MADTech Momentum Podcast with Dan Jaye

Dan Jaye

Dan Jaye, CEO of Aqfer, hosts martech, adtech and datatech luminaries on his twice-monthly MADTech Momentum Podcast. In an era of profound change, subscribe now to stay on top of future trends across the marketing data space.

Episodes

  1. Jan 15

    MADTech Momentum S3 Ep2: Raymie Stata and How AI Agents are Reshaping Advertising

    Distributed systems veteran and former Yahoo! CTO Raymie Stata joins Dan Jaye for a direct conversation about what AI is doing to software development, architecture, mentorship, and the future of engineering talent. They cover the shift from coding to agents, how abstractions in frontend ecosystems accelerated agentic programming, and why backend is lagging. They unpack bigger industry consequences: * brand power in answer engines * how AI collapses team size and erases apprentice layers * what happens when small businesses lose the discovery channel that search once gave them. Dan and Raymie review predictions that were wrong (Hadoop vs object stores), touch on early computing origins, and why software may become more like domain-specific language design than traditional applications. Dig in for a clear view into how AI reframes the craft of building software.

    MADTech Momentum S3 Ep2: Raymie Stata and How AI Agents are Reshaping Advertising

  2. 11/12/2025

    MADTech Momentum S3 Ep1: Joe Zawadzki and the 20-Sided Future of AI

    In this episode, we cover: Introductions and Shared Origins – Dan welcomes Joe Zawadzki, “the godfather of programmatic,” and the two swap stories about Harvard, astrophysics, and the unlikely crossover between cosmology and ad tech. Astrophysicists in Ad Tech – Why so many data scientists and physicists ended up in marketing, and how finance paved the way for programmatic advertising. Birth of Programmatic – Joe’s early days championing data-driven, machine-enabled advertising and getting “laughed out of the room” in 1999. From Wall Street to Madison Avenue – How ad tech emerged from the collision of quantitative finance and creative media culture. Boston vs. New York Innovation – Dan reflects on launching early startups in Boston while Joe navigated the entrenched power structures of Madison Avenue. West Coast vs. East Coast Dynamics – Why Silicon Valley built the platforms and New York commercialized them, and how global hubs like France are shaping the next wave. AI Everywhere – Joe explains how AI is reshaping investment strategy, operations, and marketing—what it means to build AI-first companies. Reinventing Venture Capital – How Joe’s firm, Aperiam Ventures, is rewriting the VC model by acting like an “operator-investor,” not a passive financier. Bridging VC and Private Equity – The new middle ground between growth equity discipline and early-stage innovation. Privacy and Ethics in a Post-Cookie World – The “cookiepocalypse” that wasn’t, self-regulation vs. government regulation, and why companies must choose to do what they should, not just what they can. Reputation as an Economic Asset – Dan and Joe discuss karma, trust, and why doing the right thing ultimately compounds business value. AI’s Next Frontiers in Marketing – How AI is disrupting every function from sales ops to creative strategy, and why enthusiasm is spreading even among skeptics. When Ads Are for the Machines – Joe’s provocative vision of a world where algorithms, not humans, are the primary audience for ads. Outcome-Driven Marketing (Still Waiting) – Joe admits his “broken crystal ball” prediction: outcome-based measurement should have been universal by now. Mentors and Early Breaks – Shout-out to Beth Wallace at AOL and how her early support led to innovations like Right Media and X+1. Falling Into Ad Tech – Joe’s path from real estate finance to ad tech, and why everyone in the industry started as an “accidental marketer.” Lessons in Karma – The MediaMath saga, private equity missteps, and how good people and good ideas still find ways to endure. Closing Thoughts – Reflections on AI, innovation cycles, and why this industry always seems to be rebuilding itself in “interesting times.”

    MADTech Momentum S3 Ep1: Joe Zawadzki and the 20-Sided Future of AI

  3. 08/14/2025

    MADTech Momentum S2 Ep4: Brian Killen and Why Timing Beats Innovation at Startups

    Brian Killen is a serial entrepreneur and AI transformation expert with over two decades of experience in MarTech and AdTech. From building one of the first marketing automation platforms in 1999 to being Salesforce’s first third-party app partner, Brian has consistently stayed ahead of the curve. He’s led Google Cloud partnerships across financial services, helped launch AI-driven companies with real ROI, and now works with mid-sized businesses through his company Elemental, delivering AI solutions that used to cost millions—now for a fraction of the price. Whether it's cutting a call center in half with GenAI, mentoring early-stage founders, or calling out the biggest myths in startup culture, Brian brings a candid, forward-looking view on how tech is transforming work, creativity, and business strategy.

    MADTech Momentum S2 Ep4: Brian Killen and Why Timing Beats Innovation at Startups

  4. 07/29/2025

    MADTech Momentum S2 Ep3: Alan Chapell on Privacy, Cookies, and Big-Data Blowups

    With a résumé that runs from launching Jupiter Research’s first privacy program and shaping DoubleClick’s research suite to two decades advising 200-plus ad-tech and mar-tech firms as president of Chapell & Associates, Alan Chapell has become the industry’s go-to privacy consigliere.Equal parts data-ethics attorney and indie rocker, he now channels that dual energy into The Chapell Report, dissecting ad-blocker backlash, AI’s legal landmines, and the antitrust storm brewing around Big Tech. Episode Highlights: 00:01 – Intro Daniel Jaye introduces Alan Chapell – privacy lawyer, data ethics expert, and former rock band frontman. 00:32 – Blow Your Own Horn Alan shares how he broke into privacy law in the early days, pitching himself as a startup-friendly alternative to big firms. 02:15 – IAPP Origins & Privacy Networking Recollections of IAPP’s early days and building a privacy career through personal outreach. 03:17 – Don’t Curb Your Enthusiasm Alan discusses launching The Chappell Report and two podcasts: The Monopoly Report and Future Media Podcast. 06:12 – AI & Privacy Convergence How privacy professionals are evolving into AI policy experts, with insights from Cannes Lions and creative controversies. 08:25 – Not My Job Daniel asks about the big data battles – Databricks, Snowflake, Informatica – and Alan predicts AI will upend it all. 11:08 – Top Privacy Development (Last 12 Months) Specialization in privacy law, rethinking pseudonymous identifiers, and the implications of data consolidation. 15:57 – Crystal Ball: Next 12 Months Alan forecasts AI will break current privacy frameworks and legal paradigms – from consent laws to IP. 22:20 – Broken Crystal Ball Alan admits his biggest miss: believing federal privacy law would be enacted by now. 23:56 – Mentorship Shoutout How Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison helped Alan merge creativity and business – and even inspired a snake venom biotech startup. 26:06 – Lies, Damn Lies, & Statistics Three privacy-related stats discussed – ad blockers stand out as the most surprising to Alan. 32:48 – How Did You End Up in Privacy? From Bombay bands to canned spam law, Alan shares his unconventional path to privacy stardom. 38:41 – Karma & The W3C Lessons from the Do Not Track debacle and the importance of listening more, punching less. 43:52 – The Standards Landscape W3C vs. IAB Tech Lab vs. ITF – how big tech's influence shapes modern privacy standards. 48:12 – Wrap-Up Alan reminds us to “keep creating,” and Dan hints at future jam sessions.

    MADTech Momentum S2 Ep3: Alan Chapell on Privacy, Cookies, and Big-Data Blowups

  5. 07/02/2025

    MADTech Momentum S2 Ep 2 with Ari Paparo: AdTech, AI, and the Battle for Attention

    With a résumé that spans Google, AppNexus, Bazaarvoice, and the founding of Beeswax, Ari has helped shape the infrastructure of modern advertising. Now CEO of Marketecture Media, he brings sharp takes and deep context to every corner of the ecosystem—from the rise of retail media and AI’s impact on attention to the surprising durability of bad attribution. In this episode, Ari shares war stories, industry predictions, and a preview of Yield, his forthcoming book on how Google’s ad dominance took shape behind the scenes. Episode Highlights with Ari Paparo 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – Ari’s background: Beeswax, VAST, Marketecture Media 04:10 – The origin of the VAST video ad standard 07:40 – Launching Beeswax and the idea behind “Bidder-as-a-Service” 08:45 – Writing Yield: The difference between a newsletter and a book 12:30 – How AI might reshape the scale and structure of the ad economy 16:00 – Will AI kill the creator economy before it touches traditional media? 18:30 – The surprising rise and structure of retail and commerce media 22:30 – What happens when AI-native startups bypass legacy stacks? 24:45 – Broken crystal ball: Ari’s biggest wrong prediction 26:30 – Lessons from early mentors (and red flags in startup leadership) 29:00 – Lies, damn lies, and ad fraud: Ari reacts to 3 shocking stats 32:00 – How Ari stumbled into ad tech via DoubleClick’s worst product 35:00 – DoubleClick, AdX, and Google’s strategic dominance 37:45 – Reflections on the DOJ antitrust case and what's next 39:20 – Industry karma, collegiality, and the “toxic few” 40:30 – Final thoughts and a teaser for Yield

    MADTech Momentum S2 Ep 2 with Ari Paparo: AdTech, AI, and the Battle for Attention

  6. 06/17/2025

    MadTech Momentum S2 Ep 1: Bill Simmons - The Engineer Who Revolutionized Programmatic Ads

    Bill Simmons is an MIT PhD, aerospace engineer, entrepreneur and the creator of OpenRTB—the protocol that powers billions of ad transactions daily. From building spacecraft for NASA to becoming a pioneer in programmatic advertising, Bill’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode, we explore the messy state of AdTech, why most messaging tools are fundamentally broken, how his new company - Orbit.me - aims to overhaul email, and what AI means for privacy, efficiency, and the next decade of innovation. 00:00: Introduction to Bill Simmons and His Journey 04:55: The Evolution of Programmatic Advertising 10:00: Challenges in the Open Web Advertising Ecosystem 14:56: The Future of Messaging and Trust Issues 20:13: Influential Mentorship and Leadership Lessons 27:37: Journey Through Aerospace and Mars Mission Design 31:19: Transitioning to Advertising and Media Innovations 35:39: Navigating Privacy Challenges in the Digital Age 40:47: The Future of AI and Advertising 45:10: Introducing Bill's new venture: Orbit.me - with Statistics and Insights on Email Productivity

    MadTech Momentum S2 Ep 1: Bill Simmons - The Engineer Who Revolutionized Programmatic Ads
  • 6 Episodes

About

Dan Jaye, CEO of Aqfer, hosts martech, adtech and datatech luminaries on his twice-monthly MADTech Momentum Podcast. In an era of profound change, subscribe now to stay on top of future trends across the marketing data space.

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