Cardiff Ventures has announced a strategic investment in The Agency, a performance marketing firm founded by former Google executive Charleen Kao. The Agency helps brands bridge the performance marketing gap—the growing disconnect between marketing spend and measurable business growth.
As brands navigate fragmented digital channels, rising customer acquisition costs, and the increasing complexity of AI-driven marketing, this partnership arrives at a critical time. It gives companies the tools and strategies to convert marketing investments into tangible business outcomes.
In addition to supporting campaign optimization, The Agency focuses on creating cohesive cross-channel strategies and leveraging AI-driven insights to improve targeting, creative effectiveness, and ROI.
Businesses working with The Agency gain access to unified performance metrics that allow them to track progress against clear KPIs, identify areas for improvement, and adjust strategies quickly in a competitive and evolving marketing environment. The firm’s model provides a scalable solution that helps brands maximize the efficiency and impact of their marketing spend while keeping pace with technological innovation.
The Cardiff Connection
Cardiff Ventures is central to this initiative and offers more than just financial support. The firm partners with founders who bring innovative solutions to complex business challenges, combining capital with strategic guidance and industry expertise. The Agency’s model, which integrates cross-channel strategy, unified analytics, and AI capabilities, aligns closely with Cardiff’s mission to back scalable, technology-driven companies that deliver measurable impact.
William Stern, managing partner at Cardiff Ventures, emphasized that the firm aims to empower founders to navigate one of the most complex marketing landscapes in history. This investment highlights Cardiff’s philosophy of active collaboration, equipping founders with the insights, networks, and resources needed to translate strategy into tangible business outcomes.
