From empowering local businesses to embracing AI-driven innovation, David Tonoyan’s entrepreneurial journey is a masterclass in adaptability, leadership, and vision.
In this episode of the [A] Growth Ventures Podcast, Hamlet Azarian sits down with David Tonoyan — President of dot818 Agency and Founder of PlatAI — to explore how a mission-driven approach, strategic growth, and relentless innovation turned a small agency into a leader in performance marketing and AI technology.
What We Explored with David Tonoyan
The Genesis of 818 Agency
David shares how 818 was born from a vision to help small and family-owned businesses survive and thrive in an increasingly digital-first world — blending the value of local relationships with the power of online marketing.
Empowering Communities Through Digital Transformation
By helping businesses bridge the gap between offline and online worlds, 818 has played a key role in revitalizing local economies and driving customer connections across hundreds of geographies.
Leadership Lessons: Empowerment Over Micromanagement
David discusses the critical importance of empowering team members to take ownership, innovate, and lead — a philosophy that has fueled the growth of 818’s 200+ person team across multiple locations.
Thriving Amidst Competition
In a fast-evolving and increasingly competitive performance marketing landscape, David explains why competition excites him — pushing the team to continually innovate, invest in technology, and never become complacent.
The Birth of PlatAI: Scaling AI Before It Was Cool
Long before AI became a buzzword, PlatAI was quietly building real machine learning infrastructure to drive smarter decision-making in finance and insurance sectors — with thousands of models in production today.
Bootstrapping Success: Focus, Adaptability, and Action
David outlines how 818 and PlatAI have scaled without outside capital: by focusing on execution over endless planning, embracing trial and error, and maintaining a relentless action-oriented culture.
Key Takeaways
01:30 — How dot818 started by helping digitally-challenged businesses bridge into online marketing
05:00 — Why balancing offline relationships with online reach is still crucial today
08:00 — How seeing real customer impact fueled the agency’s early growth
10:30 — The USC experience: How it shaped David’s ambition to “think bigger”
13:00 — Empowerment as the key (and challenge) of scaling leadership
16:00 — Why competition drives innovation and keeps organizations young and agile
19:00 — PlatAI’s early bet on real machine learning before the AI boom
24:00 — Balancing planning with rapid execution: the DNA of bootstrapped success
29:00 — Why celebrating wins and staying true to honest, fair values builds lasting partnerships
Final Thoughts
David Tonoyan’s story is a reminder that true growth isn’t just about chasing the latest trend — it’s about deeply understanding your market, serving it better than anyone else, and building an empowered culture that thrives under constant change.
From local storefronts to Fortune 500 clients, from digital marketing to advanced AI solutions, David’s companies continue to embody the spirit of innovation and community-building at every stage of their journey.
If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, AI, or scaling service businesses without venture capital — this episode is a must-listen.
Connect with David Tonoyan
- LinkedIn: David Tonoyan (best place to reach him)
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