Episode · 2026-01-21
"Merit-Based Shopping" in AI Commerce
"Merit-Based Shopping" in AI Commerce | BNPL for Rent?? | TJ Bongiorno Joins (1.20.26)
Rundown
TJ Bongiorno, founder of OutgoingCo, discusses his transition from tech into DTC fitness and wellness, driven by personal fitness philosophy and social media engagement. The conversation covers strategic use of AI tools like MidJourney for production-ready marketing campaigns, fundraising via private investors, and the critical importance of SMS marketing and zeitgeist-driven creator partnerships for DTC growth.
Takes from this episode
Removing checkout friction through prefilled payment profiles represents the next evolution in ecommerce conversion
If you have your Shop Pay profile already in checkout, I don't even need your address or your credit card information. I just need you to say confirm. That is that's kind of the next evolution of this.
A single high-capacity private investor matching institutional capital is preferable to institutional investors for speed and control
Let's give you as much VC capital as you can physically handle.
SMS should be a primary revenue channel focus for DTC brands when optimized properly
they are the only player in our entire ecosystem who will tell you our goal is to make SMS your number one revenue generator
Identifying and activating trending creators in major brand moments creates exceptional marketing results and consumer sentiment
They found the trend in the now. You grab that person, you incorporate that into a massive event... This is one of the best things I've seen probably all year.