🔹 Areas of Expertise
✔️ eCommerce Strategy, Omnichannel Commerce, Digital Growth, Performance Marketing, KPI & P&L Ownership, Team Leadership, Marketplace Expansion, DTC & B2C Operations, Customer Experience (CX/UX), Site Merchandising & Trading, Forecasting & Budgeting, International Commerce

🔹 Tools & Channels
✔️ Shopify, Amazon Marketplace & Sponsored Ads, Paid Social (Meta, TikTok), GA4, Salesforce, Klaviyo, CRO & Retail Analytics (Optimizely, Hotjar, Helium 10), A/B Testing, CRO, SEO/SEM, Email/SMS CRM, Import/Export & Customs, Global Markets (US, Canada, Europe), Digital Strategy

🔹 Track Record
• 16 years in business, 15 years leading e‑commerce growth and digital strategy
• Built and sold an e‑commerce venture
• Scaled DTC & B2C sales across the US, Canada, and Europe
• Grew DTC sales 202 %, repeat revenue 157 %, new‑customer revenue 81 %
• Reduced acquisition cost 76 % and platform costs 69 %
• Managed a Shopify store with 100 K+ monthly visitors; lifted AOV 20 %
• Achieved 55 % YoY Amazon growth through Sponsored Ads and data‑led content
• Directed $300 K+ paid‑social spend (Meta & TikTok); earned 150 % ROI and 27 % higher conversion
• Activated lifecycle automation in Salesforce & Klaviyo; boosted LTV and cut churn 31 %
• Ran iterative CRO / A‑B tests; raised engagement 45 %
• Handled import/export & customs flows with 98 % on‑time delivery
• Led and mentored 20 + cross‑functional specialists across marketing, logistics, CX, and analytics

Sertac Yaman

Storytelling for Underestimated Founders | Startup Founder Mentor with Techstars & gener8tor

I move ideas from your brain into someone else's using a 100K+ year-old technology.

I'm a storyteller.

Founders, executives, and coaches by the 100s have trusted me to help them be heard, understood, trusted, and remembered.

Sometimes they hire me directly to interview them & build the story myself.
Others join my Storybuilding courses to learn to do it for themselves.

Either way...they see results.

I'm not a copywriter.
I'm not a ghostwriter.
I'm a story specialist. 
I build short, impactful stories that hold attention long enough to get to YES!

It's easier and faster than you think. In a free 15-min call, we can change your business.
Doubtful?  Check out my top recommendation below.

How did I become a storyteller?

I’ve done some crazy stuff. I’ve flown fighter aircraft. I’ve negotiated hundreds of times with the Russian military to ensure we didn’t shoot at each other (unless that is what we intended to do). I’ve lived in Central Asia where making friends meant I ate more sheep brains and eyeballs and drank more vodka and fermented mare’s milk than I care to remember.

I’ve been a speechwriter for the most senior officials in the US Air Force. I also took out the trash, swept the floors, and “embraced the suck” with everyone else.

I’ve spent a lot of time studying…to get an undergraduate degree, to be a pilot, to get a Master’s degree in International Relations, and to work towards a PhD in International Development—until I realized fighting the bureaucracy was not how I wanted to spend my life.

Now, I help people move their ideas to create the impact they dream of.

Let's chat: Dan@buildthestory.com

Dan Manning

As a fighter pilot, we'd say "go slow to go fast". This is also true for the Founders I talked to last week.

I built the mentor-led Gust startup Founder program with early-stage Founders in mind.

I expected Founders who'd want it most would have an idea, feel overwhelmed, and not be sure where to start.

Out of the dozens of people who applied for the program:
21% were in the Ideation phase
18% were working on their prototype
61% already made a prototype or product

When I talk to those with a product on the market, they say they have 2 problems:
1. Selling it
2. Raising funding for it

But, here's the good news/bad news for them:
Good news: You only have 1 problem
Bad news: It's the selling

When you are able to sell it, fundraising becomes much easier.
When you are able to sell it, revenue gives you runway.
When you are able to sell it, you have a business.

Most of these Founders were excited to build and make a change in the world, so they started building.

And spending.

And sacrificing.

Then, when they showed their product to customers, they get polite smiles, well-wishes, and (secretly) thoughts and prayers.

Many are first time Founders.
They believed moving fast to market was the way.
But, along the way, they forgot to talk to customers.

💥Here's a core truth of building a business:💥
It's always easier to build what they want than to make them want what you already built.

That's why the Countdown program tackles the two most important subjects first...the Founder and the Customer.

But, for these Founders, the Countdown program can get them back on track...and I'm glad to be helping them do it.

Have you ever built "the perfect product" only to find out no one wants it?

--------------
Hi, I'm Dan.
I'm a Storyteller.

I help entrepreneurs build their business and sell their ideas by understanding hidden stories and building new ones.

PS. We are about to close the doors on the first Gust cohort. If you have a product, but no customers, let's talk.

Helping Founders Tell Stories to Drive Action | Startup Mentor with Techstars & gener8tor | Millions Sold, Millions Raised, Millions Spent With Stories

Last week, I reviewed applications for 50+ early-stage startups. >85% were making this costly error.

This week marks the kickoff for the mentor-led Founder education program I'm partnering with Gust to launch.

We have several applications from companies who've sprinted to build their idea...but now struggle to sell it.

I look at their company website and any content I can find.
That's where I see a problem I've solved 100s of times:

They are speaking the language of problems and solutions
--but their customer speaks the language of pain. 💥

As Founders, we like to talk about the good we can do.
We are solutions experts.
We can spot "our" problem a mile away.

But, our customers aren't.
They are experts in the pain they feel.

And don't get me wrong.
I'm not talking about agitating pain.
I've never had to tell someone where they hurt.
I want to connect with their pain.
I want to show them I understand that pain.
I've helped other with that pain
...they don't have it any more.

Here's the cold truth.
Your ideal customer doesn't care about your solution.
Your ideal customer might not recognize their problem.
But, they ALWAYS know where they hurt.

Connect with their pain:
• In the headline of your website,
• In the opening lines of your content here, &
• In your "elevator" pitch with new customers
   
They'll actually listen (or read) your stuff when they know you are talking about them and their pain.

Here's another truth.
People don't pay to fix problems.
They pay to relieve pain.

I've got tons of "problems".
But, I'm only spending money, time, and attention on those that cause me pain.

Ok...what's the pain you relieve for your customer.
Don't tell me the solution.
Don't tell me the problem.
Tell me what your ideal customer feels when they are experiencing the problem.

--------------
Hi, I'm Dan.
I'm a Storyteller.
I'm also Startup Advisor and Mentor.

If you've built something and now struggle to sell it, the Gust Countdown to Launch program might be a good fit.

taplio

The Battle

Sertac Yaman

Dan Manning

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The Battle

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Dan Manning

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