📰 80% of startup marketers are doing this on LinkedIn

January 29, 2026

In partnership with

This newsletter is presented by HiveKind.AI

What started as a small group has grown to 3,000+ startup marketers across 170+ companies. But as we grew, we realized our platform wasn't keeping up. Navigation was overwhelming. Resources were hard to find. We knew we could do better.

So we built something better.

After months of building, weeks of beta testing with our most active members, and more cups of coffee than we care to admit, the new StartUp Marketer is officially live.

Come check out what we built for you!

IN THIS ISSUE

  • ✍️ The Ink Well

  • 🌎 Around the Web

  • ❓ SUM Poll

  • 📍 SUM Community Events

  • 📋 SUM New Spaces

  • 😂 In the Meme Time

THE INK WELL

Meet Bhavna Sachar

This week’s Marketer Spotlight features Bhavna Sachar, the Founding Head of Marketing at Hivekind AI, who shares her take on building new categories, simplifying complex ideas, and why positioning is the most underrated lever in marketing. Hands-on, people-first, and anti-hustle, Bhavna focuses on results without burning teams out.

Leveraging Thought Leadership

The majority of startup marketers understand that thought leadership remains one of the most effective low-cost ways for startups to build credibility and compete with bigger brands.

In our recent survey, 80% said they are building thought leadership for their executives on LinkedIn, while another 10% plan to.

Have a strong POV? Submit your pitch to get published in The Ink Well.

Want to get the most out of ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a superpower if you know how to use it correctly.

Discover how HubSpot's guide to AI can elevate both your productivity and creativity to get more things done.

Learn to automate tasks, enhance decision-making, and foster innovation with the power of AI.

AROUND THE WEB

  • Spotify is rolling out group chats, so users can now share the podcasts, playlists, and audiobooks they’re listening to with up to 10 people. [TechCrunch]

  • Google searches per U.S. user fell nearly 20% year over year, most likely driven by AI-powered answers and instant results, according to a new report. [Search Engine Land]

  • LinkedIn now has AI certifications that are generated directly from how you use partner tools like Replit, Lovable, Descript, and Relay—analyzing real usage patterns, outputs, and proficiency over time—so credentials reflect what you can actually do, not just what you list on your profile. [TechCrunch]

  • 71% of US marketers say establishing ethical and privacy standards is the top step for preparing for AI agent-led commerce. [eMarketer]

SUM POLL

Does your company have an AI policy in place?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

SUM COMMUNITY EVENTS

Block off every Thursday at 1 pm ET for SUM events—consider it your weekly power hour for growth, insights, and community. These events are exclusively available to SUM members. Not a member? 👉 Join now 👈

Fireside Chat

What happens when two community-obsessed operators talk about the future of startup marketing? Join Mack McKelvey (SalientMG) and Mike Ritcher (Unplugged Collective) as they explore the marketing trends, tactics, and approaches that startup marketers should be leaning into.

Stop Chasing Leads

In this focused session, Founder of HiveKind.AI, Raj Badarinath breaks down the most overlooked stage of revenue: pre-pipeline. It’s the whole phase of figuring out who to target, when to start sales effort, and how to approach buyer groups. You’ll learn why most pipeline problems are created upstream, and what you can do to ‘earn pipeline’.

Fireside Chat

Join a casual, conversational deep dive with a marketing leader who's actually done the work—not just talked about it. More details dropping soon.

SUM NEW SPACES

With the launch of our new platform, we introduced three new spaces built for distinct moments in the startup journey: The Hunt, The Founders Room, and New to the Game. Pick your space, jump in, and start connecting.

The Hunt

This is your corner of SUM for navigating the startup marketing job market without losing your mind. This is where we share open roles, swap interview war stories, troubleshoot offers, and hype each other up when the search feels like a slog.

The Founders Room

A space for founders to share marketing challenges, swap strategies, and learn from each other's wins and failures. No marketers, no pitches—just founder-to-founder real talk about building, scaling, and doing marketing yourself.

New to the Game

A space for students and recent grads breaking into startup marketing. Ask beginner questions, learn from each other's early wins, and build your career alongside peers navigating the same journey—no judgment, just support.

IN THE MEME TIME