Sriram Mahendran

Brand marketing @airwallex. Ex-Google, Netflix, Adobe, Ogilvy. On marketing, AI and investing. Views my own.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

1/ Spent 14+ years in marketing across agency (Ogilvy), big tech (Google, Netflix), enterprise SaaS (Adobe), and now brand marketing at @airwallex. Starting to write here about B2B brand, AI and building global businesses. 🧵

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

😂😂😂😂

[Stock Talk @stocktalkweekly]

I'm dressing up as an AI stock for Halloween.

Scariest thing I could think of.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

@playbook_pod_ Looking forward to it!

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

@RachaelRad YouTube Originals tried something similar a few years back, but it faded without ever building internal momentum. Netflix had a window to build a TikTok rival while TikTok was under regulatory pressure. In my view, they should have taken it.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

5/ That's the lens. If you build, market or finance a business going global, follow along. Views my own.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

1/ Spent 14+ years in marketing across agency (Ogilvy), big tech (Google, Netflix), enterprise SaaS (Adobe), and now brand marketing at @airwallex. Starting to write here about B2B brand, AI and building global businesses. 🧵

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

4/ Belief 3: AI is an evolution of workflows, not a revolution in creativity. Faster and cheaper is the easy part. Better comes from judgment.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

3/ Belief 2: a brand has two jobs. Convert the few buyers in market today, and build memory with the many who'll buy later. Different jobs, different scorecards.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

@airwallex 2/ Belief 1: in B2B, playing it safe is the riskiest move. Most content never gets noticed. Being remembered is the job.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

@M___Morgenstern Platforms marking their own homework is the running joke in marketing. In my years in marketing, every platform-run brand lift study I've seen has shown uplift. I wonder why 🙄

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

AI-adopting SMBs on @airwallex trade with 8 countries vs 3. To me that's a go-to-market story as much as a productivity one. AI is cutting the cost of being understood in a new market: translation, local creative, support. (Jack's caveat stands: correlation, not causation.)

[Jack Zhang @awxjack]

Among SMBs on @airwallex (reminder we cover markets around the world not just US) those paying for AI tools in Q3'25 grew processed volume 54% over the next year.

Non-adopters: 29%. They also trade with 2.7x more countries (8 vs 3).

Correlation, not causation. But AI may turn out to be a growth story, not just a cost story.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

The last few days would’ve been a lot easier if I was just a regular index investor instead of being all in on the AI trade.

Still not changing the thesis though.

I use AI constantly for personal stuff and at work, and I’m already seeing it get fully integrated into the @airwallex product.

The swings are rough but the actual usage and product work is hard to ignore.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

I'm watching GPU rental prices as a signal for the AI trade.

Prices have risen all year, and $CRWV has rented out Nvidia A100s through 2029.

That's not proof there isn't a bubble. But it does suggest the demand side of the equation is stronger than the bears might think.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

@Jenny_MEXC Very clever! You guys nailed the sponsorship activation. Marketer to marketer, I’m impressed. Regretting not queueing up for one of those bags now haha!

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

@vladshkoda_ Not sure that holds for Cé La Vi. They’ve hosted a different event each of the last two days.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

At @token2049 this week, and I’m always impressed by how many people recognise @airwallex from all corners of the world.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

If you can spare an afternoon in London on Oct 21, come spend it with us. We're getting into the agentic future of finance with CFOs, developers, and platform partners in the room. You won't regret it.

[Airwallex @airwallex]

Airwallex Shift is coming to London 🇬🇧

October 21.

We’re bringing AI founders, finance leaders, and senior operators together for an afternoon about AI and the agentic future of finance.

Spaces are limited. Apply below ↓

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

@dankimxyz @airwallex Looks amazing! I hope the conversations were even better.

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

@M___Morgenstern @theallinpod @BrentMatterson_ @adam_abu_ras @OliverCamaX Brilliant stuff!

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

Say hi to the @airwallex team if you’re at the All-In Summit.

[Michael Morgenstern @M___Morgenstern]

I'll be in LA at https://t.co/75HQva2i9Q next week September 13-15

Pumped to be hosting dinner @airwallex and spending time with the Besties @Jason @chamath @friedberg @DavidSacks !

[Sriram Mahendran @StrategistSri]

@FlySWISS I’ve filed a delayed baggage report and my AirTag shows my bag is still in Zurich after being rebooked to Barcelona today. Could you please check if it can be forwarded on tonight’s Zurich-Barcelona flight? I have a wedding tomorrow and urgently need the contents. Thanks