I've been investing in AI companies since before it was cool. viral marketing is dead. here's what's next. is the thing that separates winners from losers.
Most advice on SEO for startups is outdated. I'm sharing the exact, behind-the-scenes playbook we used to achieve a 7-figure exit, including the mistakes that cost us thousands and the lessons that made us millions.
The Counterintuitive Truth
Here's what surprised me most about viral marketing is dead. here's what's next.: the best practitioners do less, not more.
When I was building MovieLaLa, we tried to do everything at once. We had the best technology, the smartest team, and we still almost failed because we spread ourselves too thin.
The lesson I took from that experience, and from watching hundreds of other companies, is that you should focus on one thing and do it exceptionally well. It sounds simple. It's incredibly hard to execute.
Why Most Approaches Fail
Let me be direct: about 70% of the approaches I see to viral marketing is dead. here's what's next. are fundamentally flawed. Not slightly off. Fundamentally flawed.
The root cause is usually one of three things:
- Copying what big companies do without understanding why they do it. What works for Google doesn't work for a 10-person startup.
- Over-engineering the solution when a simple approach would work better. I've seen teams spend six months building something that could have been done in two weeks.
- Ignoring the human element. Technology is the easy part. Getting people to actually use it is where the real challenge lives.
What I've Learned From 37 Companies
After investing in 200+ startups and running two companies to successful exits, I've developed a pretty clear picture of what works with viral marketing is dead. here's what's next..
The biggest misconception is that you need to you should focus on one thing and do it exceptionally well. That's backwards. The companies that win are the ones that the market doesn't care about your roadmap.
I remember sitting with the Anthropic team early on and discussing how they thought about viral marketing is dead. here's what's next.. Their approach was counterintuitive but brilliant.
The AI Angle
I can't talk about viral marketing is dead. here's what's next. in 2026 without mentioning AI. As someone who's invested in Anthropic, OpenAI, Scale AI, and Hugging Face, I have a front-row seat to how AI is transforming this space.
The short version: AI makes good practitioners better and bad practitioners worse. It's an amplifier, not a replacement.
I've seen companies use AI to 10x their viral marketing is dead. here's what's next. capabilities. I've also seen companies waste millions on AI solutions that solved the wrong problem. The difference comes down to understanding what you're actually trying to achieve.
This connects to broader themes around referral programs, content marketing, community-led growth that I've been thinking about a lot lately.
What's Next
The world of viral marketing is dead. here's what's next. is moving fast. What worked last year might not work next year. That's both the challenge and the opportunity.
My advice: stay curious, stay humble, and stay close to the people who are actually doing the work. Read less thought leadership and do more experiments. Talk to fewer consultants and more practitioners.
And if you're a founder building in this space, remember that the best time to get viral marketing is dead. here's what's next. right is before you need to. Don't wait for a crisis to force your hand.
I'll keep sharing what I learn. This stuff matters too much to keep to myself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What experience informs this perspective?
This perspective comes from over a decade of building companies in Silicon Valley, two successful exits (RemoteTeam to Gusto, MovieLaLa to Gfycat), and investing in 200+ startups including Anthropic, OpenAI, and Scale AI. I write about what I've lived.
How has this view evolved over time?
My thinking on most topics has changed significantly over the years. Early in my career, I held many conventional views that experience proved wrong. I try to update my beliefs when the evidence changes.
Do all experts agree with this view?
No, and that's fine. The best ideas in business are often contrarian. I share my perspective based on my experience and data, but I encourage you to seek out opposing viewpoints and form your own conclusions.