Zaki Usman

Yotru

At Yotru, we’re creating a resume tool that makes the job search less stressful and more empowering.

Whether someone is writing a first resume, changing careers, or re-entering the workforce, Yotru provides clear, step-by-step guidance to highlight strengths and present them with confidence. No jargon, no guesswork — just a simple way to tell your story and stand out to employers.

Yotru has been shaped with input from job seekers, hiring managers, and career coaches. The result is a tool that feels supportive and practical, not intimidating. Our MVP is nearly ready, and we’re excited to help people at every stage of their career build resumes they can be proud of.

Learn more at www.yotru.com

Co-Founder

ShoutEx

Providing strategic marketing leadership to early-stage SaaS and tech startups. I work directly with founders and teams to define GTM strategy, accelerate growth, and position products for real traction.

Key Contributions
* Go-to-Market Strategy: Built and launched GTM plans aligned with business goals and user insights
* Product-Market Fit: Refined positioning, messaging, and onboarding to improve early activation and retention
* Growth Execution: Led multi-channel campaigns (SEO, content, paid) with a focus on sustainable CAC
* Funding Support: Guided mobile app and SaaS founders on pitches, decks, and investor outreach
* Revenue Optimization: Improved conversion funnels and pricing models to increase MRR
* Team Enablement: Mentored early marketing hires and coached founders on scaling marketing ops

Fractional CMO 

Advised the founding team of HomeComming, a tech-enabled startup in the home services space. Focused on shaping product-market fit, go-to-market execution, and early-stage growth strategy to accelerate traction and operational scale.

Key Contributions
* Go-to-Market Strategy: Defined acquisition strategy, pricing, and early growth channels to drive user adoption
* Product-Market Fit: Refined core offering to better align with customer pain points and market demand
* Brand & Positioning: Developed messaging and market narrative to differentiate in a crowded space
* Operational Support: Advised on funding, team structure, and early scaling playbooks

Marketing Strategist: Startup Advisor 

Led the strategy, launch, and growth of multiple iOS apps across HR, education, and home services. Collaborated with external developers, designers, and marketers to bring apps to market and build traction from day one.

App Development & Launch
* Launched 5+ iOS apps across HR, EdTech, and on-demand services
* Owned full go-to-market process from positioning to App Store rollout
* Managed ASO including metadata, creative assets, and keywords that led to App Store feature placements

Growth & Acquisition
* Drove installs through paid campaigns, influencer outreach, and launch promos
* Built ASO strategies that significantly boosted search visibility and organic downloads
* Secured partnerships with school boards, retailers, and municipalities to accelerate adoption

Marketing Strategist: Mobile Apps

Delivered strategic marketing support to NetComm Wireless, a global player in broadband and IoT, with a focus on high-impact event marketing, lead generation, and PR strategy. Helped maximize visibility and ROI at major conferences like MWC Barcelona 2019 and the IoT & Broadband Forum in Amsterdam.

Event Marketing & GTM Execution
* Planned and executed multi-channel campaigns to drive event attendance and lead capture
* Ran pre-event promotions across SEO, paid media, email, and social to build awareness
* Designed landing pages, email flows, and creative assets to increase booth traffic and conversions

Lead Generation & PR
* Generated 200+ qualified leads through targeted outreach and personalized engagement
* Secured media coverage and PR placements to elevate NetComm’s brand in telecom and IoT
* Wrote press releases, thought pieces, and media briefs to support positioning and reach

Campaign Optimization
* Used Google Analytics, HubSpot, and tracking tools to monitor campaign performance
* A/B tested messaging and creative to improve engagement and conversion rates
* Delivered post-event insights with recommendations for future growth efforts

Marketing Strategist: Demand Generation

Founded and led PageZii, a marketing-as-a-service (MaaS) platform built for enterprise teams. Took the company from concept to revenue, leading product development, customer success, and early-stage growth -> culminating in a successful IP acquisition.

Product Development & Market Fit
* Designed and launched a data-driven platform tailored to enterprise marketing teams
* Led a cross-functional team of developers and customer success reps to drive product-market fit

Revenue Growth & Profitability
* Scaled recurring revenue through subscription-based adoption
* Achieved consistent MRR growth leading up to acquisition

Funding & Strategic Positioning
* Secured non-dilutive funding via IRAP and SR&ED programs
* Positioned the business for acquisition, resulting in a successful IP sale

CEO & Founder

Managed an external agency team leading Alcatel-Lucent’s global digital campaigns. Focused on brand storytelling, demand generation, and digital engagement strategies that boosted awareness, lead flow, and product adoption across key business units.

Alcatel-Lucent NewGuy – Web-TV Series & Brand Storytelling
* Produced a two-season YouTube series combining tech humor with brand narrative
* Reached 1.5M+ views and won multiple creative video awards
* Built a lead gen funnel linking episodes to gated technical content, converting views into qualified leads

Nuage “Zero-to-Hero” – SD-WAN Demand Generation
* Led a full-funnel ABM campaign to promote Nuage’s SD-WAN platform
* Generated hundreds of high-intent MQLs through targeted content and outreach
* Positioned Nuage as a category leader via paid ads, social, and enterprise thought leadership

Bell Labs Prize – Innovation-Focused Global Campaign
* Created and ran a global digital campaign targeting young researchers and innovators
* Used social, search, and video marketing to drive 2,000+ quality applicants
* Elevated Bell Labs’ visibility as a hub for next-gen scientific breakthroughs

Marketing Agency Director

Brought in during a critical period to resolve Google search penalties, restore organic visibility, and improve overall site performance. Partnered with web, content, and marketing teams to overhaul Halogen’s digital presence, resulting in full penalty removal, traffic growth, and better conversion rates.

Penalty Recovery & SEO Remediation
* Conducted a full SEO audit to identify causes of Google penalties
* Used Search Console to pinpoint toxic backlinks, thin content, and algorithmic hits
* Executed a recovery plan (disavow, content updates, compliance fixes), leading to full reinstatement in search

Website Overhaul & Optimization
* Guided site architecture redesign with dev team, focusing on UX, page speed, and mobile
* Led keyword research, technical SEO, and on-page improvements to boost rankings
* Enhanced internal linking, metadata, and structured data for better crawlability and visibility

Organic Growth & Cross-Channel Strategy
* Built an SEO-driven content strategy that aligned with demand gen and brand goals
* Provided direction across PPC, social, and content for unified traffic growth
* Secured high-authority backlinks, improving domain trust and long-term performance

SEO & Digital Strategy Consultant

Focused on helping early-stage startups define product-market fit, drive demand, and execute go-to-market strategies across SaaS and tech verticals.

Vircom – Growth Strategy for Cybersecurity SaaS
* Next-Gen Antivirus GTM: Launched targeted campaigns to reposition Vircom’s next-gen AV offering for IT pros and decision-makers
* Website & Conversion Optimization: Reduced bounce rates, increased engagement, and improved trial conversion through CRO and UX updates
* Trial Funnel Growth: Boosted trial signups by optimizing onboarding, running targeted paid campaigns, and refining nurture flows
* SEO & Technical Improvements: Improved organic visibility with technical SEO, site structure enhancements, and content optimization

SavvyBox – Pre-Launch & Product-Market Fit
* Early-Stage Strategy: Collaborated with the CPO to shape positioning, validate demand, and align roadmap with early user needs
* UX & Brand Design: Worked with product/design to create a seamless MVP experience and a strong brand foundation
* Pre-Launch Growth: Led initiatives to grow beta signups via referral loops, viral hooks, and targeted outreach
* Messaging Development: Defined clear, value-driven messaging to stand out in a crowded space and build early traction

Startup Growth Marketer – Demand Gen, PMF, and GTM Execution

Provided strategic marketing leadership and digital execution across multiple Visma business units, including Severa, Sirius, Visma Business, and early-stage divisions. Focused on demand generation, brand positioning, and GTM strategy to drive growth in the Nordic region.

Key Contributions
* Developed and implemented digital strategies to support customer acquisition and revenue growth
* Led cross-functional marketing programs, ensuring alignment across product, sales, and regional teams
* Managed inbound and outbound demand generation efforts, optimizing performance across channels
* Launched SEO, PPC, and content campaigns to boost visibility and qualified traffic
* Drove adoption of marketing automation, CRM workflows, and performance analytics
* Refined messaging and positioning in collaboration with product and sales to improve conversion
* Supported rebranding and integration of Severa post-acquisition into the Visma ecosystem

Director of Marketing

Visma

Joined a high-growth SaaS startup in Lappeenranta, Finland, and helped scale it into a Nordic SaaS success story within 12 months. Worked closely with the founding team to optimize CAC/LTV, lead global marketing efforts, and position the company for a successful acquisition by Visma Norway.

Key Contributions
* Go-to-Market Leadership: Built and executed GTM strategies that launched new products and expanded the business from local to international markets
* Demand Generation: Rolled out a high-impact lead gen program that doubled inbound leads in the first month, accelerating user acquisition and ARR
* Brand & Industry Recognition: Strengthened Severa’s brand, earning Red Herring and Bully Awards and elevating visibility in the SaaS space
* Team Building & Scale: Hired and led a marketing team that drove consistent growth and supported operational scale-up
* Acquisition & Growth Strategy: Developed scalable marketing playbooks and strategic positioning that contributed to Severa’s acquisition and integration into Visma’s Nordic SaaS portfolio

HelpSystems

As VP of Marketing at FileCatalyst, a high-speed file transfer SaaS company under Unlimi-Tech, I led global marketing across brand, demand generation, partnerships, and positioning. My work helped establish the foundation for long-term growth and visibility that contributed to the company's trajectory leading up to its eventual acquisition by HelpSystems.

Key Contributions
* Built and executed go-to-market strategies that increased brand visibility and established FileCatalyst as a category leader
* Launched multi-channel campaigns that doubled inbound leads and improved pipeline velocity and conversion rates
* Secured strategic partnerships with resellers, OEMs, and technology partners to expand market reach and drive adoption
*Developed thought leadership and content marketing programs that raised brand authority and increased engagement at major industry events
* Led market research and competitive analysis to refine messaging and sharpen product differentiation
* Hired and mentored a high-performing marketing team and aligned closely with sales to support revenue growth
* Strengthened long-term brand equity and laid the foundation for FileCatalyst’s acquisition and continued industry relevance

Vice President Marketing

Led business development and go-to-market strategy for Unlimi-Tech’s web applications, driving product adoption, revenue growth, and market expansion in niche industries. This role shaped my approach to startup growth and informs how I now operate as a fractional CMO.

Key Results
- Led product-market fit strategy for DocTera, positioning it for secure, high-volume document transfers
- Managed digital marketing and demand gen, including Google Ads, CRO, and pricing tests  
- Directed launch of Files2U, a secure enterprise file-sharing platform 
- Advised founders on growth strategy, team building, and early-stage operations  
- Guided product positioning, sales enablement, and competitive research to stay market relevant

Director of Business Development

MySkyWeb

Led marketing for a mobile enterprise platform, driving brand awareness, adoption, and lead growth in B2B markets. Experience in product marketing forms the foundation of my work today as a fractional CMO guiding startups through go‑to‑market and growth strategy.

Key Results
- Built go-to-market plan with clear messaging and competitive insights  
- Created sales decks, whitepapers, and marketing collateral to boost conversions  
- Launched digital campaigns, improved SEO, and used CRM tools to grow leads  
- Represented company at tradeshows and pitched to enterprise decision makers  
- Aligned marketing with product roadmap and customer feedback

Marketing Manager

Intec

Led product marketing for Digiquant, a telecom software company. Focused on simplifying technical products, building sales tools, and positioning the brand to win customers.

Key Results
- Created product guides and content that helped sales teams close deals and educate customers  
- Represented the company at events across Europe, tailoring pitches to each audience  
- Built a sales playbook with value-based messaging and objection handling  
- Developed competitor comparisons to clarify positioning and highlight differentiation  
- Supported pricing models that balanced market needs with revenue growth  

This role built my foundation in aligning product, sales, and marketing. These are the skills I now apply as a fractional CMO helping startups launch and scale.

Product Marketing Manager

Worked with engineering teams to improve how Army bases tested and maintained mechanical systems. This early role taught me how to solve problems fast, work with different teams, and create clear processes. These are some of the skills I now use leading marketing and growth for startups.

Key Results
- Partnered with HVAC, power, water, and maintenance teams to make sure equipment met safety and performance goals  
- Built testing checklists and risk assessments to help teams fix problems before they became critical  
- Ran site inspections and shared clear reports with leadership to guide decisions  
- Helped teams work together to troubleshoot, improve reliability, and avoid downtime  
- Created backup plans so operations stayed on track during emergencies  

This experience built my foundation for managing cross‑functional teams, setting priorities, and scaling systems, skills that I apply as a Fractional CMO now.

IT Engineer

I’ve always been drawn to helping people move forward in their work, in their businesses, and in their lives.

That is what led me to start Yotru. It is a resume builder, but more importantly it takes away some of the stress and guesswork from job hunting. Whether it is a student writing a first resume, someone changing careers midstream, or a person returning to the workforce, Yotru makes it easier to capture their strengths on paper. For non-profits, libraries, and community programs, it is a tool they can offer clients right away: simple, supportive, and free to use.

The way I try to work comes down to a few things:

* Making sure job-seekers are not left behind as hiring practices keep changing.
* Teaming up with non-profits, schools, and local groups to do practical good.
* Helping founders grow companies that stand for something beyond profit.

Over the years I have run campaigns with budgets in the millions, worked with technical founders to find traction, and helped shape early projects into businesses that could last. What matters most to me, though, is working alongside people who care about their mission, the people they serve, and the bigger picture.

If your organization is working to give people a fair chance at meaningful employment, I would be glad to connect. Yotru might be a fit for that, or maybe not, but either way I am always open to trading ideas and seeing what can come from the conversation.

Fractional CMO for SaaS and Tech-based companies.

- Directed marketing activities for Ag-Tech firm in building demand-gen, traditional marketing and marketing ops.
- Advised startup SaaS vendors on how to rebrand to move ARR past $1 million.
- Provided emerging mobile apps with funding advice.

Moments like this are a big signal. When the AI handles something exactly the way you would have... that’s when you know it’s ready for real workflow.

Yotru Cofounder - Helping jobseekers succeed

CEO at Runbear — AI agents for cross-team requests

Check out what AI "𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆" just did for me.

While running a PoC on Runbear, I woke up to this unexpected notification. A customer had emailed to reschedule our meeting, and my AI agent accidentally handled everything on its own:

1. pulled in the email from Gmail
2. gathered context from Linear, Slack, Gmail, and Google Calendar
3. checked my availability
4. approved the reschedule using Google Calendar
5. sent a perfectly reasonable reply back to the customer, using my words

And honestly… it was exactly what I would’ve done myself.

This wasn’t even intentional. The agent was supposed to draft an execution plan and wait for my approval. But if it had asked, I would’ve clicked “Approve” without hesitation.

What a world we live in. I can’t wait to put this into our customers’ hands.

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