Small businesses run on lean marketing teams and tight budgets, but don’t count them out. They’re the overwhelming majority of businesses on earth.
Small companies have one function that’s poised to figure out AI through experimentation, analysis and strategic changes in direction. It’s marketing, and it may very well determine the winner of the AI race.
After graduating from Laurentian University, our guest worked in corporate and consulting positions across Canada and even in Korea. He then founded a business which he grew to a successful exit, which led to mentoring students at Algonquin College and eventually teaching in their Business Management and Entrepreneurship program. Hungry to understand what AI could do for businesses, he went back to school in 2016 — to Carleton University for a Master’s degree. In 2025 he heard about the AI Collective and founded its local Ottawa chapter. He is now CEO of ScarlettNova, an AI company dedicated to building artificial intelligence solutions for businesses, and Founder of Rogue Ventures, an AI venture studio.
Let’s go to a coffee shop to talk with Chris Doré.
Chapters Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:47 Why Chris says Marketers will endure
02:50 Why Pay for Pro Models
04:50 From User to Builder
08:02 Automation vs Agents
10:33 Context and Company Brain
13:36 Document Workflows for AI
17:47 Adoption Gap and Learning Curve
19:06 Token Costs and Budgeting
22:01 AI Energy Debate
22:19 Quantum Boost Ahead
23:00 Marketing Rapid Fire
23:18 Websites Get Personal
25:22 Vibe Coding Limits
26:06 Skills Over Knowledge
26:38 Events Still Matter
28:43 Paid Media After SEO
30:17 Winning With Niches
32:06 Trust And Adoption
34:32 Full Spectrum AI Help
36:02 Adoption Is Human
37:45 Venture Studio Spinoffs
39:20 Wrap-up
Links to everything mentioned in the show are on the Funnel Reboot site’s page for this episode.