Stop Guessing. Start Running Ads That Actually Bring Customers.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners spend thousands of dollars every year on advertising — yet many campaigns deliver little or no return.

Boosted posts.

Online ads.

Promotions that looked promising.

But instead of new customers, they often bring confusion, wasted budget, and disappointing results.

What if you could know before you spend money which ads are most likely to work?

In this live online event, you'll discover how modern AI tools can analyze markets, audiences, and ad performance to help you create promotions that attract real customers — without wasting time or money.

Why Most Advertising Fails

Most businesses struggle with marketing because they rely on trial and error.

They ask questions like:

* Which platform should I advertise on?

* What message will attract customers?

* Am I targeting the right audience?

* Why are my ads getting clicks but not sales?

* How do I stop wasting my ad budget?

Without the right insights, advertising can feel like throwing money into the wind.

This session will show you how AI can bring clarity to your marketing decisions.

Meet Your Panelists

Mike O’Donnell is the Senior Vice-President of Innovation and Business Transformation at Flywheel in Baltimore. He has been a leader in eCommerce retail for over a decade, with experience leading Flywheel's Retail, Content, Supply Chain, and Innovation verticals. Today, Mike oversees FW's AI Acceleration team with a focus on accelerating business outcomes with generative AI and democratizing innovation by lowering tech learning curves. In his role overseeing content, he is creating faster AI content workflows and helping brands take unnecessary touchpoints out of the digital experience, moving manufacturers and retailers closer to a frictionless digital catalog. He has worked globally across a variety of CPG categories in North America, LATAM and EMEA. Mike's prior experience includes In-Store media at News America Marketing and Digital Commerce at Compass Marketing. In 2026, Mike was named on ADWEEK's AI Power 50: Shaping the Next Phase of Advertising.

Jason M Perry is the Founder and Chief AI Officer of PerryLabs and author of The AI Evolution. A veteran technologist with 20+ years of experience, he advises organizations on AI strategy, intelligent systems, and innovation. He writes the weekly newsletter Thoughts on Tech & Things. Jason serves on the board of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, is Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Baltimore, and Senior Advisor at the World Trade Center Institute. In 2023, he led the award-winning AI in A Minor, blending classical music with AI-composed performances in partnership with AWS and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Chris Ewing is our moderator.  Chris works with B2B and B2C founders to help turn their ideas into profitable and scalable companies. As Founder & CEO of Rev&, he works with entrepreneur service organizations (ESOs) and their founder clients to accelerate commercialization. A seasoned entrepreneur and Entrepreneur in Residence at bwtech@UMBC and the Maryland Innovation Center, Chris brings 20+ years of expertise in marketing, sales, strategy, and growth for early-stage ventures. His background spans a diverse group of verticals including consumer products, events, aviation and communications, web development, firmware development, mobile development, creative design, sales optimization and consulting, manufacturing, SAAS, and lead generation.

What You’ll Learn

In this practical session, we'll discuss:

* Identify the Ads That Actually Convert

Learn how AI tools analyze customer behavior and campaign data to reveal what works — and what doesn’t.

* Target the Right Customers

Discover how AI can help you define and reach audiences most likely to buy from you.

* Create Better Ads Faster

Use AI to generate effective ad copy, headlines, and promotional ideas in minutes.

* Test Campaigns Without Wasting Budget

See how AI can help you test and optimize ads before spending large amounts of money.

* Turn Marketing Data Into Action

Understand how to quickly interpret campaign results and improve performance.

Who Should Attend

This event is designed for:

* Entrepreneurs

* Small business owners

* Startup founders

* Local business owners

* E-commerce sellers

* Marketing managers with limited resources

If you're investing in advertising — or thinking about it — this session will help you spend smarter and grow faster.

Event Details

Format: Live Online Workshop

Time/Date:  11:00 am, Friday, 13 Nov 2026

Duration: 65 minutes, then Live Q&A

Location: Virtual (link available Friday morning)

You'll see real examples of AI-powered advertising tools in action, along with simple strategies you can apply immediately.

Why This Session Is Different

This isn’t a theory-heavy marketing lecture.

You'll learn practical, easy-to-understand methods that entrepreneurs and small businesses can use right away — even without a large marketing team or big budget.

The goal is simple:

Help you stop wasting money on ads and start attracting real customers.

Reserve Your Spot

The businesses that succeed today are the ones that market smarter, not just louder.

Join us to discover how AI can help you run more effective promotions, reach the right customers, and grow your business with confidence.

Click the big red button above and learn how to make every marketing dollar count.

Your Startup Grind Maryland Team