Mobile Dev Memo Podcast

James Borow, Vice President of Product and Engineering at Comcast's Universal Ads and former Global Director of Product Strategy at Snap, dives into the evolving TV advertising ecosystem. He discusses the challenges of performance advertising on TV, the differences between linear and connected TV, and the impact of measurement techniques on campaign effectiveness. Borow also shares insights on how YouTube fits into the mix and what linear TV can do to attract marketers, all while navigating the complex landscape of modern advertising.

This week, I speak with George Hadjia, the founder and Chief Investment Officer of Bristlemoon Capital, a long-short hedge fund. George publishes regular insights on his firm's blog, including a recent post on Match Group, the company that operates Tinder and Hinge. The topic of our conversation is the dating app market and its prospects for growth after the tumultuous COVID era.Among other things, we discuss:The impact of COVID on the dating app market;Whether consumer attitudes have soured on dating apps;The demographic component to the decline of these apps, and how engagement varies by age;The upper limit on how large any one app can get;How defensible these scaled dating app businesses are;The match-making dilemma;Whether advertising is an opportunity.Thanks to the sponsors of this week’s episode of the Mobile Dev Memo podcast:INCRMNTAL⁠⁠. True attribution measures incrementality, always on.ContextSDK. ContextSDK uses over 200 smartphone signals to detect a user’s real-world context, allowing apps to deliver perfectly timed push notifications and in-app offers.Interested in sponsoring the Mobile Dev Memo podcast? Contact ⁠Marketecture⁠.The Mobile Dev Memo podcast is available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

In this engaging discussion, Antti Jäderholm, Founder and COO of Ray Browser, shares his extensive insights on the evolution of browser gaming. He highlights the transformative shift from Adobe Flash to innovative technologies like WebGL and WebGPU, enhancing gaming experiences. Antti also explores the challenges that have historically plagued browser gaming, the market's promising growth, and the potential for console streaming services to migrate to browser platforms. His vision for a web browser fine-tuned for gaming could reshape how we play online.

Jess Jacobs, CMO of MDVIP and former senior marketing leader at Shopify and Wayfair, dives deep into 'Brandformance' marketing. She explains how merging brand-building with performance strategies can drive measurable business results. Jacobs discusses the misconceptions surrounding brand marketing's analytical rigor and the importance of integrating top-of-funnel efforts with direct response. She also shares insights on effective marketing team characteristics and the balance needed for successful brand and performance initiatives. A must-listen for marketers!

Terence Kawaja, CEO of LUMA Partners and an influential advisor in digital media, delves into the AdTech M&A landscape. He discusses the slow fundraising in 2024 and how it relates to economic cycles. Kawaja highlights AI's role as a catalyst for mergers, the impact of the FTC’s evolving policies on tech acquisitions, and the surprising new buyers entering the AdTech space. He also shares insights on how small businesses shape major platforms and the promising future for competition and innovation within the industry.

In this discussion, Rishabh Jain, CEO and co-founder of FERMÀT Commerce, shares his insights on the state of eCommerce advertising come 2025. He dives into Meta's Advantage+ Shopping Campaigns and the gradual rollout of generative AI tools for ad creation. The conversation shifts to TikTok Shop's growth potential and Shopify's evolving advertising strategies. Rishabh also analyzes the transition from last-click attribution to incrementality testing, emphasizing how DTC brands can adapt in a competitive landscape.

Mikołaj Barczentewicz, a law professor at the University of Surrey with a PhD from Oxford, shares his insights on the EU's AI Act and its implications for tech companies. He discusses the balancing act between compliance and innovation, highlighting the challenges for smaller firms navigating regulatory landscapes. The conversation also touches on data privacy concerns, particularly around AI model weights and the Hamburg DPA’s stance. Additionally, Barczentewicz examines evolving privacy measures by Google and the complexities of the ePrivacy Directive.

John Lynch, a Distinguished Professor at the University of Colorado, and JP Dube, a Professor at the University of Chicago, explore the nuanced impacts of privacy regulations on consumer marketing. They discuss critical compromises in data restrictions, misconceptions about personalized advertising, and the striking difference between consumers' stated versus revealed privacy preferences. The duo also highlights the potential benefits of personalized ads and emphasizes the lessons the GDPR offers for U.S. policymakers, showcasing the intricate balance between privacy and market innovation.

Dive into the complexities of advertising measurement, where the famous quote about wasted ad spend sets the stage for a discussion on inherent uncertainties. Discover the measurement myth that challenges the notion of needing absolute precision. Explore advanced advertising attribution methodologies and the impact of privacy regulations on strategies. Learn how shifts in the digital landscape, like the decline of third-party cookies, prompt a rethink in marketing measurement, urging a move towards innovative and flexible approaches.

Pan Katsukis, CEO of Remerge and co-founder of Madvertise, shares his extensive insights into mobile programmatic advertising. He discusses the evolution of this space and dispels common misconceptions that advertisers have. Katsukis highlights the importance of adopting effective targeting techniques and managing budgets appropriately. He also dives into the challenges posed by Apple's App Tracking Transparency and the unique opportunities in non-gaming inventory. The convo is rich with strategies for advertisers navigating this dynamic landscape.