JW

Jay Webster

Technology Executive & Product Leader | AI-Driven Innovation, Scalable SaaS Growth & Data Monetization | Scaling ML, NLP & GTM Strategy for Growth

Cincinnati, Ohio

Invests in

Stages:

  • Min Investment:

    $0.00
  • Max Investment:

    $0.00
  • Target Investment:

    $0.00

Work Experience

2025

  • Chief Technology Officer

    2025

  • President & Founder

    2024

    ☑️ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Spearheading enterprise data infrastructure consolidation, SaaS product innovation, and AI-driven solutions to accelerate growth for high-scale businesses. ☑️ 𝗔𝗜 & 𝗦𝗮𝗮𝗦 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Designing and developing a custom LLM & RAG-powered SaaS platform for precision medicine applications at Wild Type Advocates, optimizing healthcare insights. ☑️ 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 & 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: Providing strategic guidance on AI/ML adoption, data monetization strategies, and GTM execution for startups and enterprises, helping them drive scalable innovation. ☑️ 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Serving as a board advisor to PropelPR, EZNewswire, Synthesis Healthcare, and Goodhands Group, shaping product roadmaps, market positioning, and technology strategy to maximize competitive advantage.

2021 - 2024

  • President, Chief Product & Technology Officer

    2021 - 2024

    ☑️ 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Led the $300M ARR Cision SaaS business unit, achieving 5% net growth despite challenging macroeconomic conditions through strategic execution and operational improvements. ☑️ 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Rebuilt the global leadership team across product, engineering, PMO, product marketing, and product operations, driving operational excellence and innovation at scale. ☑️ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 & 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Designed, developed, and launched CisionOne, a next-gen AI-powered media intelligence platform, increasing lead volume by 400% and enhancing market competitiveness. ☑️ 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 & 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆: Delivered $18M+ in cost savings in 2023 by optimizing product and platform infrastructure, improving efficiency, and reducing operational overhead. ☑️ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 & 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀: Spearheaded the repositioning and launch of Buzzsumo, driving $5M+ in ARR through a Product-Led Growth (PLG) GTM model. ☑️ 𝗠&𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 & 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Led technical diligence and integration for the acquisitions of Brandwatch, Factmata, and Streem, strengthening Cision’s product portfolio and market reach. ☑️ 𝗔𝗜-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Developed AI-powered sentiment analysis and influencer marketing automation, optimizing media intelligence workflows and enhancing cost efficiency. ☑️ 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Secured an exclusive 8-year partnership with Dow Jones, solidifying Cision’s position as a leader in premium media analytics and expanding strategic influence.

2014 - 2020

  • ESVP Product & Engineering

    2014 - 2020

    ☑️ 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 & 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Scaled programmatic advertising revenue from $46M (2014) to $221M (2019) through data-driven strategies and automation. ☑️ 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Launched SEM and social influencer marketing divisions, each generating $20M in the first year, expanding digital reach. ☑️ 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 & 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮𝘂𝗹: Built a 350-person R&D team, upgraded engineering and product leadership, and resolved tech inefficiencies, driving 10% EBITDA growth for three years. ☑️ 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Led the expansion of the Valassis Consumer Graph, an advanced AI-powered shopper marketing platform, earning Product of the Year at the Sammys (2019 & 2020). ☑️ 𝗗𝗦𝗣 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Scaled Valassis' in-house DSP to process 120B daily auctions, becoming the largest privately held DSP and achieving 300% revenue growth in 30 months. ☑️ 𝗠&𝗔 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: Conducted due diligence on 30+ acquisition targets, successfully completing acquisitions of Maxpoint, RetailMeNot, LocalFlavor, and Spotzot, strengthening Valassis’ valuation and competitive position.

2012 - 2014

  • President & Co-founder

    2012 - 2014

    ☑️ 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Founded and scaled a B2B2C energy marketplace, achieving 25% month-over-month revenue growth, leading to its successful acquisition by Red Ventures. ☑️ 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: Secured $11.5M in Series A & B funding from top-tier investors, including Kleiner Perkins, Stephens Capital, and NGEN, to accelerate growth and market expansion. ☑️ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 & 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Built and led a high-performing engineering and product team, recruiting and onboarding top-tier talent within 60 days to fast-track product-market fit and platform development.

2011 - 2012

  • Chief Product Officer

    2011 - 2012

    ☑️ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Optimized product and engineering operations by implementing a VP leadership structure, enhancing cross-functional collaboration, and accelerating the product roadmap. ☑️ 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: Led a successful $5M Series B fundraising round, leveraging data-driven market insights to position Sharethrough for expansion. ☑️ 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Developed a native advertising strategy focused on third-party integration, media measurement, and fraud prevention, improving ad quality and revenue scalability.

2009 - 2011

  • Chief Product Officer

    2009 - 2011

    ☑️ 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Revamped product strategy, successfully launching 29 new projects on a $4M budget, leading to a 10% increase in annual revenue. ☑️ 𝗠&𝗔 & 𝗔𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: Led product and technology due diligence during Quova’s acquisition by Neustar, ensuring a seamless integration and strategic alignment. ☑️ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Introduced a SaaS business model for developers and brands, driving increased adoption and expanding market penetration in the location intelligence space.

2006 - 2009

  • CTO/GM Performance Network

    2006 - 2009

    ☑️ 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: Scaled the performance network from $4M to $20M in 18 months, directly contributing to Blue Lithium’s $300M acquisition by Yahoo!. ☑️ 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Designed and launched three performance marketing products across email, search, and Yahoo! Games, with the latter driving 30% of revenue for Yahoo! Games within six months. ☑️ 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 & 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Managed a $4M annual technology budget, optimizing ad targeting solutions and platform performance, enhancing overall advertising efficiency.