New Trends in Startup Growth, SearchGPT, and Strategic Content Marketing

You Can Start a Startup with $500. Growing It? That’s War.

In this episode of GTM NewsDesk, Nick Bennett and Mark Kilens unpack a hard truth: starting a company is easier (and cheaper) than ever, but scaling it is where most founders hit the wall. Referencing Andrew Chen’s take on the declining cost of entry and rising cost of growth, they explore how owned media, audience trust, and community-building are now critical growth levers.

They dive into OpenAI’s “SearchGPT” feature—an ad-free alternative to Google search—and question whether it’s enough to shift user behavior without mass adoption efforts. Mark and Nick debate its real value: not just decluttering results, but integrating directly into existing creative workflows.

The main event features Katie from Klue, who shares the origin story and strategic thinking behind the Compete Network—arguably one of the most successful examples of people-first, media-led growth in B2B. From curating top creator content to producing co-owned shows with influencers, Klue has redefined what community-led GTM looks like.

Katie breaks down:

Why content curation—not creation—was the Compete Network’s initial wedge.
How brand-aligned programming supports go-to-market priorities.
The metrics that matter (hint: win rate over lead volume).
How their sales team uses media assets to accelerate deals and expand reach.

🔑 Key Insight: Forget performance marketing bloat. The future lies in hybrid motions—media that builds affinity, community that drives insight, and events that create conversion points.

👇 Want to go deeper?

In the exclusive segment, Katie shares how Klue runs experiments to fine-tune engagement, create always-on programs, and scale trust at every funnel stage.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT