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When Fivegrid co-founder Suryabala Shenbagamurthy found that many companies were moving to digital-first in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, she quickly took a “big picture” approach.

Suryabala worked with co-founder Gokul Chandrasekaran to develop Fivegrid to make digital marketing easy and accessible for everyone. It includes a registration to create, manage and report digital advertisements across all channels. This includes Google, Facebook, Instagram, Yahoo Mail, MSN, Apple News and many more.

“In a fraction of a second, many platforms work together to reach the right customers at the right time on the right platform. Despite the outstanding innovation in advertising technology over the years, the digital marketing landscape is still fragmented. “Suryabala says.

“And some of these platforms come at a high price. One that not many small and medium-sized businesses can afford or have the right expertise to be on board and manage. “

Fivegrid’s goal is to use automation to fill this gap. In Fivegrid, businesses can access key digital marketing features such as premium digital media channels, unlimited campaign activations, real-time reporting dashboard, multi-channel digital ad rendering, and more for just $ 150 per month.

Another industry trend, according to Suryabala, is for companies to link digital ads directly to Google or Facebook.

“This is where customers probably spend most of their time. However, according to a recent study by ACMA, Australians also spend time emailing, general internet surfing, messaging, watching videos and banking / paying bills. At Fivegrid, we are integrated with customer contact points beyond social media channels. And the best part is that you can use our platforms with little to no knowledge of digital marketing. “

Fivegrid’s biggest success to date came after her first outreach program in the Sydney startup community.

The co-founders of Fivegrid, Suryabala Shenbagamurthy (right) and Gokul Chandrasekaran (left)

“It was a dream come true. In the first week, over 40 companies were interested in testing our product. After the first beta phase, I used my professional network for recommendations,” says Suryabala.

“The very first business we worked with turned out to be a paid customer and partner. UnLtd is a not-for-profit organization based in Australia that connects the media, marketing and creative industries with charities that work with children and youth at risk. “

Fivegrid is currently integrated with Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Verizon Media, and Taboola. Surya says they are in the process of supporting more marketing goals, including social media engagement, ecommerce sales, and integration with new channels like LinkedIn.

“As part of our partnership with UnLtd, we are supporting a very exciting marketing campaign called Be a Hero for HeartKids. Hero for HeartKids Day is a fun initiative where workplaces, schools, daycare and the wider community dress up as superheroes on Friday June 18 to raise funds for children with heart disease and their families. “

“So far, HeartKids has mainly used Facebook ads to raise awareness online. However, with Fivegrid we have launched an omni-channel strategy to target users on both Facebook and native displays via Verizon Media and Taboola. The first results are incredible. We’re seeing strong performance at a cost of $ 0.60 per ad click (80% more cost-effective) and a click-through rate of 0.43 percent (versus 0.05 percent click-through rate, industry benchmark). “

Other exciting news for Fivegrid is the partnership with Verizon Media.

“Over the next few weeks, we’ll be working with Verizon Media’s native display experts to automate best practices to make digital displays more cost-effective for SMBs. We also hope to work together to create online forums and webinars to help start SMBs and explore digital marketing. Check out this room! “Suryabala says.

Paul Sigaloff, Managing Director of ANZ INSEA at Verizon Media: “Small businesses are the foundation of what drives the world. Verizon Media takes pride in serving the SMB community in a variety of ways, including partnering with Fivegrid. With access to our Native product suite, Australian SMEs get market leading technology to take their businesses to the next level. It’s a win-win for everyone involved as we advance the Australian tech scene and promote digital inclusion for everyone. “

According to Suryabala, being part of the Fishburners startup community has helped Fivegrid a lot in their entrepreneurial journey.

“I was introduced to Fishburners when I came up with another startup idea that unfortunately didn’t hit the market. But when I networked during the pitch event, I got a sense of community, support, a space to be authentic, and most importantly, positive reinforcement. It was exactly what I was looking for when I started working on Fivegrid, ”says Suryabala.

“The mentor and expert in residence program in particular was very valuable. Before I came to Fishburners, I thought I had figured out the startup world. Oh man, was I wrong? Thanks to the mentors who walked us every step of the way, whether it was defining a pricing model, accounting, or providing feedback on UX. “

Suryabala has some great advice for other startups:

Suryabala Shenbagamurthy via Wed3

• Celebrate the small wins. When you’re running a startup, you’re doing a million things at once. And sometimes you overlook the moments that matter most. The moments that define your startup journey.
• This includes your first paid customer. First positive customer feedback. First social mention. First customer email. These are the moments to be cherished. Take a break when you can appreciate the path you are taking and your achievements to date. As they say, it’s all about the journey, not the destination.
• Be ready to take risks. As a startup member, you will likely deal with a lot of strangers. You probably don’t know where your next paycheck is coming from or if your startup will be available in six months. This can be a bit daunting, but don’t let that hold you back. Be brave, take every opportunity and make the most of it.
• It’s also great to be part of other founders’ journeys. We celebrate their victories and product releases. A great network to meet brilliant minds and learn from their experiences.

“Working from home was a challenge. And the Fishburners startup hub is a great place to brainstorm, visualize product roadmaps on whiteboards, conduct customer research, and make just the right change of scene we needed to keep going. “