Our CEO's Manifesto

August 4, 2024

Thoughts Of An Entrepreneur
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My Parents’ Basement in Chicago, 1:54 AM

It’s 1:54 AM, and maybe it’s just the sugar rush of the Chick-fil-A lemonade I just finished after my ritualistic dad-and-daughter lemonade run talking, but I have something important to share. Or rather, something I believe deeply in.

My entrepreneurial journey began at 19 with a prototype for my first invention, leading to a moment that changed everything. I was still in college in 2015 when I stood by myself (my dad who chaperoned me anxiously waiting in the STAR WAGGON trailer at Sony Picture Studios) before the Sharks on national television. I had learned the word “revenue” the night before from Chris Stevens, one of the co-founders of Keurig, who became my mentor. I hadn’t even manufactured a single unit yet. It was surreal, arguably accidental, but also serendipitous. Then, in a moment that would change everything, Barbara Corcoran looked me dead in the eye and said, “You’re not an entrepreneur, I’m out.”

The episode aired, and something incredible happened. Millions of people came to my defense. They saw me, believed in me, and showed me a kind of support I’d never experienced before. They didn’t just watch—they rallied behind me, cheering, “Yes, you are an entrepreneur! We’ve got your back.” Suddenly, companies like Lowe’s and Staples were calling, eager to get my product on their shelves.

Tonight, I find that memory guiding me back to an important place, and an important truth:

We’ve become pathological liars in a world we’ve created, shilling things we don’t believe in.

We’ve traded authenticity for AI, trust for transactions, and real connections for #ads and #sponsored posts. Influencer marketing, once a symbol of authenticity, has become cringe-worthy—a toxic playground where the line between reality and make-believe is intentionally distorted in the name of money, love, and fame.

We’ve turned a blind eye to the fact that 90% of influencers admit to promoting products they don’t even use. We’ve allowed ourselves to believe that this is just the way it is.

But the impact is devastating, and it’s not just hurting brands. It’s influencing our youth, shaping their identities and values in ways we never intended. As someone who has run a teen summer camp every year for 9 years, I see it with my own eyes day in and day out. Teenagers who feel they can’t measure up, who are more anxious, more depressed, and more disconnected from what’s real because the influencers they idolize are selling them lies.

It’s a scary sight.

We’ve all seen it—the perfect lives, the unattainable beauty standards, the relentless pursuit of likes and followers. It’s toxic, and deep down, we know it. But we remain enablers because we think it’s the only way.

But it doesn’t have to be.

At SwayID, we’re building towards reclaiming marketing from the clutches of inauthenticity and bringing it back to what it should be—genuine, human, and meaningful. We’re creating a way for brands to tap into that same unstoppable force of love and support that I felt all those years ago—something real, something that matters.

It starts with our innovative Circular Marketing Model.

It’s not about paying for posts. It’s about creating a space where creators can be themselves, sharing what they love without the pressure to perform. It’s about giving brands a way to connect with their audiences honestly and authentically, with clear, measurable ROI that doesn’t rely on smoke and mirrors.

Imagine a world where your marketing isn’t a gamble. Where every dollar you spend is an investment in lasting relationships. Where your brand is built on the backs of creators who actually care, who want to see you succeed because they believe in what you’re doing. Imagine a world where marketing is driven by trust, not by transactions.

This isn’t just a pipe dream. This is the future, and it’s closer than you think. But it starts with us. It starts with the choices we make, the risks we take, and the vision we commit to.

So here it is, my mission statement, my call to arms: Let’s do better. Let’s be better. Let’s create marketing that we can be proud of and that our customers can believe in.

Join me in this movement. Together, we can kill the toxicity and revive marketing with authenticity, honesty, and real human connection.

With love and determination,
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Kaeya Majmundar
Co-Founder & CEO, SwayID