In partnership with

How to Cut Through the B2B Noise with Video and Storytelling

In today’s digital marketplace, content is no longer optional. Every startup, enterprise, and even individual creator is publishing at a relentless pace. The problem isn’t scarcity of content, it’s saturation. The real challenge for B2B companies isn’t just producing, but producing content that cuts through the noise.

And increasingly, the companies that win are the ones that combine video and storytelling into a multimodal strategy that makes their brand human, relatable, and unforgettable.

The Market is Noisy. Story Wins Attention.

Social feeds are overflowing with polished campaigns that blur together. Even highly produced assets often fall flat without a unifying story. What breaks through is content that feels alive, intentional, and connected across formats.

Look at leaders like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Nvidia. Their strategies go far beyond a LinkedIn post or a polished deck. They run live video events, release customer stories, amplify voices from their teams, and publish thought leadership research.

The differentiator isn’t more production, it’s the ability to tell a story consistently and distribute it across video, podcasts, articles, and social content.

Why Video + Storytelling Are Critical in B2B

Decision-makers don’t want filler. They don’t want to be “sold to.” They want to see, hear, and feel a brand’s credibility and relevance. That’s where video and storytelling change the game:

• 🎥 Video builds connection fast — whether it’s a founder’s perspective, a customer testimonial, or a behind-the-scenes clip, video conveys tone and authenticity that text alone can’t.

• 📖 Stories make data human — case studies, customer journeys, and even short clips that show real people solving real problems turn abstract benefits into memorable proof.

• 🎙️ Multimodal storytelling scales — a single customer interview can become a webinar, blog post, podcast snippet, and social video giving one story many lives.

What to Look For in a Winning B2B Content Strategy

When evaluating how well a company communicates, investors, partners, and even customers now look at media strategy as a leadership signal.

Ask:

• Is their content fragmented, or does it tell one cohesive story across formats?

• Do their videos and stories connect emotionally with the audiences they serve?

• Are they adapting to new formats like short-form, live video & podcasts with agility?

• Does their content reinforce credibility and long-term positioning, or is it disposable noise?

A thoughtful, story-driven presence signals not just marketing strength, but market intelligence and resilience.

Standing Out in a Saturated Market

The act of publishing alone is no longer impressive. What matters is knowing why the content exists, who it serves, and how it builds trust across channels.

The B2B companies that master this are doing more than staying visible, they’re:

• Cementing thought leadership

• Building stronger emotional connection with buyers

• Driving measurable revenue outcomes

Video and storytelling are the fastest levers to make that happen. In a noisy market, they are how you cut through and how you stay remembered.

Co-written with Margarita Huizar-Orozco

San Jose Launches Nation's First City-Run AI Startup Grant Program

San Jose made history this week by launching the first municipal AI startup incentive program in the United States, awarding $175,000 in grants to promising AI companies committed to establishing operations in the city. The program drew an impressive 170 applications from startups nationwide, demonstrating strong interest in San Jose's emerging AI ecosystem. Mayor Matt Mahan emphasized the city's strategic positioning as “the only big city on the west coast that actually is going to have the power to power the AI economy”, citing new PG&E grid upgrades that will triple the city's energy capacity over the next five years.

The selection committee, featuring industry leaders from IBM, J2 Ventures, Coactive, and CBRE, awarded grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 to four innovative companies. Winners included Satellite (networking satellites in space), Clicka (a Korean company with recent government contracts), Metafood X (founded by Palo Alto Networks co-founder Fengmin Gong, tackling food waste), and Alethia (using HIPAA-compliant voice AI to reduce maternal mortality rates by 94% in clinical trials). The program also provides professional services including legal support, Nvidia inception program access, and venture capital office hours.

This initiative represents San Jose's broader strategy to build a startup ecosystem that rivals San Francisco's density and networking opportunities. The city has already established an AI Center of Excellence with Plug and Play downtown, launched AI innovation labs in partnership with San Jose State University, and implemented AI pilots that have sped up bus routes by over 20%. With dozens of data center applications in the pipeline and new downtown leasing incentives offering two years of free business taxes and parking, San Jose is positioning itself as the West Coast's premier destination for AI innovation.

Upcoming Events

BA Startups Collectively Secured $4.2B In August

The month of August saw a total of $4.2B in fundings to Bay Area startups, down from the $5.5B in August of 2024, which saw more megadeals than this year. And unlike our previous few months, the biotech sector saw substantially more than artificial intelligence in fundings ($1.7B vs $352M).

 Webinar Alert: Another (almost) all AI edition -The next LinkSV-WITI Lunch & Learn webinar is one week from today on September 5th@12 noon Pacific Time. Join Bob Karr, Dawn DeBruyn and WITI's David Leighton for another all AI edition of SV Tech, Talent & Investment Trends. We'll look at what happened in the AI startup arena over the summer, fundings to AI infrastructure vs applied AI verticals, changes in startup funding and the impact AI is having on startups at startups at every level. Register here.

Follow us on LinkedIn to stay on top of what's happening in 2025 in startup fundings, M&A and IPOs, VC fundraising plus new executive hires & investor moves.

Early Stage:

• Greptile closed a $41M Series A, an AI expert that understands your codebase, as an API

• OpenLight closed a $34M Series A, the world leader in custom PASIC design, integrating all the components of silicon photonics devices, both active and passive components, into one chip.

• Aurasell closed a $30M Series A, the world’s first AI-native CRM platform, a full-featured GTM application and true AI system of record built for the new agentic era in business software.

• Copper Home closed a $28M Series A, designs and builds beautiful, high-performance appliances that make electrification the obvious choice.

• Therna Biosciences closed a $10M Seed, a biotechnology company redefining RNA therapeutics by uniting deep RNA biology with state-of-the-art RNA foundation models and generative AI.

Growth Stage:

• Matic closed a $77M Series B, reimagining the next generation of fully autonomous, helpful, and elegant home robots using AI and computer vision

• Assort Health closed a $50M, Series B the most advanced specialty-specific AI platform for managing patient phone calls.

• Zed Industries closed a $32.4M Series B, building the world’s best text editor—for you, and for your team.

• Akash Systems closed a $2.8M Series B, designs and makes some of the world's most energy efficient RF Power Amplifiers, and the CubeSats (small LEO orbital satellites).

Photomochi Studio is America's premier destination for high-impact photography and videography trusted by Fortune 500 companies, global brands, and leading organizations. With unmatched creative storytelling and technical expertise, they deliver visually stunning content across every genre.

Book with Ease

Their award-winning on-demand booking system (integrated with Square Appointments and Google Calendar) lets clients book production services effortlessly. A live agent confirms quotes and assigns a dedicated Creative Director to tailor every detail from concept to delivery.

Services Offered

Photomochi offers a vast range of services, including:

• Photography: portraiture, headshots, events, weddings, family, real estate, food, fashion, automotive, product, and more

• Videography & Cinematography: commercial, event, documentary, live stream, interviews, social content, branded videos, and film features
  They handle every production requirement equipment, crew, models, locations across any U.S. location while matching quality to your budget.

Team & Execution

Each Photomochi creative professional undergoes a rigorous six-month training program and is selected for their expertise in lighting, software workflows, production logistics, and creative vision. They manage the full lifecycle from scouting locations to final editing ensuring masterful results.

Visual Storytelling in Action

From corporate events to sizzle reels, editorials, weddings, and drone videography, Photomochi crafts powerful narratives through exceptional visuals that resonate across platforms including YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

Contact Photomochi

To bring your vision to life, reach out to their team:

• Phone: 1‑415‑275‑1448

• Email (CEO): [email protected]

• General inquiries: [email protected] (Photomochi Photography and Videography)

Your Feedback Matters!

Our mission is to provide an insider's view of Silicon Valley's undercurrents – insights often overlooked by mainstream sources. While many newsletters offer broad market overviews, we focus on delivering a unique, in-depth understanding of the local ecosystem. We share behind-the-scenes conversations, introduce key players we meet at events, and offer exclusive insights.

Your feedback is crucial in helping us refine our content and maintain the newsletter's value for you and your fellow readers. We welcome your suggestions on how we can improve our offering. [email protected] 

Logan Lemery
Head of Content // Team Ignite

The Key to a $1.3 Trillion Opportunity

A new real estate trend called co-ownership is revolutionizing a $1.3T market. Leading it? Pacaso. Created by the founder behind a $120M prior exit, they already have $110M+ in gross profits to date. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. And you can invest until September 18.

Invest While You Still Can

_{Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.}