Co-Founder and CEO: Andrea Tortella
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Stage: Seed
Website: Thrad.ai
Social: LinkedIn

Publishers spent the last decade trying to make ads louder. Thrad goes the opposite way. It replaces interruptive banners with useful buying guidance delivered inside the conversation. When a user asks a question, Thrad helps them make a decision. It turns intent into revenue without hijacking the experience.

Thrad analyzes content and user queries in real time. When someone expresses purchase intent, the system surfaces clear product recommendations that match the moment. Publishers drop a single line of code and get a performance unit that plugs into any article, review, or community thread.

It is rare to see ad tech that users do not hate. Thrad drives higher conversion because it shows up when people actually want help. Early partners see stronger RPMs, more engaged sessions, and a real shift away from dependency on cluttered display inventory. It's like the first ad product for how people read and shop online.

This one isn’t for deep thoughts or reflective founders. This is for white-knuckle work sprints, questionable life choices, and that moment when your fourth cold brew kicks in and suddenly everything feels possible again.

I am continuing with the guest co-author series by featuring Martin O’Leary, whom I met on X. The moment I saw his newsletter, I was hooked, and we’ve been chatting online ever since.

I asked him to rework one of his pieces on taste. Because, as you all know, it’s the new moat. Or so they say.

Taste matters. But it can be hard to define. I know bad taste when I see it. It’s ugly, usually vulgar, and uses the most blunt kind of tools when some relaxed finesse would suffice. If you're looking to refine your sense of taste, read Martin’s piece below to help point you in the right direction.

In 2018, I remember late nights with my design team arguing over gradients that no one but us would notice, fighting over budgets, and learning (the hard way) how to keep a project on track. It was messy, exhausting, and deeply human. But that’s the thing. It’s the mess that made the work feel real.

Back then, good design wasn't just expensive, it was challenging. The process itself was a filter. Not everyone could translate an idea into a polished product. The complexity demanded real skill, real learning.

Now, everything feels different.

For $20 a month, AI can do what took us months to learn. And let’s be honest, some founders think that makes them the next Jony Ive.

But real craft takes more than just hitting 'generate.' Just because something looks professional doesn't mean it's good.

Let's look at your competition's tech stack:

When AI makes everything polished, the definition of 'good' shifts.

I’ve seen founders obsess over AI-generated pitch decks that look stunning but feel hollow. The problem is the lack of a soul. A slick deck might get you a meeting, but it’s the raw honesty of your story that closes the deal.

Now, anyone can hit the professional baseline with AI. This makes actually understanding craft more valuable than ever.

Writers still need to study why Hemingway hits different, even if AI can help with grammar. Sure, AI can frame a shot, but what about making people feel something? That's why we study Kubrick and Hitchcock.

Want to build great apps? AI will help you ship clean code and slick interfaces. But you still need to know why great systems scale and how classic design principles actually work. Even if you're using AI prompts, you need to understand why great design works, not just how to copy it. You're not just learning how. You're learning why.

Study Epic Fails:

When Coca-Cola launched New Coke in 1985, they thought better taste was enough. But they missed what their audience really wanted – not a better cola, but the emotional connection to their classic brand. The product wasn't bad, it just ignored why people actually chose Coke.

Get Opinionated:

Every design decision sends a message. Using gradients could say 'modern startup' or scream 'trying too hard.' The difference? Having a clear point of view about why you chose it, not just mimicking what's trending.

Stop Following Your Competition:

They're all copying each other anyway. Study how Nike sells stories, not shoes, how Wes Anderson makes symmetry feel rebellious. How Apple knows when to shut up about features nobody asked for.

The best products will win because someone had the guts to let their own voice shine through. So, yeah, learn and use the tools. But don’t let them do all the talking. That’s your job.

The middle ground is vanishing faster than Web3 promises. AI’s leveling the playing field, and it’s up to you to use it to stand out, or risk blending in with the rest.

Taste isn't just an acquired skill. It's what separates you from the thousands of wannabes letting AI think for them.

In the end, taste might be the last thing that truly sets you apart.

On The Gregory and Paul Show, we break down the latest in startups, SaaS, AI, and whatever the internet is debating this week.

🎙️ Episode 024 – How to Scale from Zero to a Million in ARR as a Solo Founder

Gregory and Paul walk through how they both went from solo freelancers to running real businesses. Paul explains how AI nuked his MVP dev agency and pushed him into Reddit marketing just as Google started boosting threads. Gregory breaks down how Vibe Your SaaS went from two experimental clients to a full portfolio by treating services like a product and never stopping the pipeline work. They compare work styles, talk honestly about pricing, churn, and boundaries.

A few founders asked, so here’s the current situation. I’m currently working with 8 SaaS/AI founding teams. I have room for two more.

If you’re a B2B SaaS/AI founder with $300k to $3M in ARR, how do you get more visibility (and pipeline) from organic LinkedIn and X content without spending all day posting? Get the VYS Content Kickstarter, which includes:

Let’s make this easy. Reply to this email if you’re interested.

I'm a former creative director, 3x head of marketing, and founder of Vibe Your SaaS. I help early-stage startups build real momentum with strategic clarity, AI-driven execution, and zero BS. I like fast bicycles, strong coffee, and posting sarcastic jokes and memes on the internetz.

How am I doing? Write me back and let me know your thoughts. If you do, I will write you back, I promise.

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