Ep. 111 - Why Mobile Video Crushes Traditional TV - Stephen Upstone
In this episode of Future Fuzz, Justin sits down with Stephen Upstone, Founder and CEO of LoopMe, a pioneer in mobile video advertising and AI-powered brand performance. With over two decades of experience, Stephen discusses how mobile video is outperforming TV advertising, the power of mid-funnel metrics, and the transformative role of AI in ad tech.
From his early days selling an AI company to Adobe to LoopMe’s recent acquisition of Chartboost, Stephen shares actionable insights on real-time measurement, survey-based audience targeting, and the future of brand advertising in a mobile-first world.
Guest Bio
Stephen Upstone is the Founder and CEO of LoopMe, a mobile ad tech company revolutionizing brand advertising through AI optimization and real-time survey data. With two successful exits and one IPO under his belt, Stephen has spent over 20 years at the intersection of AI, mobile, and advertising. He was previously on the board of TouchClarity, an AI business acquired by Adobe, and continues to push innovation at LoopMe, whose platform processes over 300 million surveys annually and integrates across 30,000 mobile apps. Under Stephen’s leadership, LoopMe has scaled globally and recently acquired Chartboost to expand its end-to-end mobile capabilities.
Takeaways
- Mobile video now rivals and can outperform traditional TV advertising.
- Mid-funnel optimization is key: actions like brand consideration are more measurable and actionable than ever.
- LoopMe runs 300M+ real-time surveys a year, enabling powerful, forward-looking audience insights.
- AI is not just hype—true computational AI drives massive efficiency in ad performance.
- Creative still matters: AI may generate concepts, but human editors remain vital for quality.
- The ad tech winners are those who embedded AI early and use it across media, measurement, and optimization.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Stephen Upstone
01:05 Why Results Matter More Than Setup
02:15 How Mobile Video Can Beat TV
04:03 The Shift to Mid-Funnel Metrics
05:26 Why TV Metrics Are Outdated
07:15 LoopMe’s End-to-End Stack and Tech Partners
09:28 Real-Time Surveys vs. Panels
12:53 Stephen’s First AI Company and Adobe Exit
14:59 Real Use of AI vs. Hype
17:28 The Future of Generative AI in Creative
22:39 Market Outlook: Green Shoots & Challenges
25:39 Why Brand Advertising During Downturns Matters
27:00 Acquiring Chartboost & Expansion Plans
29:12 Audio, Influencer Marketing, and What’s Next
30:23 Closing Remarks
Follow Stephen on LinkedIn here
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