Soroka shares his journey from being the director of analytics for the Obama 2008 campaign to starting his own company, Rewind AI. He talks about his experience at Google, his passion for computers and programming, and how he found his calling in politics. Despite facing opposition and skepticism, he followed his instincts and joined the Obama campaign, which ultimately inspired him to create Optimizely. Dan discusses the importance of trust, his unorthodox approach to fundraising, and his vision of building a multi-billion-dollar public company with a small team.
The Power of AB Testing
Dan explains the concept of AB testing, which involves creating variations of content and measuring user responses to determine what works. He highlights the value of AB testing in marketing and decision-making, emphasizing its role in making data-driven choices. Dan shares how Optimizely was born out of his experience on the Obama campaign, where he recognized the need for an AB testing tool. He discusses the insights gained from building and using Optimizely, the simplicity and effectiveness of the product, and its impact on saving time and resources.
The Journey of Rewind AI and Privacy First Approach
Dan discusses the unique proposition of Rewind AI, a product that captures and records users' digital experiences. He addresses privacy concerns by ensuring that all recordings are stored locally on users' devices, encrypted, and accessible only by the users themselves. Dan highlights how Rewind AI's integration with GPT-4 further respects privacy, using specific moments and questions to generate coherent responses without compromising data security. He describes the value of having a complete digital memory, enabling users to recall and retrieve information effortlessly.
Building through experimentation and democratizing science in marketing
The podcast episode highlights the importance of experimentation and data-driven decision making in marketing. The guest speaker discusses the significance of testing different strategies, taglines, and variations to determine what resonates with users. By using data and eliminating subjective debates, companies can make informed decisions and build successful products or campaigns. The guest also emphasizes the role of Optimizely in democratizing the application of scientific principles to marketing, allowing companies to optimize their strategies and understand user behavior.
The personal journey as an entrepreneur, selling a successful company, and starting a new venture
The podcast episode delves into the personal journey of the guest speaker as an entrepreneur. The guest shares their experience of building and growing Optimizely, a successful company in the field of A/B testing. They discuss the challenges faced during the growth phase and the decision to ultimately sell the company. The guest also reflects on the emotional aspects of letting go and seeing their creation continue to thrive under new ownership. Additionally, the episode explores the guest's motivation for starting a new venture, highlighting the importance of finding a purpose-driven problem to solve and building a company that aligns with one's long-term vision and passion.
Have you found your ‘calling’ in life? Do you think you ever will?
Today’s interview is with Rewind AI Co-Founder and CEO Dan Siroker. After leaving Google to take on the role as director of analytics in the 2008 Obama campaign, Dan knew his purpose was elsewhere. Having gone deaf in his 20s and later getting a hearing aid, he felt superpowered. This inspired him to try and augment human existence with new powers, senses and abilities. He co-founded Optimizely in 2009, growing it to $120M in annual revenue and 450 employees before leaving in 2020 to start Rewind AI, a program that remembers everything you’ve seen online, giving you instant access to everything you’ve ever looked at on your phone or computer.
