The Future of Advertising and Agencies

Trillion Dollar Ads

In this episode Prantik shares his unexpected journey from studying computer engineering at NUS to becoming a key player in the advertising world. He talks about his roles at Pinstorm, Happy Marketer, and Merkle, and how he’s shaped the industry. Alongside his work in advertising, Prantik is an active investor, president of the TIE chapter, and a sports enthusiast. Tune in for an exciting story of career transformation and industry insights!

IN THIS EPISODE
(00:00) How did Prantik Mazumdar's journey in advertising begin?
(02:00) What key experiences shaped Prantik's career in advertising?
(03:00) How did Happy Marketer start and evolve?
(04:30) What challenges do marketers face in Asia Pacific?
(06:00) How important is brand differentiation and positioning?
(07:30) What role do metrics play in marketing effectiveness?
(09:30) How mature is the industry in using first-party data for personalization?
(10:30) How do big tech companies influence advertising spend in APAC?
(11:30) What opportunities does AI present for the advertising industry?
(18:30) How can publishers in Southeast Asia compete with big tech?
(22:00) What is the future of retail media in Southeast Asia?
(28:00) How do you balance brand and performance marketing?
(32:00) What advice does Prantik have for entrepreneurs in the Gen AI space?

Your Host: Jayesh Easwaramony
APAC Digital Advertising & Martech Specialist | Founder, Spectra Global

Jayesh is a leading expert in APAC’s digital advertising and martech landscape and founder of Spectra Global, a consulting firm that helps media, telcos, and retailers accelerate adtech transformation and monetize data through cost-efficient platforms, growth marketing automation, and personalized CX strategies. Previously, he scaled InMobi across APAC, positioning it as a bold alternative to Big Tech by securing deals with top advertisers, agencies, and publishers, while executing over $400M in ad campaigns. He also led the award-winning Capstone team, which won over 60 awards for pioneering advancements in AR, chatbot, and location-based ads, blending data and creativity.

Our Guest: Prantik Mazumdar
President, TiE Singapore | Ex-Dentsu & Happy Marketer | Venture Investor
Prantik Mazumdar is a respected entrepreneur, venture investor, and digital transformation catalyst, currently serving as President of TiE Singapore, where he supports and mentors startups across the region. As the co-founder of Happy Marketer, he built one of APAC’s most awarded digital marketing firms, leading to its acquisition by Merkle, part of Dentsu International. At Dentsu Singapore, he served as Managing Director, driving CRM, analytics, and marketing automation for global brands. Now, Prantik continues to shape the digital landscape through venture investments and by helping businesses navigate transformation and sustainable growth.

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Trillion Dollar Ads podcast
Welcome to the Trillion Dollar Ads podcast, where we explore the key trends and challenges in the advertising industry, especially in Asia Pacific. We discuss the unique characteristics and challenges of this diverse region with successful ad-funded business model leaders, including publishers, agency professionals, and ad tech players. Additionally, we examine the high percentage of ad dollars going to big tech in Asia Pacific and strategies for local publishers to compete. Tune in now!