From Basquiat to Data: Bridging Art and eCommerce - Louis Monoyudis

From Basquiat to Data: Bridging Art and eCommerce - Louis Monoyudis

In this episode of Orbit, Nihar sits down with Louis Monoyudis, CMO of Artware Editions, to discuss the intersection of high-end art collectibles and digital commerce. From selling accessible pop-art gifts to limited edition Yves Klein tables worth over $25,000, Louis breaks down how Artware balances B2B exclusivity with D2C accessibility. Beyond the art world, Louis shares his "turnaround CEO" mindset for marketing. He explains why founders often suffer from "autobiographical hubris," focusing too much on product features rather than the emotional benefits that actually convert customers. We also look ahead to 2026, diving into the rise of "Agentic Shopping" (AI agents buying on behalf of humans), how to use LLMs for customer sentiment analysis, and why traditional industries like Wine need to embrace the AI revolution or get left behind.

From Amazon Receipts to First-Party Data: Bridging the Offline Gap - Sarah (Davidson) Molloy

73% of consumers shop omni-channel, yet most brands have zero visibility into who is buying their products at Target, Amazon, or the local bodega. In this episode, Nihar sits down with Sarah Davidson, the "Jill of All Trades" at Brij, to discuss the "Above the Funnel" approach. Sarah breaks down how brands can compliantly capture first-party data from third-party marketplaces, the role of AI in receipt scanning, and why the future of e-commerce relies on agent-to-agent interactions. Later, Sarah pivots to her personal journey, sharing how she is combating the 2% female funding gap through accessible micro-angel investing.

The Accidental Rise of The Email Experience - Jason Donapel

Nihar Kulkarni welcomes Jason Donapel, founder of The Email Experience, for a candid conversation about the state of retention marketing. Despite running competing agencies, Nihar and Jason discuss the power of an "Open Source" mindset—sharing trade secrets to elevate the entire industry. Jason explains his strategic pivot to becoming an Attentive-exclusive partner for email, citing superior identity resolution and deliverability as his "moat." The duo also explores the cutting edge of AI, specifically the new Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Jason’s internal AI tool, Lexi, which manages brand voice databases and campaign blueprints. From the evolution of SMS to the resurgence of Facebook Messenger, this episode is packed with tactical advice on hitting that elusive 40% revenue goal from retention channels.

From Spam Folders to the Primary Inbox - Megan Blissick

In this episode of The Orbit, host Nihar Kulkarni sits down with Megan Blissick, Head of Partnerships and Marketing at Orita. Known in the industry as the "Queen of Partnerships," Megan shares her journey from fashion brand operator to tech leader. The conversation centers on the shifting landscape of e-commerce technology. The duo discusses the move from "essential tech" (Shopify, Klaviyo) to "optimization tech"—tools designed to refine brand performance by that critical extra 5%. Megan explains how Orita leverages AI for customer segmentation, solving modern email deliverability issues caused by strict new inbox regulations from providers like Gmail and Yahoo. Finally, they deep dive into the philosophy of successful B2B partnerships, emphasizing that empathy, service, and a "give before you ask" mentality are the keys to longevity in the ecosystem.

From Hourly Billing to Recurring Revenue: Scaling Your Agency – Rachel Jacobs

In this episode of The Orbit, host Nihar Kulkarni sits down with the "wrecking ball" of the e-commerce industry, Rachel Jacobs (Founder, E-Commerce Partnerships). Rachel is a powerhouse in the agency space, known for her no-nonsense approach to business growth. She shares her journey from agency COO—where she pioneered some of the first Klaviyo retainers in Europe—to becoming the leading connector between agencies, tech platforms, and brands globally. If you are an agency owner stuck in the "feast or famine" cycle of project-based work, this episode is a masterclass on flipping your business model. Nihar and Rachel discuss the critical transition from time-and-materials billing to sustainable retainer models, the future of agency M&A, and why integrating AI is no longer optional for survival.