Case Study: Collective OS Powers a $3.5M Opportunity for VNeck Media

Background

VNeck Media joined Collective OS on May 31, 2024, as a Founding Member. They pay a monthly subscription of $150 for one seat on the platform. When approached by iHeartMedia to manage a $3.5 million advertising spend, VNeck Media recognized an opportunity for expansion—but did not have a dedicated paid media team in-house.

Challenge

VNeck Media faced a time-sensitive need to quickly assemble a specialized paid media team. Traditional methods such as:

1. Scouring the web,
2. Tapping personal networks and social media,
3. Posting job openings on LinkedIn would have been labor-intensive, with no guarantee of finding the right talent promptly. The urgency and scale of the iHeartMedia project required a more efficient, reliable solution.

Solution

By leveraging Collective OS, VNeck Media inverted the traditional recruiting process. Instead of spending hours searching for partners, they posted their opportunity on Collective OS, which immediately tapped into a network of qualified professionals. Multiple firms responded within 24 hours, each offering relevant past work examples and experience. This allowed VNeck Media to:

• Evaluate multiple offers at once based on demonstrated capabilities and track records.
• Choose the best partner on merit rather than risking suboptimal leads or relying on word-of-mouth alone.
• Save time and resources by avoiding a protracted hiring or partner-sourcing process.

Results

• $750 Total Investment in Collective OS (five months of membership at $150 per month).
• $250,000 in Revenue earned from the iHeartMedia engagement.
• 333x ROI on the original subscription investment in Collective OS.

As CEO Ben Lappen shared:

“Getting this project done is only happening via this platform. I’ve already got multiple partners who will make a great fit, and there are follow-up meetings being scheduled. Good job with this thing you’re building. Appreciate the help.”

Key Takeaways

1. Rapid Partner Identification: Collective OS streamlined the search for specialized paid media expertise, saving VNeck Media extensive time and effort.
2. Verified Quality: Respondents’ track records were immediately visible, enabling data-driven decisions rather than guesswork.
3. Outstanding Return on Investment: With a 333x ROI, the platform paid for itself many times over and underscored its efficacy in connecting the right people for high-stakes, time-sensitive projects.

By using Collective OS, VNeck Media was able to secure and execute on a major ad spend contract from iHeartMedia, demonstrating the power of effective networks and efficient partner sourcing.