Founder's Hard Lessons

What if influencer marketing isn’t about chasing mega-followers, but activating the creators who already love your brand? In this episode, I sit down with Aris Yeager, Founder of Storytime, to explore how he built a platform connecting brands with nano and micro creators to run highly targeted campaigns at scale. A creator himself known online as European Kid, Aris leverages his own social experience to help businesses automate gifting, engage loyal audiences, and measure campaign effectiveness while focusing on authenticity over follower count.

Highlights:

• How Storytime turns influencer marketing into a scalable, data-driven platform
• Why nano and micro creators often drive more authentic engagement than celebrity influencers
• The power of activating hyper-local creators to reach targeted markets efficiently
• How AI is used to optimize campaigns and match creators to brands
• Why authenticity and alignment with a brand matter more than sheer reach
• The shift from traditional advertising spend to rewarding everyday brand advocates
• How Storytime reduces inefficiency in influencer campaigns for SMBs and large chains
• The strategy behind building a network effect through creator trust and community
• Why founder-led brands are better positioned to take creative risks on social
• Lessons from scaling from SMBs to larger national brands while maintaining authenticity

Guest Bio:

Aris Yeager is the Founder of Storytime, a platform that connects brands with nano and micro creators to run targeted influencer campaigns at scale. A creator himself known as European Kid, Aris built a substantial social following before launching Storytime, and he focuses on helping businesses automate influencer gifting, activate loyal audiences, and run campaigns that prioritize authenticity and data-driven results over sheer follower count.

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Sponsor:

AlphaSense is the market intelligence platform trusted by 85% of the S&P 100 that helps you make confident, data-driven decisions faster than your competitors. With powerful search capabilities designed for hedge funds, mutual funds, and private equity investors, AlphaSense gives you the edge to elevate your research. Visit: alpha-sense.com/howiinvest.

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Stay Connected with Aris Yeager:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arisyeager/

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Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy. All opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Weisburd Capital. Participants may hold positions or have financial interests in the companies, funds, or investments discussed. Any references to specific investments are for illustrative purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any third-party data or opinions have not been independently verified. Listeners should conduct their own research and consult their own advisors before making any investment decisions.

(0:00) Why Distribution Is Everything in Modern Business (1:08) What Storytime Actually Does (1:46) Why Micro Influencers Beat Big Creators (3:42) Solving the Chicken-and-Egg Problem in Marketplaces (5:04) The Unfair Advantage of Being a Creator-Founder (6:23) Turning Influence Into a New Currency (8:15) Why Authenticity Wins in Influencer Marketing (10:54) The Broken, Manual World of Influencer Marketing (13:01) Why Brands Need to Be Daring on Social (19:16) The Most Underrated Skill: Delegation