Paid ads for startups

Paid ads that prove your growth engine, not just burn your seed round.

Google, LinkedIn, and Meta campaigns built for seed-stage B2B founders. We find the audience that converts, cut the spend that doesn't, and hand you a CAC you can take into your Series A.

$16
CAC for ReadyFestive
20%+
Google Ads click-through rate for Essential CEU
<$1.00
CPC for Lawn Buddy
90 days
From first test to repeatable channel

Why most startup ad budgets disappear

Most seed-stage founders try paid ads once. They spend a few thousand dollars, get clicks from the wrong people, and decide ads don't work for their business.

The channel usually isn't the problem. The setup is.

1

Broad targeting.

Ads go to everyone who might care instead of the one buyer who will.

2

Weak landing pages.

Good clicks land on a homepage that doesn't match the ad.

3

No conversion tracking.

You can't cut what isn't working if you can't see it.

4

Too little time.

Two weeks isn't enough data to judge a channel.

Paid ads work at the seed stage when they're treated like an experiment with a clear question, not a faucet you turn on and hope.

Paid acquisition built for seed-stage B2B

Paid ads reward people who know how to optimize them. With us, you're not shooting in the dark.

We don't just pull levers on a channel. We're part of your team, and we work in startup mode: we pivot fast, run experiments, and make limited budgets go further. Every campaign ties back to your ICP, your positioning, and your pipeline.

Google Search Ads

Capturing buyers already searching for a solution

What we handle

Keyword research, campaign build, ad copy, negative keywords, bid strategy

LinkedIn Ads

Reaching a specific job title at a specific company size

What we handle

Audience targeting, offer testing, lead gen forms, retargeting

Meta Ads

Visual products, founders and SMB buyers, retargeting

What we handle

Audience discovery, creative testing, lookalikes, retargeting

Every engagement includes:

✓ Conversion tracking set up correctly before a dollar is spent
✓ Landing pages that match each ad's message
✓ Weekly testing of audiences, copy, and offers
✓ A monthly report on CAC, cost per qualified lead, and pipeline, not just impressions

From first test to repeatable channel in 90 days

Weeks 1 to 2

Foundation

We define your ICP, set up conversion tracking, and build landing pages that match your offer.

Weeks 3 to 6

Test

We launch small, focused campaigns across 10+ audience and message combinations. Every test answers one question.

Weeks 7 to 10

Optimize

We cut what isn't working, double down on winners, and build retargeting for warm visitors.

Weeks 11 to 12

Scale

With a proven CAC, we increase spend on the channels that convert and give you a clear plan for the next quarter.

Ad spend

Separate from our fee. Most clients start with $1,500 to $3,000 per channel per month.

Which package

Paid ads are included in The Engine ($7,500/month). Founders who want to run campaigns themselves can start with The Blueprint ($3,500/month) for the strategy and setup.

Questions founders ask

Should a seed-stage startup run paid ads?

Yes, if you have a clear ICP and a page that converts. Paid ads are the fastest way to test messaging and find out what a customer costs. Without those two things, fix the foundation first.

How much should a startup spend on Google Ads?

Most seed-stage B2B startups start with $1,500 to $3,000 per channel per month. That's enough data to learn in 60 to 90 days without betting the round.

Google Ads, LinkedIn Ads, or Meta Ads: which is best for B2B startups?

Google captures buyers already searching for a solution. LinkedIn reaches exact job titles but costs more per click. Meta works for visual products, SMB buyers, and retargeting. Most startups start with one and add a second once the first works.

How long until paid ads show results?

Expect early signal in 3 to 4 weeks and a reliable CAC in about 90 days.

What's the difference between a PPC agency and Pier?

A PPC agency manages ads. We run ads as part of your full growth engine, connected to your positioning, landing pages, email nurture, and the metrics investors ask about.

Find out what a customer really costs you

In 45 minutes, we'll look at your ICP, your current ads or landing pages, and where paid acquisition fits in your growth plan. No pitch, just an honest read on what to test first.

Book a Growth Audit