Unveiling Begins at Cuttable's Site
In the course of just three pulse-quickening years post-selling his tech titan, A Cloud Guru, for a whopping $2 billion, Sam Kroonenburg is back - this time, as an early-stage founder with a burning passion for revolutionizing the ad industry. And what's the secret sauce powering this ambitious endeavor? The game-changing combination of AI and a head-on collision of "megatrends."
"I just can't get enough of building things," Sam said, eyes sparkling with excitement. "The AI revolution blew my mind - it's like witnessing technology in its magical, dreamy phase."
Embarking on a year-long AI deep dive, the forward-thinking entrepreneur soon teamed up with co-founders Jack White and Ed Ring to bring you Cuttable: an automated content agency with a mission to supercharge the ad creation process for digital-savvy teams.
But what makes Cuttable stand out from the ad-tech crowd? AI-powered perfection, that's what! By harnessing the creative prowess of AI, the fighter platform automates the grunt work of creating, editing, and fine-tuning ads for various digital channels. Marketers and advertising agencies can kiss those cumbersome video resizing tasks goodbye!
July brought a much-needed boost to Cuttable in the form of a sizable $5.5 million seed funding round, steered by the mighty Square Peg Capital. Impressively, the young startup already boasts influential clients like Catch, Nando's, and Powershop under its wing.
The timing, Sam believes, is nothing short of perfect, thanks to two monumental industry trends.
"Advertising has gone digital in record time, leaving a mountainous pile of work challenges in its wake," he explained. "On the other side of the fence, we have the megatrend of AI, a technological phenomenon that can perform tasks hitherto reserved for humans. When these mega-trends collide, that's where the goldrush is!"
As a kid, Sam always yearned for tech innovation. With Cuttable, he's nabbing an exclusive ticket to the AI frontier.
Before embarking on this exhilarating AI adventure, Sam co-founded A Cloud Guru, an online learning platform that aided IT professionals master the cloud computing evolution. The game-changing startup traded hands in 2021 in a staggering $2 billion deal with Pluralsight, securing one of the biggest startup exits on Australian shores.
Like a phoenix from the ashes, Cuttable and A Cloud Guru both emerged from the bustling streets of Melbourne. Sam maintains that it's not only possible but also practical to build a global enterprise from stunning Victoria - all you need is a worldly outlook from the get-go.
"It's 100% achievable to put Melburnian roots down and build a thriving global business. The key is to think globally from day one," he confidently asserted.
Victorian Startup Ecosystem: A Glimpse into the Past and Present
When Sam swapped the international tech scene for Melburnian shores in 2010, the local startup landscape was a far cry from the bustling hub it is today. Few software product companies graced the Melbourne tech scene, with only SEEK and REA leading the pack. Fast-forward a decade, and the Garden State is teeming with a staggering 18 unicorn companies, including A Cloud Guru.
Ever the people-person, Sam scores up a significant chunk of his week with coffee dates with fellow entrepreneurs. "Founder friendships and connections are the lifeblood of innovation," he professed, highlighting the critical role these connections play in swapping ideas, solving problems, and finding new perspectives.
Building a Winning Team
As Sam embarks on scaling his second business, he reflects on his hard-earned lessons from A Cloud Guru: success hinges on the strength of your team.
"The most valuable lesson I learned from A Cloud Guru is that great companies are built by fantastic people," he shared. "A founder's number one priority should be to create an exceptional team and to attract the right people to the company."
Finding skilled talent and confronting the fear of impostor syndrome can be daunting, but, as Sam emphasizes, a successful founder needs to trust their instincts and build a compelling vision for the team.
The Power of AI at Your Fingertips
Joining Cuttable means collaborating on an ambitious vision to democratize AI and empower everyday businesses.
"I believe we will succeed when small to medium-sized businesses can leverage Cuttable to create high-quality, stunningly creative, and effective ad campaigns—the kind you'd traditionally have to pay top-dollar agencies for," Sam passionately declared.
The stage is set for Cuttable to revolutionize the advertising industry with AI, bringing a touch of magic to a continually evolving digital world. As Sam seamlessly transitions from a tech titan to an early-stage visionary, the blazing future of his ventures couldn't be more illuminated.
[1]: Artificial Intelligence in Advertising Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Component (Solution & Services), By Deployment Mode, By Application, By End-Use, By Region and Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028
[2]: AI Advertising Platforms: A Comprehensive Guide (Market Trends, Companies & Solutions)
- Sam Kroonenburg, now an early-stage founder, has returned with a passion for revolutionizing the advertising industry through his startup, Cuttable, which combines AI and the trend of automation.
- Cuttable offers an AI-powered automated content agency that supercharges the ad creation process for digital-savvy teams, automatically managing tasks like creating, editing, and fine-tuning ads.
- The startup garnered significant attention when it secured a $5.5 million seed funding round from Square Peg Capital in July.
- Sam believes the timing is perfect due to the collision of two major trends: the digitalization of advertising and the growing trend of AI.
- Sam Kroonenburg had previously co-founded A Cloud Guru, an online learning platform for IT professionals, which was sold for a stunning $2 billion in 2021.
- The Victorian startup ecosystem has evolved significantly since Sam's arrival in 2010, now boasting 18 unicorn companies, including A Cloud Guru.
- Sam emphasizes the importance of building a strong team, stating that great companies are built by fantastic people and a founder's main priority should be to create an exceptional team.
- With Cuttable, Sam aims to democratize AI, allowing small to medium-sized businesses to create high-quality, effective ad campaigns that were previously the domain of high-priced agencies.
