A serial entrepreneur in the digital media and marketing space, my name is Krishna Subramanian and I'm currently the co-founder and CEO of Captiv8, an award-winning influencer marketing platform that provides end-to-end solutions that power the creator marketing economy.

I'm also the co-founder of Unanimous Capital, an early stage venture fund with investments in companies such as Rippling, Instacart, Jinx, among others. Prior to Captiv8 and Unanimous, I have built and had successful exits from various companies. I was the co-founder of Mobclix, a mobile ad exchange, which was acquired by Velti(NASDAQ:VELT), and was a part of the founding team of BlueLithium, the world’s largest behavioral targeted ad network that was acquired by Yahoo!

In addition to that, I had previously co-founded Burrp!, a localized review and recommendation internet portal for metropolitan India that was acquired by Network18.

I am the CEO and Co-founder of Captiv8.

Captiv8 is the #1 influencer marketing platform for enterprise marketers, connecting brands with top-tier influencers to create authentic, engaging content. With advanced analytics and a vast creator network, Captiv8 empowers brands to maximize their marketing efforts and achieve exceptional results.

Captiv8 operates within the influencer marketing industry, a rapidly growing sector at the intersection of digital media, advertising, and social commerce.

This industry is characterized by its ability to connect brands with social media creators who can authentically engage target audiences through storytelling and personalized content. Influencer marketing thrives on trust, creativity, and data-driven strategies, making it one of the most effective ways for brands to build meaningful relationships with consumers.

The rise of social media platforms has turned influencers into powerful voices, driving purchasing decisions and brand awareness. Captiv8 stands out in this space by offering an enterprise-grade platform that combines advanced analytics, AI-powered insights, and a vast creator network, enabling brands to optimize their influencer campaigns and drive measurable business results.

Winning the TITAN Business Awards is a significant honor for our team at Captiv8. It is a testament to the hard work, innovation, and dedication our team has put into revolutionizing the influencer marketing space.

This recognition not only affirms our position as a leader in the industry but also highlights the impact we’ve made in helping brands connect with their audiences in authentic and meaningful ways. For our team, this award is a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional results, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with creator marketing, and constantly evolving to meet the needs of our clients in a fast-paced digital landscape.

Winning an international award like the TITAN Business Awards has significantly elevated Captiv8's visibility on a global scale. It serves as a powerful endorsement of our innovation, expertise, and leadership in the influencer marketing industry.

This recognition has enhanced our credibility with current and potential clients, and partners, providing a competitive edge in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Traditional limitations of influencer marketing in driving lower-funnel sales. Historically, influencers have excelled at building awareness and brand credibility, but translating that into immediate sales has been a significant hurdle.

While influencer-driven purchases have a 230% higher average order value (AOV) than traditional affiliates, sales volume often isn’t high enough to sustain strong commission models. Factors like short-lived product posts, complex tracking and linking, and limited exposure windows have hindered brand-influencer collaborations from delivering consistent, measurable ROI.

My ideation process is rooted in a combination of data-driven insights and staying ahead of market trends and technology. It starts with identifying emerging gaps or opportunities within the industry often by listening to customer feedback, analyzing market dynamics, and observing shifts in consumer behavior.

We prioritize iterating and testing to ensure that whatever product or feature we release meets or exceeds market standards. We experiment quickly, learn from mistakes, and evolve our ideas based on real-world data.

At Captiv8, success is defined by living our core values: Customer First, Relentless Drive, Bias Towards Action, Teamwork, and Innovation. We prioritize solving problems for our customers, ensuring their success and happiness through solutions that meet their needs.

Our relentless drive pushes us to constantly improve and set new standards, while our bias towards action ensures we move swiftly to achieve results in a fast-paced industry. Teamwork and trust are the foundations of our culture, allowing us to collaborate effectively, and innovation fuels our vision as we continuously evolve to lead the influencer marketing space.

Captiv8's success is deeply rooted in a culture of constant innovation and forward-thinking strategy. When Captiv8 was co-founded in 2015, we envisioned it as a social listening platform, recognizing the growing influence of social media and its potential for brands.

Long before influencer marketing, branded content, and creator monetization became mainstream, we placed a bold bet on Instagram while others remained focused on platforms like YouTube. This foresight positioned Captiv8 at the forefront of the influencer marketing industry.

Captiv8's ability to anticipate trends, embrace new technologies, and adapt to an evolving digital landscape has been key to its success. The team continuously refines our platform, integrating advanced analytics, AI-driven insights, and tools that help brands optimize their marketing efforts.

By staying ahead of industry shifts and meeting the needs of both brands and creators, Captiv8 has solidified itself as a leader in the creator economy.

The United States has significantly advanced the influencer marketing industry, contributing to its robust growth and innovation.

With a projected annual growth rate of over 9% from 2024 to 2029, the United States is at the forefront of this expansion, leading the way in adopting new marketing strategies and technologies. In 2023, the country accounted for approximately 75% of global social media marketing spending, showcasing its dominance and the vast opportunities available for brands and influencers alike.

This supportive environment, fueled by high consumer engagement on social media platforms and a willingness to embrace influencer partnerships, has paved the way for a thriving ecosystem where creativity and commerce intersect, driving the industry forward.

Although Captiv8 was always a remote company, during the pandemic, a hindrance was the challenge of fostering team cohesion and collaboration, as many team members only interacted on Zoom and Slack.

Despite experiencing remarkable growth of over 300% during this time, the lack of in-person connection posed risks to building a strong company culture. To overcome this challenge, we organized a company off-site aimed at creating a sense of community and collaboration among team members and various online team bonding initiatives.

The off-site focused on fostering relationships and developing themes that would inspire our team both during the event and in their daily work. By prioritizing connection and engagement, we successfully strengthened our team dynamics and ensured that our rapid growth was matched by a cohesive and motivated workforce.

One of the most exciting trends in the business industry is the growing focus on brand safety and media protection in digital marketing, particularly in the influencer space.

As brands increasingly rely on creators to build authentic connections with their audiences, tools like Captiv8's new Media Safety feature are becoming essential. This AI-powered solution not only flags unsafe content across social media and media publications but also assigns a brand safety score to help brands make informed decisions about their partnerships.

The ability to proactively safeguard a brand's reputation while optimizing influencer campaigns is a game-changer in the evolving digital landscape, allowing businesses to scale their efforts with confidence and integrity.

To improve business prospects and organizational success, I recommend leveraging industry reports and digital marketing platforms to stay informed about current trends, particularly in social commerce and influencer marketing.

Embracing AI technologies can also enhance decision-making processes and streamline operations, allowing businesses to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Over the next 5-10 years, the influencer marketing industry will increasingly be shaped by the rise of social commerce. The seamless integration of shopping features within platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest will make it easier for users to engage with products and complete transactions without leaving the app.

This shift will make influencer marketing even more essential, as creators become key drivers of product discovery and purchasing decisions.

My family has been my greatest source of inspiration throughout my life. Their unwavering support, work ethic, and values have shaped my approach to both personal and professional challenges.

Watching how they consistently prioritize resilience, commitment, and integrity has motivated me to pursue my goals with the same dedication, while also reminding me of the importance of balancing success with care for the people around me.

Continuously raising the bar, staying agile, and surrounding myself with a dedicated team have all been crucial.

My parting advice: stay adaptable, always prioritize your customers, and never stop learning or pushing boundaries. Success comes from being persistent, but also from staying open to change and new ideas.