Introduction and Background of Yiqi Wu

Yiqi shares her background, including her experience as an engineer at Facebook and Reddit, and her transition to founding Aimerce. Yiqi discusses the two funding rounds Aimerce has raised so far, a pre-seed round in May and a seed round in September.

The Problem Aimerce Addresses: Third-Party Cookies

Yiqi explains the issue of third-party cookies being phased out on the internet, with Google planning to deprecate them by the end of the year. She describes how third-party cookies have been used for targeted advertising and the impact of their removal on e-commerce brands. Yiqi highlights the need for a privacy-centric solution for e-commerce brands to continue effective marketing without relying on third-party cookies. Aimerce provides a first-party data tracking solution that allows e-commerce brands to collect and use data in a privacy-compliant manner.

User Awareness and Technical Challenges

The host discusses the importance of privacy-centric solutions and the lack of user awareness about how much they are being tracked by cookies. Yiqi emphasizes the benefits of first-party data tracking, which is controlled by the domain and fully consented by users. Yiqi discusses the technical challenges faced in developing a solution that complies with Safari's tracking protocol and the potential impact of future changes by Google. She explains the importance of first-party tracking on the server side and how it aligns with Safari's protocol.

Customer Acquisition and Market Understanding

Yiqi identifies customer acquisition as the biggest challenge for Aimerce, especially in raising awareness about the problem and the solution. The host inquires about the awareness among marketers and digital agencies, and Yiqi shares that awareness levels vary, with some fully aware and others partially aware. Yiqi describes the confusion among marketers regarding the new data collection rules and the need for accurate and legal data tracking.

Development and Technical Solutions

Yiqi details the initial steps taken to develop a solution, including reading Safari's tracking protocol to understand the allowed methods. She explains the discovery of first-party pixel tracking on the server side as a viable solution that aligns with Safari's protocol. Yiqi discusses the potential impact of Google's proposed Privacy Sandbox solution and the uncertainty around its implementation. She emphasizes the importance of first-party data tracking as a general trend and the need for small business owners to take control of their data.

Personal Growth and Leadership Insights

Yiqi reflects on her personal growth and leadership experiences at Facebook and Reddit, including building the AB test platform at Reddit. She shares the importance of mentorship from Matt and Jack at Reddit, who encouraged her and helped her grow as a leader. Yiqi discusses the impact of a Stanford class on leadership and the value of being vulnerable and open about emotions as a leader. She highlights the importance of building relationships with team members and clients, sharing personal experiences of vulnerability and support.

Marketing and Client Relationships

Yiqi emphasizes the importance of providing value to clients and building relationships rather than just spending on ads. She shares examples of how Aimerce has helped clients with email marketing and provided strategies, leading to client referrals and new business. Yiqi discusses the personal involvement in client relationships and the importance of understanding client pain points to build a better product. She acknowledges the need to hire a customer success person to offload some responsibilities and scale the business.

Future Aspirations and Vision

Yiqi shares her long-term vision of automating repetitive and predictive work in e-commerce using AI and data insights. She discusses the potential for Aimerce to evolve into a solution that fully automates tasks like inventory management and optimization strategies. Yiqi emphasizes the importance of data in making rational decisions and the goal of eventually offloading work to AI. She reflects on the support from her parents and the aspiration to make their lives easier through technological solutions.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Yiqi encourages listeners to visit the Aimerce website and book an appointment with her to learn more about the solution. She highlights her personal involvement in customer success and the importance of building relationships with clients. Yiqi discusses the potential for Aimerce to help clients with email marketing and provide strategies to improve their marketing efforts. She concludes by emphasizing the value of providing value to clients and building long-term relationships based on trust and support.

Keywords

Yiqi Wu, Aimerce, e-commerce, third-party cookies, privacy-centric solution, first-party cookies, customer acquisition, awareness, privacy-first approach, personal growth, A/B test platform, mentors, influence, vulnerability, leadership, relationships, team, clients, marketing, automation, e-commerce