[Editor’s note: GeekWire is running a series of profiles on the startups participating in this year’s class in the TechStars Seattle incubator program. Check back each day at 1:30 p.m. for a new profile, leading up to Demo Day on Nov. 1]

The Bizible team.

Today, many offline businesses have trouble tracking conversions and are unable to identify which marketing channels are most effective.

Bizible solves that problem and lets companies track the offline revenue back to the exact online marketing source. We caught up with founder and CEO Aaron Bird, a former Microsoftie, for this installment of Startup Spotlight.

Explain what you do so our parents can understand it: “Bizible solves the oldest question in marketing – what’s working?”

Inspiration hit us when: “We literally had a eureka moment sitting down with a Seattle painting company when we finally realized how we could piece together the puzzle to track how all of their customers found them (even the ones that walked in the front door).”

VC, Angel or Bootstrap: “So far we are angel funded, but more on this topic soon.”

Our ‘secret sauce’ is: “Deep customer insight and never giving up.  We’ve spent time with hundreds of SMBs and really understand how they work, how their customers find them, and how to track all of it.”

The smartest move we’ve made so far: “TechStars. Period.”

Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos

The biggest mistake we’ve made so far: “The few times we’ve waited too long to test assumptions and built too much without validated learning. We’ve pivoted a few times and we could have reached the conclusions faster. #leanstartup”

Would you rather have Gates, Jobs, Zuckerberg or Bezos in your corner: “Bezos: Disrupt everything.”

Our world domination strategy starts when: “Every SMB on the planet can buy advertising on a per revenue basis (not per click or per call).  Picture this:  ‘I’ll sell you revenue at 20 cents on the dollar.’  That’s the risk free and transparent advertising world we want to see.”

Rivals should fear us because: “We’re scrappy determined hustlers with strong technical chops.”

The biggest hurdle we’ve overcome is: “Shock, awe and disbelief. ‘I don’t believe you can do that.’ ‘It’s magic.’  Quotes from customers and agencies.”

What is the most important thing you have learned so far?  “‘No’ is the first step to ‘yes.’  We actually don’t really feel right about hearing ‘yes’ any more if we don’t get a few ‘no’s’ first.”

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to other entrepreneurs just starting out: “Get aggressive or GFA for short.”


Startup Spotlight is an occasional look at a Seattle area startup company. Have an interesting new venture you want spotlighted in GeekWire? Fill out the questions above, send  photos of the founder(s) and company logo to tips@geekwire.com. Past profiles can be found here.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.