Kayode Owens, General Partner at Unseen Capital
I got to know Dave while at Churnless, a product consultancy steeped in behavioral science. Dave and I often discussed partnerships and BD over burritos while he worked to polish and disseminate the amazing work that Churnless did for clients like American Express, and AARP.
I got another chance to work with Dave when he struck out on his own at Authentic Matters, where I worked on strategy and he provided communications support for Visa’s Innovation initiatives leading up to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Working with Dave is always easy, but being an entrepreneur has helped transform him into that rare combination of a crack marketer who truly understands how to build partnerships. He treated my client as he treats his own, with natural empathy and intuitive understanding of the challenges of their business, obsessive attention to detail, and a “can-do” attitude. I relish opportunities to work with Dave, because I always walk away from our time together a little smarter than I was when I showed up.
Adam Neary, CEO at Profitably
We sought out Authentic Matters for help with PR. I was very careful about who I worked with because the PR space is teaming with people a mile wide and an inch deep, and we didn’t want a carnival mountebank. Dave and his crew, in contrast, are the real deal. There’s no BS, no spin… just hard-nosed execution on the work they set out to accomplish, complemented by clear, straightforward client communication.
Meghan Casserly, Head of Global Comms at Uber, Delivery
I met Dave when I was a reporter trying to hustle up great startup stories for Forbes Magazine, and he has—hands down—been one of the most delightful comms professionals I’ve had the opportunity to work with. He understands the need to find the “story” in the pitch, is incredibly creative at finding new workable angles, and is a star at relationship building (which my writing a recommendation several years later is a testament to!). Now that we’re on the same side of the aisle, I can say without hesitation that I’d welcome him onto any project or team at any time.
Ro Gupta, CEO at CARMERA (Acquired by Toyota)
We brought Dave in to help us get organized around our comms efforts. It started with PR, but quickly expanded to include content, events, social and all the other stuff that goes into establishing a brand. What I found valuable about Dave is how he can grok a complex space like HD maps and immerse himself in it, and understand that he needs to internalize the core business, not just lop comms on top. Best of all, Dave is just a wonderful human and a delight to work with.
Sarah Gordon, Vice President at The Financial Health Network
It’s refreshing to work with a firm like Authentic Matters that can map out thoughtful marketing and communications strategies and has the hustle and grit to execute. But what’s maybe more refreshing is to see just how much they love the projects they get involved with. It’s as genuine as it is uncommon.
Matt Wallaert, Chief Behavioral Officer at Clover Health
Dave’s always had the ability to go the extra mile. With a constantly positive attitude, a passion for authentic connections, and a charming demeanor that makes transitioning into interviews simple, Dave has all the skills he needs to help people connect with products they actually need. And that is a strong point about where he stands apart: his style is never just spray-and-pray PR, but tight, targeted actions that are about getting the right people to pay attention. At any company where I control the PR selection, Dave will be my first choice.
Kasey Bayne, Head of Marketing at DataTrue
Dave is one of the best communication professionals I’ve worked with. His strategic insights, creative thinking, and solid writing skills were an asset to our team. From PR pitches and campaign strategies, to blog posts and email marketing, Dave is able to communicate complex ideas in a way that is effective and engaging.
Jim Secord, CEO at Kashoo
It’s interesting to look back at the last four-plus years and map the growth of our relationship with Authentic Matters. What started out as PR-for-hire expanded into content strategy and marketing automation and customer success support and lead gen and collateral development and even intentionally amateur videography and screenwriting. That sort of versatility and adaptability is valuable to any company at any stage.
Avi Karnani, CEO at Alice
Dave gets it done. He makes people around him feel comfortable and energized, not only reporters but users, partners, investors, and team members, too. He’ll often remind people behind decisions at the companies he advises, “Be a human being.” His faithfulness to that mantra, even more than his great technique and loads of experience makes him successful at what he does and a pleasure to be around.
Think We Should Talk?
Let’s. Email info@authenticmatters.com and we’ll set something up.