For technology platforms selling into marketing departments, it isn't getting any easier.
CMOs are reallocating spend across a widening mix of agencies, marketing platforms, AI-enabled tools, and paid media. The platforms that win the room are the ones fluent in that whole conversation.
Shrinking budgets
Agencies, martech, and paid media are fighting for the same shrinking pool — the mix is being renegotiated in real time.
Increased expectations
AI raised the bar — personalization, real-time response, visibility inside AI answers — before the budget caught up to pay for it.
Tighter business KPIs
The KPIs didn't change. The time you get to hit them did.
Four numbers, one direction, from the 2026 Gartner CMO Spend Survey: agencies now hold 20.7% of marketing budgets, and 39% of CMOs plan to cut that further. 22% already say generative AI has reduced their reliance on agencies for creative and strategy work. Marketing spend as a share of revenue sits at 11% at AI-mature companies, against 7.8% everywhere else.
The operating sequence, in order — each step feeding the next.
Revamp GTM
Rebuild how marketing operates for the solution from the ground up — positioning, team structure, how it holds up against ABM and SaaS-buyer best practices. That positioning feeds straight back to product and engineering, so the roadmap is shaped by what's actually being heard in the room, not guessed at from outside.
Network — Pilot & Pivot
An 18-year, actively worked network of CMOs and senior marketing leaders gets real positioning reactions fast — pilot before a big launch, not after.
Outreach & Pipeline
Segmentation, outreach cadence, qualification — the same GTM playbook that drove new-logo acquisition and forecasting discipline for a commercial engine built from zero.
Deliver
Stand up the Customer Success motion that keeps what gets sold, sold — the account doesn't end at signature, it just starts a different phase.
Expand & Scale
The account doesn't end at signature — hold the relationship, drive renewal and expansion, and feed what's learned back into step one. This loop took an operation from a scrappy founding team to a full ops team within two years, and an account from a single market to a full regional mandate.
The credentials, filed plainly.
Fractional GTM Advisor — Sep 2026 – Present — advising an AI-led photography platform and an AEO/GEO platform on GTM strategy, pipeline, positioning, and growth.
Business Unit Head, Digital Transformation, Schbang — May 2025 – Aug 2026 — led client success and growth across SEO, technology, marketing automation, CRM, content, and media.
Commercial Director [MD - India], Location Bank — Apr 2021 – Apr 2025 — built the commercial engine from zero as a quota-carrying builder, later recognized as MarTech Platform of the Year (2021); grew an account from a single market into a full regional mandate.
Founder & CEO, Smarthome NX — Apr 2017 – Apr 2021 — bootstrapped a consumer IoT/smart-home brand, built a 200+ partner channel network, doubled revenue in year one.
Indigo Consulting, Publicis Group — 2012 – 2015 — agency-side role delivering digital marketing and technology programs for enterprise clients.
Early career — Webventurous (technology and digital marketing agency for clients in India and the US), Antfarm, and Nestopia.
"I had the pleasure of working with Dhaval during my tenure at Location Bank. His deep knowledge and passion for SEO, web development, and digital marketing are truly impressive."
"He brought incredible energy and clarity, turning complex automation concepts into clear, actionable takeaways. I'd strongly recommend Dhaval to anyone looking for a trainer, speaker, or collaborator."
"Working with Dhaval is a rare treat! His unique approach to problem solving helped our company reduce time-to-market on key mission-critical services."
"Dhaval was a dedicated employee, and always has an edge over his peers by virtue of his business acumen and due diligence."
"The three words that would best describe Dhaval are optimistic, energetic and passionate."
UpGrad × MICA, Program Architect & Instructor — built the digital marketing program from the ground up over 1.5+ years; still teaching it. Mentored 50–60+ students directly.
A few photos from over the years.
