This interview is with Devan Leos, co-founder & CCO at Undetectable AI.

Devan Leos, co-founder & CCO, Undetectable AI

Devan, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional background in the world of startups, tech, and digital marketing?

I was a child actor who found himself out of work at 18. I started my first digital-marketing company in 2019, and my second in 2021. In 2023, I was brought on as a co-founder of Undetectable AI and helped take the company from 0-10M+ users.

What were some pivotal moments in your journey that led you to become an expert in these fields?

One of the pivotal moments in my career started when I was a child actor working alongside the Disney Corporation, and seeing how their PR and marketing divisions worked. From that point on, I retained that information and have sought to apply what I learned there throughout my career.

Many startups struggle with limited budgets. From your experience, what's one digital marketing strategy that offers the most bang for the buck, especially for newcomers?

Cold email is a great tool that's cheap and scalable, but only worth it if you do it right. Pro tip: Don't be a spammer, and target your audiences well.

Influencer marketing can be a powerful tool. Can you describe a campaign where you effectively collaborated with influencers, and what lessons did you learn?

When we launched Undetectable, within six months, we got to a point where people were making thousands of TikToks about us every day. Anyone can be an influencer. Larger influencers are useful, but consider working with a large amount of micro- and nano-influencers.

Sales and communication are intertwined. What's your approach to crafting compelling sales messages in the digital age?

Make it about the user. Be brief; don't be verbose or use too many words. Write in a way that's compelling (as opposed to repelling).

Building a strong online presence is crucial for startups. What's your secret sauce for creating a brand voice that resonates with the target audience?

Knowing your audience is key. Who are they? Who do you reasonably foresee them being? Who is this product for? When you develop a tangible idea of your audience, the way you communicate with them will become clear. E.g., are they busy? Are they older or younger? How would you explain the product to your friend or partner?

The tech landscape is constantly evolving. How do you stay updated with the latest trends and adapt your strategies accordingly?

Reading and watching the news is a superpower. Browsing Reddit, Google Trends, and web traffic data is also great. Look into keyword research and see which search terms are rising and which ones are declining. What people want can often be seen in data.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who feel overwhelmed by the challenges of navigating the digital world and launching their own ventures?

Regardless of any challenges, take the plunge, start to learn, and TRY. It's never too late to begin. Don't expect to be an expert overnight, and realize that good things take time.