Hi {{first_name|there}},
🎬 In case you missed it —
London’s mayor opened SXSW with a reminder: this city backs creativity. That same energy is still pulsing through Day 2 — with Sir John Bell and David Cameron exploring a healthcare revolution, Dr. Jane Goodall receiving a standing ovation, and Wyclef Jean urging creators to lead AI, not follow it. Packed rooms, big questions, and no signs of slowing down.
🧠 Day 2 Download
🧠 The Future of Marketing Is Experiential, Ethical—and Already Here
What does marketing look like in 2030? According to Cristina Diezhandino (Diageo), Leandro Barreto (Unilever), and Rosemarie Ryan (co:collective), it’s about truth.
🔮 Trend fatigue is real
“Everyone wants to talk about trends, but they’re just shifts in behavior. The real job is to know who you are and how to stay relevant.”
The best marketers in 2030 won’t chase every shiny object—they’ll deepen their identity and build brands with conviction.
🧬 Forget personas. Think people.
Hyper-personalization is only powerful when it's human. Barreto pushed for intentional data use—not just automation for scale, but meaningful customization that earns attention.
🌍 Brand ethics are no longer optional
“Young audiences are asking what you believe before they ask what you sell.”
CMOs need to act like CCOs—Chief Conviction Officers—leading the brand from the inside out.
Immersion over impressions
Forget campaigns that shout. Marketing in 2030 will feel like a curated journey—a blend of experience, authenticity, and smart AI tools that feel invisible, not invasive.
⚠️ Takeaway?
2030-ready marketers will build movements. And they’ll do it by being useful, entertaining—and above all—real.
💸 Where’s the Smart Money Going in 2025?
In a packed panel—The State of Venture Capital—at SXSW London, Europe’s VC pulse was under the spotlight. Despite a tough macro backdrop, optimism is rising — but only for those who move with discipline and data.
🎙️ Who Spoke:
Martell Hardenberg (entrepreneur & investor)
Luna Schmid (GV)
Dorothy Chou (Google DeepMind)
Morgane Zerath (Crane VC)
🧠 Moderated by Sam Shead (The Times)
🧭 A Shift from “Spray and Pray” to Strategic Discipline
VCs are now backing focused operators. Luna Schmid stressed:
“Founders who can articulate what they’re building and why now — those are the ones we lean into.”
Today’s winning playbook: clarity, ruthless prioritization, and a product-centric mindset. Hype has taken a backseat to fundamentals.
🌍 Europe vs. the US: Playing Catch-Up or Finding Its Groove?
While the US still leads in capital depth, Europe’s startup ecosystem is maturing — and fast. Hardenberg noted that while exits and scale-ups still lag, the talent and ambition are here. The missing piece? More long-term LP capital and exit pathways.
🧠 AI Hype Check: What Will Actually Get Funded?
According to Schmid and Chou, VCs are seeing too many AI pitches — but few stand out. What gets attention? Founders solving real problems, not just layering AI onto an idea.
Even on the creative stages, voices like Dr. Jane Goodall and Wyclef Jean reminded attendees: AI is a tool, not a crutch. The future belongs to those who push tech forward with purpose—not dependency.
And trust matters: DeepMind’s Dorothy Chou flagged the rising importance of explainability and governance.
“We’re no longer impressed by AI for AI’s sake. We want to know: will this scale responsibly?”
🥵 Fundraising Reality: It’s Harder, But Better
VCs echoed that raising today is tougher — but that’s a good thing. The bar is higher, the process is slower, and the result is more resilient companies.
Morgane Zerath put it plainly:
“It’s no longer about story alone. It’s story plus traction.”
🔮 Final Word: Back to Basics — With a Twist
This isn't 2021. Today’s VC landscape rewards patience, domain expertise, and real business models. But with tech cycles accelerating — especially in AI — agility is still king.
⛵ Build a High Performing Team
What does it take to lead under pressure — and win?
In a candid session, Olympic sailing champion and Emirates GBR SailGP CEO Sir Ben Ainslie shared what truly fuels high-performing teams: clarity, cohesion, and calm under fire.
🔹 Pressure’s not the problem — lack of preparation is.
"We thrive when we’ve rehearsed adversity,”
🔹 Hierarchy fades under real stress — collaboration takes over.
🔹 Purpose keeps teams going when the stakes are sky-high. Without it, even the most talented crew drifts.
Whether navigating a regatta or restructuring a company, the principle stands: You don’t win by avoiding hard conversations — you win by having them early and often.
💬 On the ground and want to connect?
The ClickZ team is at SXSW London, speaking with brands about AI, measurement, and content performance. We’re collecting insights for post-event coverage — and we’d like yours in it.
👀 What the Team’s Sharing
A few live takeaways the team shared on LinkedIn during the event — straight from the floor. Meanwhile, Sophie Turner’s fireside with Ben Lamm delved into real-world science fiction: de-extinction. And Joseph Fiennes brought it back to the power of authentic storytelling—on screen and off.
👆 That’s exactly the challenge Fospha is solving with Glow, their newest approach that connects brand spend to real business outcomes.
Glow uses causal modelling to show how early signals like branded search and engaged visits translate into AOV uplift, future revenue, and sustained growth.
Some quick-fire stats from their latest research:
→ Brands that spend over 5% on Awareness & Consideration see 22% higher ROAS (and up to 218% for enterprise brands!)
→ Brands that maintain spend see rising AOV year-on-year
With Glow, Fospha is giving brand teams the evidence they need to protect budgets, scale campaigns that work, and speak the language of finance — WAY before conversions land, and WITHOUT compromising on creativity.
🌟 What's Coming Up Today at SXSW London
🗣️ The AI Voice Revolution
11:45 AM – 12:10 PM | Truman Brewery – SXSW London Stage
Synthetic speech is getting scarily good. Mati Staniszewski, Co-Founder & CEO of ElevenLabs, joins Fortune’s Jeremy Kahn to unpack how AI-generated voices are transforming entertainment, accessibility, and storytelling—while raising big ethical questions. What happens when the line between real and synthetic disappears?
🧠 The Age of Impatience
12:20 – 12:45 PM | Truman Brewery – SXSW London Stage
Speed is the new strategy. Multiverse’s Euan Blair and Audacious Ventures’ Nakul Mandan explore how AI is accelerating change across industries, workforces, and funding. Expect bold takes on how urgency is shaping the next wave of innovation.
🎤 The Future of Entertainment
2:00 – 2:30 PM | Truman Brewery – SXSW London Stage
From ABBA to avatars, Björn Ulvaeus reflects on how technology is reshaping what it means to leave a legacy. In conversation with The Guardian’s Laura Barton, he digs into immersive experiences, the role of AI in creativity, and the future of fame in a post-physical world.
Also, Venture Spotlight second semi final is at 3:45pm on Truman Stage One
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Enjoy the Day 3 and stay tuned for more insights!
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