DMEXCO Briefing: Ad tech leaders argue for a balanced approach to ‘Founder Mode’ concept

Ad tech execs love nothing more than a good, old-fashioned debate — whether it’s about auction dynamics or yield management, no topic is too hot to handle. That’s what makes the chatter around “founder mode” at DMEXCO so surprising:  it seems ad tech has finally reached a rare consensus. Who knew?

What they’re saying is this: Founder mode isn’t inherently bad. Being hands-on can spark genuine connections with team members.  But let’s be honest — it’s not a sustainable game plan. The most effective founder-mode leaders typically have a trusted manager (or even a whole team) at their side to ensure everything stays on track.

This isn’t a new debate, but it’s gained fresh traction since Y-Combinator co-founder Paul Graham’s blog post last month. It resonated with execs navigating ad tech’s tricky balancing act of profitability, growth, and keeping restless investors satisfied.

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