I’m thrilled to sit down with Anastasia Braitsik, a global leader in SEO, content marketing, and data analytics, to discuss the inspiring journey of Conversion, an AI-powered marketing automation startup. Anastasia brings her deep expertise to unpack the story of two UC Berkeley dropouts who turned a college project into a $28 million Series A success. In this interview, we dive into the origins of Conversion, the bold decisions behind its growth, the role of AI in transforming marketing tools, and the strategies for standing out in a competitive landscape.
How did the idea for Conversion first come to life during your time at UC Berkeley?
It all started as a side project with my college roommate while we were at Berkeley. We were tinkering with different ideas, including a tool for product placement ads, but stumbled upon a gap when we used existing marketing platforms like HubSpot. We built some automation features just for ourselves to make things easier, and honestly, we had a blast doing it. That’s when we started wondering if others might find value in what we’d created.
What was the turning point that made you think this could be more than just a personal tool?
The real shift happened after we conducted around 160 interviews with marketing VPs from mid-sized companies. Over two months, we heard consistent frustration about the limitations of their current tools, especially around automation. The response was overwhelmingly positive, way beyond what we expected. That feedback gave us the confidence to pivot and see this as a potential business.
Can you share a memorable moment from your early days, like getting caught up in the entrepreneurial world as a high schooler?
Oh, I’ll never forget getting busted in high school for watching a TechCrunch Disrupt livestream during class. I ended up in the principal’s office and had to stay late. I was too nervous to call my parents, so I called a close family friend to pick me up. On the drive home, I spilled my passion for entrepreneurship, and years later, that same friend became our first investor. It’s funny how those small moments can shape your path.
Dropping out of college at 19 to focus on Conversion must have been a huge decision. What was going through your mind at the time?
It was honestly terrifying. I was only 19, and leaving Berkeley felt like walking away from a safety net. But I believed in what we were building, and after raising a $2 million seed round, I knew we had a real shot. I wrestled with the idea of whether I was making a reckless choice, but ultimately, I felt the momentum was too strong to ignore.
How did the people around you react to that bold move?
My family and friends had mixed feelings. Some were supportive, understanding my passion, but others were worried I was throwing away a solid education for something uncertain. It took time to prove to them that this wasn’t just a whim, but a calculated risk. Their concern came from a good place, though, and it pushed me to work even harder.
Let’s talk about the product itself. What sets Conversion apart from established marketing tools out there?
Unlike legacy platforms, Conversion was built with AI at its core from day one. Older tools often tack on AI as an afterthought, but we’ve integrated it into every feature. This lets us do things like automatically organize leads or craft personalized follow-up emails that feel human. For mid-sized businesses, this means less manual work and more focus on strategy, which is a game-changer compared to clunkier, outdated systems.
Can you paint a picture of how Conversion helps a typical customer with their marketing challenges?
Absolutely. Take a mid-sized company struggling to manage leads. With Conversion, our AI can analyze and categorize leads based on behavior and intent, then trigger tailored email sequences without the team lifting a finger. One of our clients saw their response rates jump by 30% just by automating personalized follow-ups. It’s about giving them efficiency without sacrificing that personal touch.
The marketing automation space is packed with competitors. How do you plan to carve out your niche?
We’re laser-focused on businesses already using older tools rather than startups picking a platform for the first time. Our strategy is to show these companies how much smoother and smarter their workflows can be with an AI-native solution. We’re not just another option; we’re the upgrade they didn’t know they needed. Plus, we keep iterating based on real user pain points, which helps us stay ahead of other AI startups.
What’s your forecast for the future of AI in marketing automation over the next few years?
I think we’re just scratching the surface. AI will move beyond basic automation to predictive insights, where tools can anticipate customer needs before they even arise. We’ll see hyper-personalization become the norm, not the exception, and platforms that can’t keep up with that level of intelligence will fall behind. For us at Conversion, it’s about staying at the forefront of that evolution and helping businesses adapt to a more intuitive marketing landscape.
