Functional Skills
Market Research
Marketing Analytics
Communications
Commercial Due Diligence
Business Analysis
Business Intelligence
Brand Strategy
Business Development
Digital Marketing / Advertising
Employee Engagement
Go-to-market Strategy
Growth Marketing
Product Marketing
Marketing Strategy
Growth Strategy
Sector Experience
Business Services
Media & Entertainment
Social & Public Sector
Technology
Experience
Connelly Ventures LLC
Other
Owner
9/2023 - Present
Independent consulting and contributing to the entrepreneurial ecosystem through my newsletter Growing Up Startup (cconnelly.substack.com) and my new book, Designing Success: Lessons from 20 Years as a Female Tech Entrepreneur
The Meet Group
Marketing
Co-founder and SVP Marketing
4/2005 - 4/2023
• Sold the company in a $500 million deal to become ParshipMeet Group.
• Built the marketing function at The Meet Group from $0 to $10+ million in marketing and public relations budget, including creating user acquisition and retention campaigns through various ad networks, optimizing and generating creative and PR campaigns. Shifted focus of performance campaigns to optimize for downstream livestreaming users amid company revenue model shift from advertising to user pay.
• Conducted extensive market research through primary and secondary sources to aid in feature development, release, and launch new features and applications.
• Collaborated with product, design, and engineering teams to develop and enhance features for The Meet Group suite of mobile applications.
• Led PR and communications for a portfolio of mobile applications, the corporate entity, and the B2B brand, Livebox, including all external and internal communications.
- Led multiple rebrands
- M&A due diligence
• Built the marketing function at The Meet Group from $0 to $10+ million in marketing and public relations budget, including creating user acquisition and retention campaigns through various ad networks, optimizing and generating creative and PR campaigns. Shifted focus of performance campaigns to optimize for downstream livestreaming users amid company revenue model shift from advertising to user pay.
• Conducted extensive market research through primary and secondary sources to aid in feature development, release, and launch new features and applications.
• Collaborated with product, design, and engineering teams to develop and enhance features for The Meet Group suite of mobile applications.
• Led PR and communications for a portfolio of mobile applications, the corporate entity, and the B2B brand, Livebox, including all external and internal communications.
- Led multiple rebrands
- M&A due diligence
The Meet Group
Marketing
Co-founder, VP Brand Strategy
10/2016 - 2/2020
- Led rebranding messaging and research to successfully rebrand consumer and corporate brands myYearbook and Quepasa to MeetMe. The rebranding efforts involved vetting potential names, CTR tests, survey data, and internal
marketing to users, as well as a careful rollout and communication strategy
- Built the marketing function for MeetMe to be one of the top-5 most downloaded dating apps in the US
- Assisted in IR efforts as a NASDAQ-listed company, including PR, earnings call preparations, and crisis
management
- Implemented the tracking and data analysis necessary to optimize and track LTV, achieving ROI-positive
campaigns within 6 months of spend using analytics and BI tools (Tableau, Appsumer, Adjust).
- Launched several “moonshot” apps – Unsaid, Charm, Choosy, Roar, and AdviceChat with moderate success – 3
reaching 10K+ DAU despite non-existent to tiny marketing budget.
marketing to users, as well as a careful rollout and communication strategy
- Built the marketing function for MeetMe to be one of the top-5 most downloaded dating apps in the US
- Assisted in IR efforts as a NASDAQ-listed company, including PR, earnings call preparations, and crisis
management
- Implemented the tracking and data analysis necessary to optimize and track LTV, achieving ROI-positive
campaigns within 6 months of spend using analytics and BI tools (Tableau, Appsumer, Adjust).
- Launched several “moonshot” apps – Unsaid, Charm, Choosy, Roar, and AdviceChat with moderate success – 3
reaching 10K+ DAU despite non-existent to tiny marketing budget.
MeetMe, Inc.
Start-Up
Co-founder and VP Brand Strategy)
11/2011 - 10/2016
Co-founded the company in 2005. Worked with developers in Mumbai to launch in one high school. Grew to over
one million registered members in the first year by developing a viral mechanic to allow users to share
myYearbook quizzes, layouts, and widgets on other popular platforms
- Grew myYearbook to become one of the largest social networks in the US, with over one million people logging in
every day through engaging product choices, media presence, and large WOM spread
- Early mover – launched mobile apps in 2010 and grew them to the Top 20 Social rank
- Navigated two rounds of venture capital (2006 for $4.1mm and 2008 for $12.8mm) and rapid growth, leading to
acquisition by a public company (Quepasa - ticker: QPSA) in a $100 million deal.
one million registered members in the first year by developing a viral mechanic to allow users to share
myYearbook quizzes, layouts, and widgets on other popular platforms
- Grew myYearbook to become one of the largest social networks in the US, with over one million people logging in
every day through engaging product choices, media presence, and large WOM spread
- Early mover – launched mobile apps in 2010 and grew them to the Top 20 Social rank
- Navigated two rounds of venture capital (2006 for $4.1mm and 2008 for $12.8mm) and rapid growth, leading to
acquisition by a public company (Quepasa - ticker: QPSA) in a $100 million deal.