In partnership with
We launched something yesterday.
The Claude AI Runset is the first series inside the new SUM Upskilling Academy. 13 modules of AI training built specifically for startup marketers, not enterprise fluff repackaged. For the solo operator doing more with less.
Real deliverables every module. Systems you run the same day you build them. Module 01 is free.
More below. But first — if you're heading to POSSIBLE next week, find SUM’s head of marketing The Kay Prince at the Innovation Stage. Say hi and get $50 off the full bundle. It's not a bribe. It's just a really good reason to say hello.
Now, the week in marketing 👇
IN THIS ISSUE
🤓 SUM Upskilling Academy
✍ The Ink Well: ChatGPT CPC, Canva AI, Mobile Ads, Content Budgets
🌎 Around the Web
📍 SUM Community Events
😂 In the Meme Time
SUM Upskilling Academy: The Claude AI Runset
If you've been waiting for AI upskilling that actually fits how startup marketing works, this is it.
The Claude AI Runset is the first series inside the SUM Upskilling Academy. 13 modules built from the constraint up. Every single one ends with something in your hands: a prompt library, a content calendar, a dashboard, a tech stack audit. Not homework. Not theory. Systems you run the same day you build them.
It was built by someone who has been exactly where you are: solo operator, limited resources, expected to cover everything and somehow make it look strategic.
Here's how to start:
Module 01 is free. Always. It's the best way to see if this is for you (we’re pretty confident is it).
The full Runset — all 13 modules — is $399 through May 15. After that, the price goes up. Note: you must be a member of The StartUp Marketer to access the Academy (but don’t worry, it’s free to join).
THE INK WELL
Your GTM Has a Gap
Product marketing is one of the most misunderstood roles in startups. It gets treated as a tactical function: collateral, launches, rinse and repeat. But when it's done right, it's one of the most strategic seats in the company. Darren Moore, Senior Director of Product Marketing at DoubleVerify, recently joined us for Tea Time to unpack what product marketing actually is, what it isn't, and where most startups get it wrong.
After burning out early in his career, Bennett D. Bennett rebuilt from scratch, this time designing a career around the right ecosystem, not just the next role.
A former STEM kid turned creative strategist, he brings a systems mindset to storytelling—mapping how a brand actually shows up across product, comms, and community.
Have a strong POV? Submit your pitch to get published in The Ink Well.
Rex Gelb spent a decade building HubSpot's paid engine. Now he's showing founders exactly how to do it.
On April 27th, get the framework to structure, launch, and scale paid media that drives pipeline, not just traffic. 20 minutes. Live Q&A. Free.
AROUND THE WEB
Performance marketers: OpenAI has introduced cost-per-click ads in ChatGPT, with early bids ranging from $3–$5 per click, expanding beyond its initial CPM model. [Digiday]
Canva is launching a new AI assistant that can generate editable designs from a single prompt, integrating with apps like Slack, Google Drive, and Gmail to pull in context. It’s launching in research preview now, with a broader rollout planned in the coming weeks. [TechCrunch]
39.5% of US mobile ad spend is expected to go to video this year, surpassing mobile search for the first time. [eMarketer]
90% of marketers are increasing their content budgets this year and 1 in 4 are producing content exclusively to target AI. [Clutch]
LinkedIn has launched “Crosscheck,” a tool that lets Premium users compare responses from multiple AI models (OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic) side by side and rate their quality. The feedback is shared with model providers and used to generate leaderboards ranking AI performance by use case. [Social Media Today]
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 👈
Join The Kay Prince tomorrow at 1 pm ET for a live walkthrough of The Claude AI Runset. Learn what it is, why she built it, and what is inside all 13 modules.
20 minutes. Open Q&A. Free to attend.
If Claude is still just your copy editor, this session is for you.
IN THE MEME TIME
