Subtle clues at events, Flippa & Forbes on-site, Google pivot, VC dilution

On-site events, communities, and partnerships have been top of mind for me over the past 3 quarters after a year of attempts to rectify the current state of SEO and social.

The full breakdown of how social has been fading away + the organic contributions have been recapped in my last newsletter, 18 months of social downhill, top 100 executives, 5 events in 4 weeks. The hint at more real-time networking isn’t accidental here.

We’re organizing the Flippa Exit in Sofia today, and the attendee list is nearly 50% higher than the one here a year ago, or the Autumn meet of 2023. Craving more real-time collaborations and interactions isn’t a fabricated trend I came up with; we see this all over the place as other channels deliver lower ROI than ever.

How offtopic conversations deliver valuable signals 

Yesterday’s Healthcare Summit by Forbes Bulgaria pinpointed a key differentiator on why casual networking and events deliver different insights compared to other, direct and inbound channels.

• Meeting the broader editorial team pulled priceless insights on the state of journalism today, a 360 overview of problems with user stickiness and retention, and different ways to augment and integrate AI, personalization, notification engines, and many others into the journey

• Direct 1:1 with non-profit founder and assessing common ways to partner up (helping DevriX deliver more with more impactful ways to contribute back)

• Off-stage conversations after industry talks - both in the breaks, and after the event (starting new relationships based on tidbits over the conference)

• Group hallway conversations around the state of trade, investing, technology, European relationships - some leading to making new introductions or forming partnerships on the go

• Random mentions by people I’ve known for years, as it turned out, some recent problems can be best suited by solutions we or they work on right now (recency in a non-salesy way)

• A founder running a VO2/body composition clinic, working with my personal coaches, meeting in person for the first time and establishing foundations for TWO different collaborations we’ll lay out starting next week

• A conversation with a former agency founder, now running a biotech startup, exploring similar challenges - and making a cross-intro to explore a deeper collaboration (data, tech, funding, partnerships) between multiple parties

• Meeting the CEO of a startup I invested in a couple years back, turns out he has exited two other businesses and has some common contacts and interests to explore further

I spent 4 hours there and this represents a small chunk of the opportunities and follow-up conversations or meetings uncovered during and between the sessions.

👉️ Casual chats and group talks often “leak” problems that executives keep top of mind, even masked as “a recent idea” or in relation to a completely different conversation. Broader icebreakers like trade news, global macroeconomy, AI, return to office, layoffs, peel in a layer or two, inevitably hitting a problem you wouldn’t have guessed that may unlock new opportunities.

Unlike social, inbound, or even PPC, where offers are laser-focused, this level of networking pulls in unrefined ideas and problems yet to surface, in a middle-of-the-funnel fashion, enabling creative thinking and options to spark unrestricted ideas.

Think of an RFP with a 30-page spec of what and how needs to be done. Instead, this starts with the pain point in place, and a million ways to reach the destination, betting on the strong suits of both parties.

Flippa Exit = Events + Partnerships + Community

What best way to coordinate all the pieces than an on-site event with the M&A community as a Flippa Ambassador myself for the region?

I’m heading out to the Flippa Exit soon, with 71 confirmed registrations until last night - eager to touch base with the Flippa M&A team and the broader entrepreneurial and investing ecosystem. Dominic is coming over - here’s a quick short from the last time we talked shop together:

Flippa also runs a separate Exit Roadshow with Google - a legendary collaboration you can read more about here: https://flippa.com/the-exit-roadshow/google/

Google on AI, search, and glasses

Meanwhile, Google I/O started yesterday on May 20, and I’m still digesting the recap (one of the drawbacks of on-site is the limited time to catch up on news and recaps). The two-day event will cover more today - go ahead and follow the TechCrunch recap in the interim.

The three key takeaways I have right now are related to AI, search, and the XR glasses.

1. Google AI Ultra mode ($250/mo), deep research, AI in Chrome, video generation, etc. Needless to say, it’s all about AI with Google, seemingly ignoring most other revenue streams besides ads. Especially with the premium subscription plan, as they have already presented paid plans for individual users AND and upgrade for Workspace clients (I pay for both) seems like an exodus of the ad-dependent model.
   
   I give them props for integrating deeper with the Chrome ecosystem, though. Using Alexa over the past 5 years hasn’t been helpful for anything other than setting an alarm, playing “rock paper scissors”, or inquiring about the weather. Well, and playing audiobooks. Google’s Assistant play nearly a decade ago has been theoretically supported, but wildly limited due to device inconsistencies and the inability to control the device in a helpful way.

2. Google Search’s AI mode. Everyone who has been actively investing in inbound (or building a personal/corporate brand) can testify to the decreasing value of Google’s search in the past 18 moths. AI Overviews have been both delusional often and neglecting the data sources they cite, leading to B2B brands, creators, entrepreneurs, consultancies - and anyone not a traditional publisher - halting any efforts in delivering free deep insights for free without receiving any credit.
   
   Right now, Google announces AI Mode (as uncovered by The Guardian), with a separate tab for fully Gemini 2.5-searches in Google. However, no clear indications of whether AI Overviews are disappearing (unlikely) and how to access the good old search, however questionable results are today. Lily Ray has raised a relevant discussion on LinkedIn you may want to catch up with or join with predictions and insights.

3.  Project Aura by Google and XREAL. Google is back in the AR/VR game with a new announcement of glasses - also announced on XREAL’s X account. I remember testing the first Google Glasses in San Francisco back in 2013 and they were so futuristic, it was one of the most forward-looking things I’ve seen in my time. Unfortunately, too early for most adopters, too expensive for mass consumption, and the dev ecosystem didn’t pick up at the time.
   
   Oculus and two iterations Meta Ray-Bans have helped pave the way, plus Apple’s expensive $3,500 thingy, and now Google is doing a second run here. I don’t think that Google are a good “first mover”, but they’ve been known to achieve dominance due to the broad ecosystem - so their second attempt may actually work here, as Android’s XR new OS is setting the foundation for more virtual and augmented reality. Personally, I loved the first try, I have the Snap goggles (horrible buggy experience sadly), couldn’t grab the Meta ones (hard to obtain in Europe), and would gladly get the Google goggles unless they pose a battery life of an hour or two.

Lastly, on making money with VC

We tend to talk about wins more than losses. This is common - you hear the crypto bullies during a bull market, but suddenly all conversations disappear off the face of Earth when Bitcoin and altcoins are going down - sometimes for months.

The VC wave has been going up and to the right from 2015 to 2021-2022, but results have been hit or miss with devaluations, bankruptcies, and changing the entire state of how marketing and revenue operations work today.

I covered the rise and fall of the public market model and valuations in an earlier May newsletter: The end of the "Growth on autopilot" era.

And recently, VC funds have been expanding their functionality for better diversification - including the ability to keep cash on hand, invest in the public market or bonds, acquire crypto, run a private equity play: different ventures from pure VC investing and hoping for an exit or an IPO.

The last 5 years have contributed to this decision - with a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic keeping everyone home for 2 years, wars popping up out of nowhere, a hyperinflation, down market, political tension and the evolution of AI in just 2 to 3 years. No surprises when CEOs are unable to handle, or have been riding one wave that got disrupted, and the entire validity of the model has been rendered obsolete.

Jason Cohen, founder of 2 unicorns, has recapped this pretty succinctly, even if a startup is actually successful:

So, while 60 to 70 percent of many VC funds are write-offs, and for every 100 investments, the hope is for 2 unicorns to come up - and these have been harder to find and longer to nurture nowadays - this also questions the viability for founding teams as they keep raising and raising over and over again, diluting their capital, and generating a net-net that’s closer to bootstrapping a $3M business.

My perspective as a serial bootstrapped founder, a former CEO for a VC-funded startup, and an angel investor in 20+ businesses is diverse enough to conclude that:

1. VC funding has been used and abused for years, decreasing trust on both sides - mediocre VCs managing to raise tons of cash to give away, and founders who want to travel around and chill on a VC’s bill without spending the time to build a product

2. Success rates have been going down. The bar to build a business - especially a digital one - is lower than ever, which doesn’t need as much funding, although go-to-market costs are through the roof and capital to reach TAM is insanely high

3. The traditional VC model requires a massive ROI to make it worthwhile. You can’t raise $1M at a $10M valuation and expect to return $200K on top or even yield $2M and make the fund happy. No. It’s 10X or more to justify all the time, effort, and costs.

No surprises here that investors are looking into different asset classes or exploring different, more flexible forms of investing. If you think about Mr. Wonderful on Shark Tank, his deals were often tied to a guaranteed return of the original investment, often a multiple of 2x or 3x, then giving away half or more of the equity, yet getting a positive return AND still retaining ownership.

The PE model, with distribution of dividends or other perks, provides more flexibility that even venture capital funds are now looking into. The ability to trade on the stock market or acquire real estate as a strategy seems foreign, but isn’t farfetched in today’s investing environment.

✉️ P.S. Got additional insights to the event space, vivid communities, healthtech, M&A, the state of VC, or Google? Hit “Reply” and let me know.

Mario

💼 Summary of the Healthcare Summit 2025 by Forbes Bulgaria. A strong event tapping into multiple areas of healthcare - traditional, social, global, and health tech. Read the full recap for additional insights and takeaways.

💼 The Clean and Energy Forum by Manager Magazine. The broader clean tech, energy, environment and ESG community gathered on Friday - skim through my takeaways here as a brief summary of a full day of world-impacting sessions.

📰 The power of crowdfunding and IPOs. Venture capital is a strong play, but how about raising from thousands of people? Here’s why I have a special form of attachment to crowdfunding and IPOs.

👪️ Remote is consistently misunderstood by the young gen. You’d be surprised how many applications like this one we receive in our forms. Social trolls may label them as outcasts, but as you go through 500 of these “I need to make money so I’m just applying for remote jobs in my spare time”, this isn’t making it any easier for real professional or businesses to build a strong workspace that actually delivers results.

🔖 Network smarter, not harder. Try these 5 practical strategies from the Authentic Connection Framework to move beyond shallow networking and forge meaningful relationships full of potential.

🔖 Find clarity in quiet moments. An insightful piece exploring how spending time alone can sharpen your decisions and deepen self-awareness: What solitude can teach you.

🔖 Faster analytics through testing. A step-by-step guide shows how to benchmark real-time analytics to reach sub-50ms latency.

🔖 Simplify cross-platform reporting. Automating reports across channels helps teams cut manual errors and save time while accessing insights faster.

🔖 Secure your APIs effectively. A practical guide outlines how to improve API security compliance through encryption and monitoring.

🔖 Focus video metrics on ROI. Learn which video performance metrics best reflect campaign impact and audience engagement.

🔖 Use DRM to protect content. A DRM strategy can help safeguard media while monetizing with rental and subscription options.

🔖 Create a legacy that goes beyond your title. See how executives today shape influence far beyond boardrooms through focused, impactful advocacy strategies that create real-world change.

📰 Deal revives UK-EU stability hopes. A new agreement removes costly post-Brexit hurdles with aligned rules on trade and energy worth £9B annually.

📰 Smart glasses get a new life. Google’s Sergey Brin reflects on mistakes as renewed AI focus reshapes smart eyewear strategy.

📰 Tesla takes a safer approach. The company will test robotaxis only in select Austin areas as it explores geofenced autonomous driving.

📰 Google brings AI to low-end phones. Its Gemma 3n model runs with minimal memory, ushering in scalable on-device intelligence.

📰 Defense fund opens post-Brexit doors. The UK can now join EU energy and military efforts following a major reset agreement.

📰 Google reshapes search user behavior. Its AI Mode offers real-time results and shopping tools, shifting habits with deeper integration.

📰 CMOs lose ground to revenue roles. CROs and CSOs are gaining traction as marketing titles evolve across industries.

📰 Regeneron buys a massive DNA library. The pharma giant now owns 15 million genetic profiles after its 23andMe acquisition.

📰 Moody’s downgrade shakes investors. Learn what’s behind the recent U.S. rating cut and market reactions across sectors.

📰 JPMorgan eyes new leadership. With Jamie Dimon exiting, the bank is lining up succession candidates in a closely watched transition.

📰 Unilever sees gains from influencers. TRESemmé’s campaign with Paige DeSorbo boosts brand scores, reflecting growing investments in creators.

Let’s see the latest offers from Flippa. Don’t forget to sign up for their newsletter for daily/weekly/monthly offers like these.

Private-Label Fashion Shopify Store: Automated eCommerce store selling premium jackets across the US, UK, and Canada with a $200 AOV and lean international fulfillment - Listed for $28,350

Viral Shopify Duck Lamp Brand: Hands-off Shopify business generating $97K annual profit with fully organic sales and a 70K-strong social following. Known for plush duck lamps that went viral on TikTok and Instagram - Available at $58,500

15-Year Specialty Tea Importer with Amazon Sales Channel: Established global B2B business with $76K annual profit, importing premium loose-leaf teas from Asia and operating a long-standing Amazon retail presence - Listed at $228,901

Evergreen How-To YouTube Channel: Fully-monetized 4-year-old channel generating $147K annual profit, with 505K views in the last 28 days - Available for $350,000

LEGO Ecommerce Brand with Loyal B2B Customers: This collectible LEGO minifigure resale business boasts $217K in annual profit and a $285 AOV, serving global B2B and B2C clients with strong UPS-backed logistics - Listed for $555,181.

Crypto Media Platform with 1.2M+ Monthly Pageviews: Profitable 11-year-old crypto news and analysis site generating $540K annual profit from over 1.2M monthly users - Open to Offers

Need My Help?

Keeping myself busy - here are the main projects I focus on:

🌐 Scaling enterprises on top of WordPress? DevriX provides martech retainers to SMEs, publishers, eCommerce, SaaS, and more. Our plans start from $1,200/mo to $40K/mo and we manage high-traffic platforms (hundreds of millions of monthly views), B2B SaaS apps, partnership management solutions, supporting $10M - $250M businesses with scalability, custom funnels, CRO, big data augmentation, AI-driven processes, HubSpot workflows, programmatic SEO - and everything a modern business requires in digital in 2025.

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🌠 Feature your business across the community? The B2B Ecosystem includes this newsletter and 40 other digital properties (directories, newsletters, blogs, SaaS, and social accounts) targeting B2B executives. See how your business can benefit.

📈 International founder looking into US LLCs? Check out doola and their “Business in a Box” model. Suitable for both foreigners and US citizens and both for residents and non-residents.

📊 Into digital M&A? I work closely with Flippa’s marketplace. They offer a vast variety of online businesses for any buyer’s interest. Or if you’re ready for an exit, Flippa provides the tools to list your business and close the deal.

💼 Looking for investment opportunities? Check out SeedBlink.