Zack Deris

Strategic Advisor | A* Community Builder | Digital Transformation Specialist | Chief Growth Officer | Web3 Investor

At ZDTS, we've revolutionized how businesses approach sales by harnessing the power of AI. Our innovative strategies have attracted over 3,000 clients and generated seven figures in revenue, demonstrating a robust competency in high-ticket deal closures and inbound marketing. As Founder and CEO, my mission is to continue pushing the envelope in sales systems and marketing automation

Our passion is focused on helping Agencies, Marketing Departments & Independent consultants maximize their sales potential by utilizing social media platforms, building relationships and adding value to their clients. 

What you get: 

-Sales Workshops & Masterclasses
-Strategic Advisory and Consulting
-Lead Generation and Closing Deals
-Business Strategy
-Raising Capital

If you would like to apply to work with us, please send a detailed email to info@zackderis.com with the subject: “Service request” 
Thank you.

Founder & CEO

Welcome to ZDTS. 

We focus on simplifying the internet to help our clients grow, acquire new customers, and increase their brand visibility. 

Ways of working with us: 

- Web2/Web3 Marketing
- Advisory & Consulting services 
- Full sales takeover
- LinkedIn Live events
- Masterclasses & Workshops 
- Raising Cap

If you're looking to build a community, scale your agency, or improve your content production, please book a call with us via www.zackderis.com

Apollo crossed $150M ARR by doing something most B2B SaaS companies still don't understand:

2016: Launched as a sales intelligence tool in a crowded market
2025: $150M ARR, powering millions of GTM professionals globally

That's not the result of running louder Ads or buying 'attention'

It's the result of building a 'people-led distribution engine', not just a product

Here's how they did it:

[1] Turn 'operators' into the 'channel'

Founder + CEO, Tim Zheng didn't position Apollo through campaigns or slogans

At critical moments, he shared the 'thinking' behind Apollos:

-GTM Shifts
-Product rebuilds
-Lessons learn from scaling

Giving the market insight into how the company actually operates

Instead of positioning Apollo through campaigns, the team documents real: 

-Lessons
-Decisions
-Turning Points

Jennifer Rhima [Partnerships] is turning Apollo's partner ecosystem into a learning channel, not just a referral engine

Brianna Chapman [Community] shares practical takes on unconventional demand channels like Reddit

Katie Parkes [Brand] is in the process of building a strong network of 'Apollo power users', exploring how community  & creator participation can organically extend Apollo's reach

[2] Distribute content across roles, not departments. 

Apollo doesn't rely on one founder or one marketing team. Their:

→GTM engineers publish real systems
→Sales leaders share outbound workflows
→Community leads amplify customer wins
→Product + Marketing explain why things are built the way they are

Instead of a single brand voice, Apollo creates a consistent signal across the org

[3] Let education replace advertising

While many B2B companies gate PDFs and push demos, Apollo publishes: 

→AI workflows
→Prospecting systems
→Outbound frameworks
→Real examples from real accounts

When teams want to learn modern outbound or GTM, they don't find Ads. 

They find Apollo people. 

[4] Compound product-led growth with AI

→50K+ weekly active AI users
→500% YoY growth in AI usage
→47M prospecting actions in 2025
→35% increase in bookings for teams using AI workflows
→46% more meetings booked using Apollo's AI Research

Instead of marketing AI as a buzzword, Apollo operationalized it in public. 

Result: 

Apollo now serves 2 Million+ GTM professionals and over 550,000 companies from start-ups to global enterprises

Apollo didn't advertise their way to $150M ARR
↳They're building their way there in public

I've personally been using Apollo everyday for the past 5 years+ and trained over 3,000 students on  how to leverage the platform

Because of this, I've built step-by-step guides and tutorials on how to use: 

→Apollo
→AI Assistant
→Buying Intent
→Parallel Dialler
→Website Visitors
→And so much more.

If you want access to these, just comment 'APOLLO' below. 

I'll also give you access to a free workshop I'm hosting with them next week. 

Turn your operators into the 'channel' Built like Apollo, Build with Apollo!

Scaling $5M+ ARR Businesses through AI & GTM Systems | Founder + CEO - ZDTS

Last year, we earned over 7 figures using Apollo.
↳So they've asked me to teach y'all how to use it.
→’RSVP’ below to get access to the free training

2025 was one of our biggest years to date:

→3824 emails sent
→500 leads prospected
→320 days using Apollo
→0 dollars spent on ads
→157 sequences created
→$750,000 in new business
→750 qualified leads found 
→7,140 minutes spent prospecting
→3,382 minutes spent writing content
→30+ meetings booked every single month
→1,220 new students + clients joined my programs

And none of this was possible without Apollo.

→You can join the platform for free
→You don't need a long-term commitment
→Over 500,000+ monthly active users on the platform

On January 20th @ 12 PM ET, I'm going to show you exactly how to use Apollo to:

→Find your ICP automatically
→Write all your outbound content with AI
→Build + launch full sequences in minutes
→Create weekly workflows that run whilst you sleep
→Build your AI Content Centre [The secret engine behind everything]

Click here to RSVP: https://lnkd.in/esF73wux

There are already 500+ registered participants.

For anyone who joins from this post, comment 'RSVP', and I'll send you:

→The registration link
→Early access to the AI Assistant Tool
→Bonus training materials [Workflows, PDFs, Videos]

P.S. I’ll be joined by the wonderful: 

Dani Hao ✨ - Sr Manager - Community & Customer Marketing
Andy McCotter-Bicknell - Lead Product Marketing Manager, AI & Platform

So give them a follow to check out their awesome Apollo-focused content!

How to find and prospect B2B leads via Apollo in 2026
The exact 12-step process used to bill $20K in 7 days
A full step-by-step guide in 60 seconds ⮧

[Save this post so you don't lose it] 

1. Go to Apollo
↳If you don't have an account, you can sign up for free. 

Apollo allows you to do everything in one suite

→Find People
→Find Companies
→Save Leads Lists
→Make phone calls
→Use platform as CRM
→Set Tasks for reminders
→Build outreach sequences
→Build automated workflows 
→Build team reports & analytics
→Use AI to enhance searches + productivity

2. Once logged in, take 5 min to set up your profile: 

→Connect your Mailboxes
→Build your ICP personas 
→Build your AI Content Center

3. Next, let's search for LEADS.  

→Click the 'People Tab.' 
→Enable your Persona
 
Without Persona, manually filter in:

→Job Titles
    ↳Founder | CEO | VP | Director

→Company Size
    ↳Pick the range you actually sell to

→Location
    ↳Country or region you can work with

→Industry or Keywords
    ↳Only include what matters 

[At this point, you already have better leads than most teams]

4. Verified Emails Only

→Click 'Email Status' 
    ↳'Safe to send' > 'Verified' 

[No bounced emails → No wasted effort]

5. Activate 'Buying Intent' 

Buying intent uses AI to show you WHO is actively searching for your products and services online. Use it. 

→Click 'Buying Intent' 
→Select intent topics related to your offer: 

Examples ⮧

-AI Tools
-Sales Software
-Lead Generation
-Hiring/Recruiting
-Creative/Branding
-Marketing Automation

→Set 'Intent Score' to 'High'

[Now you're not guessing. You're targeting companies actively searching.]

6. AI Data Enrichment 

→Run AI Research
→Pull company context, roles, signals etc. 

[Used to take hours → now takes seconds]

7. Save your leads properly

→Save to a 'People List' 
   ↳Name it after your 'ICP + Intent' 

[Bonus: Build a workflow to push new leads to this list automatically.]

9. Launch Outreach campaign

→Add the list to a short sequence
   ↳4-day sequences work the best

→Day 1: Engage + connect via LinkedIn
→Day 1: Email notifying LinkedIn activity 
→Day 2: Email using 'Two-Line DM script' 
→Day 3: Phone call + Email + LinkedIn DM
→Day 4: Final Email → No Reply? = Move on. 

[Apollo tracks everything so you don't have to] 

10. Workflows 

Want to scale your outreach = Build a workflow.

→Auto-find new leads weekly
→Auto-add to people/company lists
→Auto-enroll into outreach sequences

[Your Pipeline fills while you sleep] 

That's how B2B prospecting works in 2026. 

1 Platform instead of 6. 

-No guessing
-No scraping data
-No spreadsheets

Just Apollo.

In the past 5 years, I've trained over 3,000 students on Apollo. 
So, I've partnered with Apollo to deliver an AI masterclass\ next Tuesday!

Comment 'SALES' below and I'll send you:

1. RSVP link for the free Apollo AI Masterclass
2. Buying Intent Guide
3. Cold Calling Guide
4. AI Assistant Guide
5. Sequences Guide

Hope this helps and you crush it in 2026!

Pick a seat: LinkedIn Creator Edition
Which seat would you choose, and why? 
Creators include....⮧

Charlie Hills | The AI Creators Club
↳194,750 Followers
→Talks about: Content, LLMs & AI Tools

Brianna Chapman | Apollo
↳20,637 Followers
→Talks about: Community, Reddit & AI

Jennifer Rhima | Apollo
↳25,720 Followers
→Talks about: Events, AI Tools  & Partnerships

Elana Gold | Red Beard Ventures
↳81,460 Followers
→Talks about: Success Stories, Business Growth & VC

Lara Acosta | Kleo
↳309,230 Followers
→Talks about: Content, LinkedIn & Copywriting

Ross Pomerantz | Corporate Bro
↳169,600 Followers
→Talks about: Workplace Comedy

Natalie (Corporate Natalie)
↳254,400 Followers
→Talks about: Workplace Comedy

Ruben Hassid | How to AI
↳757,100 Followers
→Talks about: Everything related to AI

Anisha Jain | How to AI
↳143,600 Followers
→Talks about: Copywriting with AI

Georgia St John-Smith | Sancti Business Mentorship & Retreats
↳76,500 Followers
→Talks about: Women-led Business growth, LinkedIn & Sales

AJ Eckstein | Creator Match 🧩
↳54,000 Followers
→Talks about: Creator Economy, Influencer Marketing & UGC

Vin Matano | Creatorbuzz
↳52,380 Followers
→Talks about: Creator economy, Influencer Marketing & building in public

David Walsh | Limelight
↳40,720 Followers
→Talks about: Building a business, Creator economy & Influencer marketing

Manthan Patel | Lead Gen Man
↳157,300 Followers
→Talks about: AI Agents, AI Tools & Lead Gen

You can only have one seat, choose wisely. 
______

P.S. For those who wanted sales content this Friday.. I got you! 
👉 https://lnkd.in/eRXKskeY

I just hosted a 2 hour masterclass for 800+ people on how to use Apollo's new AI Assistant to save hours of manual work building lead lists, email campaigns, workflows and analytics. 

Enjoy & happy Friday!

So this is how OpenAI makes money now.  
↳ Not subscriptions.  
→ Ads inside ChatGPT.

Let’s be honest, this was always coming.

ChatGPT is one of the fastest-growing consumer products ever.  
Hundreds of millions of people use it every week.  
Most of them never pay.

That math doesn’t work.

Here’s the reality most people miss:

→ AI gets more expensive the more it’s used  
→ Inference costs compound, not flatten  
→ “Scale” actually makes losses worse  

Everyone assumes subscriptions save the day.

They don’t.

Even premium users don’t cover their own compute once usage spikes.  
Heavy users cost more than they pay.  
Light users barely move the needle.

Now zoom out.

You have a product with:

→ Massive daily attention  
→ Logged-in users  
→ Clear intent signals  
→ Long session times  

That’s not just an AI tool.

That’s an ad platform.

And ads are the only model that actually scales with usage.

This isn’t about greed.  
It’s about physics.

When every prompt costs money to run, revenue has to grow faster than usage.  
Subscriptions grow linearly.  
Compute grows exponentially.

Advertising grows with attention.

This is the same arc every platform follows:

→ Social did it.  
→ Search did it.  
→ Marketplaces did it.  

AI was never exempt.

The interesting part isn’t that ads are coming.

It’s where they’ll live.

At the bottom of responses.  
Clearly labeled.  
Dismissible.  
Context-aware.

That’s not banner ads.  
That’s intent monetization.

When someone asks how to build a website.  
Or which CRM to choose.  
Or how to hire a lawyer.

That intent is worth a lot.

So no, this isn’t “the end of ChatGPT.”

It’s the moment it graduates from experiment to business.

The real question isn’t whether ads belong in AI.

It’s this:

Was there ever a realistic path where they didn’t?

Hot Take: Businesses not using AI assistants in 2026 will not scale
↳We're closing $30K+ per week just by using Apollo 
→This is why their competitors can't keep up: 

I've tried every AI GTM sales platform, and will only use Apollo going forward.

Each platform was GREAT at one thing, but had many tools missing: 

Instantly
↳Great for cold email and sending volume
→Still needs another platform to run GTM

Salesloft
↳Good sequencing and engagement
→Clunky and depends on external data

Outreach
↳Decent for enterprise execution
→Super heavy stack, not all in one

ZoomInfo
↳Good data coverage
→Extortionate pricing, no execution layer 

Lusha
↳Fast contact enrichment
→Not always accurate data 

Clay
↳Great at workflows
→Still need sequencing and execution tools like Apollo

Gong
↳Good meeting insights
→For account managers, not Sales teams

HubSpot
↳Good CRM foundation
↳Requires a lot of bolt-ons to compete

Agencies with retainers need one platform that does everything. 

This is why we rely on Apollo, because it offers everything: 

-Data
-Research
-Analytics
-Workflows
-Sequencing
-AI Execution
-Buying Intent

And now that they've launched the AI Assistant, it got stupidly unfair. 

The AI Assistant takes over your platform, and executes tasks for you. 
This has saved hundreds of hours on manual lead gen and BD work. 

Now, we just chose an option from the prompt library and: 

→Find and rank ICP accounts and contracts
→Find people looking for us with Buying intent
→Enrich every record with AI research in seconds
→Save qualified leads into people lists automatically
→Build 4 day+ sequences for email, phone calls and LinkedIn
→Build automatic weekly workflows to keep filling the pipeline

In 3 hours this morning, I used the AI assistant to:

→Find and save 740 ICP fit, AI qualified leads
→Generate a pipeline of over $30K+ per client
→Launch 7 client sequences in under 8 minutes each
→Book 6 meetings within the first hour of launching sequences

This is why competitors can't keep up. 
↳They're still building GTM manually.  
→I'm just prompting outcomes with Apollo [lol]. 

Because I've had so much success with Apollo's AI assistant, I want to show you how to use it too. 

Today at 12 noon EST, I'm hosting a free Apollo AI Assistant masterclass. 
↳If you can't make it, RSVP anyway and I'll send you the recording:
→650+ registered attendees already!

I'll be covering how to: 

→Build your Persona
→Build your AI content center
→Use the AI assistant for Leads, Sequences & Workflows

Comment below or DM me 'RSVP' and you'll get: 

1. The webinar link
2. The Recording
3. My Apollo partner signup link
4. Beta waitlist access for AI Assistant
5. All my Step-by-step guides for everything Apollo. 

Stop wasting time on 7+ AI Sales tools. 

Join me tomorrow to learn how to use Apollo.

Apollo's AI Assistant Prompt Library [52+ prompts]

Hang in there, Mary.


Use Apollo to streamline your sales so it doesn’t feel stressful: https://lnkd.in/eRXKskeY

No alternative text description for this image

How to generate a professional headshot using ChatGPT 5.2
↳In under 60 seconds.
→No expensive photoshoots.
→No studio lighting.
→No editing tools.

Just you and ChatGPT.

Here’s the step-by-step:

Step 1: Take 3 clear photos of yourself
→Use natural lighting (near a window works great)
→Capture different angles: front, left, and right side profile

Step 2: Upload the photos to ChatGPT 5.2
→click ‘+’ and select ‘Create image’

Step 3: Paste this prompt:
→"Generate the corporate headshot of this person."

→Step 4: Let ChatGPT do the magic.

→In seconds, you’ll have a studio-quality headshot that looks ready for LinkedIn, company websites, or pitch decks.

This isn’t a gimmick.

 AI is changing the way we handle personal branding → fast.

If you know someone still using a cropped vacation selfie for their profile picture…

→Tag them below.

[Image Credit: @codyschneiderxx]

MBA in Entertainment, University of Southern California | Ex: Disney, JPMorganChase, KPMG, PwC

Fun fact: My LinkedIn isn't my resume. 

So don't come here looking to evaluate hiring me based on my LinkedIn. 

Or maybe you should look at my LinkedIn to realize I beautifully blend data and analytics with entertaining and educational storytelling. 

I always dreamed of being a television programmer. It never happened, so instead I live out my dream programming LinkedIn like my own TV channel. 

Over the past 5 years, I’ve logged 10,000+ hours on this platform. I’ve built a following of 100,000+ by programming my LinkedIn like my own TV channel. My content isn’t random. It’s strategic. Story-driven. Designed to drive real outcomes.

And it’s worked, generating $10M+ in deals for the companies I've worked. Read that one again. Not me, but my companies. The power of companies leveraging LinkedIn is the future of LinkedIn. 

In 2021, I launched a global  events company while working with a Mark Cuban and Ashton Kutcher startup, producing 40+ events in LA, NYC, Dubai, Paris, and London that drove millions of dollars in  revenue. I understand how to leverage LinkedIn so companies can drive real results. 

A few highlights:

-Closed a strategic partnership with CAA
-Raised $7M in funding for a Mark Cuban venture-backed startup
-Secured $4.13M in brand deals for one of the world’s top celebrities

My background spans banking (JPMorganChase), global advisory (PwC, KPMG), and a decade as CFO/COO in the luxury design world, managing 50+ people and overseeing $40M+ in ARR and $1B+ in real estate projects for icons like President Obama, George Clooney, and Cindy Crawford.

I’ve lived and worked in LA, NYC, and Dubai. I’ve built communities in tech, luxury, and now the creator economy. I’m obsessed with solving complex business problems through storytelling, partnerships, and scalable brand strategy.

Always open to meeting new and interesting people that love life, love to win, and love to make the world a better place.

John Kraski

Want to win on LinkedIn?

Talk about someone other than yourself.

My first post of 2026 is a shoutout.

To Nila Makhfi, M.S.

We both went to University of Southern California.
Same school. Same campus. Same Trojan pride. 
Never crossed paths.

Then LinkedIn happened.

We connected here.
Finally talked this past week.
And now we're teaming up.

We're putting together an event at USC. 
To teach students the power of LinkedIn.

Because in this job market?
A personal brand isn't a nice-to-have.
It's a necessity.

And Nila Makhfi, M.S. gets it.

She graduated with a 4.0 in her master's.
Consulted for Snap, LinkedIn, and Dunkin'.
Founded LinkedUp to bring creators together IRL.

The woman is a force.

That's the magic of LinkedIn.

It connects people who should've met years ago.
And turns strangers into collaborators.

So here's to 2026.
Here's to Nila Makhfi, M.S.
And here's to talking about someone other than yourself.

Trust me and Nila Makhfi, M.S. on this one.

Creator, Celebrity, and Brand Partnerships Executive I MBA in Entertainment, University of Southern California

I showed up to a conference with no friends.

Then Monica Khan saved my life.

Creator Economy Live in Las Vegas.
Hosted by my good friend Justin Johnson

Hundreds of creators.
Everyone already knew each other.
I knew no one.

I started having flashbacks of high school.

Was I going to be walking around like a lost little puppy dog?

With no friends that wanted to hang out with me. 

Then Monica Khan came to the rescue. 

I landed in Vegas around the same time as her.

She said, "Don't worry. Stick with me. I'll introduce you to everyone."

And she did.

I met so many amazing people including: 

David Neyman, Joe Sousa, Val Guerrera, Kimia Kalbasi, Gary Zucker, Garin Fons, Adrienne Fleming, MS, Erica Fieldman, Kenny Layton, Colin Duethorn, Meredith McLuckie, Grace Niu, Lisa Zlotnick, Courtney Buckhanon, Brendan Gahan, Keith Bendes, France Tantiado, Dylan Huey, Nila Makhfi, M.S., Oksana Kravchenko, Morgan Swinford, and so many more. 

Monica Khan took me under her wing.
Introduced me to her friends.
Invited me to her events.

She even got me into an amazing dinner hosted by Later.
Special shoutout to Tim Clarke, Scott Sutton, and Lyle Stevens. 

Think about that.

Most people at conferences network for themselves.
The best ones open doors for others.

That's the difference between a connector and a collector.

Collectors hoard relationships.
Connectors share them.

Make sure to follow Monica Khan.

Trust me and every person with no friends at a conference on this one.

Your degree won't get you hired.

Your network will.

21% of Duke MBAs were still job hunting 3 months after graduation.

15% at Michigan.

That's according to The Wall Street Journal.

These are elite programs.

And the job market is still brutal.

Here's the uncomfortable truth most students learn too late:

A degree gets you educated.
A network gets you employed.

That's why I'm heading back to the University of Southern California.

I got my MBA there.
Now I want to give something back.

I'll be on a panel about personal branding on LinkedIn.

With Nila Makhfi, M.S., Jessica Lam, and Dylan Huey.

We're breaking down how to actually build relationships that lead to jobs.

Because the students who crack this?

They're not sending 300 applications.

They're getting warm intros.
Recruiter DMs.
Offers before graduation.

LinkedIn isn't a resume database.

It's a relationship engine.

And right now, relationships beat résumés.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/gbzJREK4

Trust me and every student struggling to find a job on this one.

The best kept secret on LinkedIn?

Azzy Maizer✨.

Not going to lie.

I thought she was AI at first.

Her posts are seriously next level.

The pacing.
The energy.
The intelligence.

Then we got on a call.

Two hours later, I realized I was wrong.

AI has nothing on her.

She's just operating on a different level.

Goldman Sachs.
Now part of Deloitte's stealth venture arm.
Building relationships with Anthropic, OpenAI, and Neo4j.

She creates playbooks before the market even exists.

Her banner says it all: "Together makes progress."

She's not here to chase followers.

She's here to make the world a better place.

That's why I follow her.

I love connecting with people who don't think like me.

People who open my mind to new ways of thinking.

Azzy is one of those people.

Do yourself a favor.

Follow Azzy Maizer✨.

Trust me and the future of AI on this one.

taplio

The Battle

Zack Deris

John Kraski

Followers

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Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreZack Deris's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreJohn Kraski's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Zack Deris

John Kraski

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Zack Deris's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreJohn Kraski's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreZack Deris's LinkedIn Performance