Beyond Algorithms

AI FOMO is everywhere — but does every company really need an AI agent, chatbot, or “AI-powered” product story? In this episode of Beyond Algorithms, Jun Wang and Frost Li discuss how companies should think about AI adoption without blindly chasing hype. They explore the difference between AI that creates real business value and AI that merely looks good to investors, boards, or the market. From b...

In this first episode of the new season of Beyond Algorithms , Jun and Frost kick things off with a timely question: are we measuring AI adoption all wrong? They unpack how companies are rushing to track AI usage through tokens, sessions, and spend—without a clear understanding of what success actually looks like. The conversation dives into the tension between input metrics and real outcomes, and...

In this episode of Beyond Algorithms, Jun and Frost sit down with Nick Schrock—creator of GraphQL and founder of Dagster Labs—to unpack the messy, unfiltered journey from Facebook’s elite engineering team to open-source founder life. Nick reflects on what it really takes to build developer tools that matter—when your product might be loved by thousands but monetized by none. You’ll hear why recrui...

In this episode of  Beyond Algorithms , we're joined by Darius Contractor, Chief Growth Officer at  Otter.ai , who shares powerful insights into value-driven, product-focused growth. Darius reveals the remarkable story behind identifying a deeply-needed Dropbox feature, guiding it from user insight to becoming a core offering that generated tens of millions in revenue. He also offers strategic...

In this episode of Beyond Algorithms, Jun and Frost sit down with Matt Rodriguez—former marketing leader at Twitter and Meta, now an indie film producer and founder of 1985 Capital—to explore how careers evolve, why storytelling is a superpower, and what AI means for the future of creative work. You’ll hear how: • An orphaned Korean adoptee turned poli-sci major became a global marketing leader at...

In this episode of  Beyond Algorithms , Jun and Frost sit down with Sipra, former Head of Performance Marketing at Good Eggs, to unpack the playbook behind successful city-by-city expansion. You’ll learn how to: Build a geo-focused marketing methodology that speaks to local audiences Align performance tactics with product and operations teams to streamline new-market launches Turn crisis into oppo...

Robi Ganguly, founder of Apptentive (successfully sold to private equity acquired after raising only $18M), shares the hard truths behind app ratings, why NPS has become a lazy metric, and how brands like Starbucks and Nordstrom quietly turned passive users into raving fans. We unpack what actually works when trying to understand customer satisfaction — and why the next era of user feedback will b...

In this episode, Frost and Jun sit down with Zoil, former head of cross-border inventory at Wish, to unpack lessons from the last U.S.-China tariff war—and why this time, the challenges are even greater. Zoil shares firsthand experiences navigating sudden tariff hikes, shifting supply chains, and adapting to rapidly changing trade policies. We dive into what’s different about today’s environment,...

Top-tier users don’t always mean paying customers. In this episode, we explore one of the toughest lessons in building a startup: what happens when your product gains traction with industry giants—but fails to convert that traction into revenue. Leo Anthias, founder of Data Pane, shares how he grew adoption with teams at Nvidia, Amazon, and more—only to hit a monetization wall. We dive into what w...

Promotions can drive growth—or drain your margins. In this episode, we unpack how to design promotions that scale using data, not guesswork. Learn how to stay competitive in a crowded market without attracting deal-seekers who churn. We’ll cover strategies to segment high-value users, track promotion impact accurately, and avoid the common traps that make discounts look good on paper but bad on yo...

What if the viral stories flooding your feed weren’t real? In this episode, Frost and Jun uncover the hidden world of AI-generated content farms—where agencies run thousands of fake accounts, crafting dramatic stories to drive engagement and sell ads at a fraction of the cost. Is this a brilliant marketing hack or a dangerous game that could erode trust in digital advertising? Join us as we explor...

What does ROI really mean in the age of AI-driven marketing? As attribution models evolve, platforms promise smarter ad optimization—but does that mean we should trust them blindly? In this episode, we dive into the shifting landscape of digital advertising, how AI is reshaping attribution, and why defining success remains an art, not a science. Join Frost and Jun as they explore the challenges of...

If I had 100 people watch my video in the first 10 seconds after posting on social media, would it work? On platforms like TikTok, does my follower count matter? #AIMarketing #Ecommerce #DigitalMarketing #TikTok #TikTokMarketing