Inside the AI Startup Contest: A Conversation with Rosie Bailey, CEO of Nibble
)
What was the experience like pitching live at Technology for Marketing?
The coolest part is the chance to go viral in real life. As you pitch and start to grab attention, people wander over, stop, and join the crowd. And the more people stop, the more others wonder what’s going on and want to stop too... I love events and the element of live performance. We do too much online these days and it’s over-curated.
What impact has winning the competition had on your business since then?
Technology for Marketing gave us visibility beyond ecommerce. Nibble is often seen as a discounting tool, but it’s so much more—it drives loyalty, encourages trading up, and increases basket size by nudging customers in real time. We met everyone from national telecoms giants to niche menswear brands, and converted interest into deals fast—especially as people were gearing up for Black Friday last year.
What advice would you give to startups thinking of entering this year’s competition?
The pitch is short—so you have to hook people fast. I used a video to grab attention but you also need clarity. Explain your tool in plain English, like you would to a smart child – don't use jargon. What does it do, and who is it for?
Importantly, your ideal client might not be in the room but their colleague probably is. Make it easy for them to go back to the office and pitch you.
I also rehearse and learn word for word my opening line and my closing line. Don’t tail off at the end.
Looking back, what do you think made your pitch stand out to the judges?
Our video wasn’t an animated explainer; it featured a real customer, full of energy, talking about how much they loved the tool. That user endorsement was 100x more powerful than anything I could have said.
Secondly, it made it clear that people treat AI emotionally. We’ve had users ask if Nibble is a real person. We won’t let clients rename it with a human name, but the emotional layer is powerful if you are wanting to persuade. Negotiation is emotional, high-stakes, and currently under-served by tech. We’re building 1-1 customer relationships with AI.
How has your business evolved since the competition—and what’s next?
We’ve taken those broader use cases and doubled down on the most valuable: B2B sales and procurement. Nibble now helps some of the world’s biggest companies buy from their suppliers using AI negotiation and agentic AI has really taken off.
Finally, in one sentence, why should AI startups apply for the 2025 competition?
Visibility. The chance to stand out in a strong, engaged community—and maybe even go viral IRL ;-)
Quickfire Questions
If your AI marketing tool were a movie character, who would it be and why?
Kermit. Funny, kind and highly empathic and calm under pressure, he is a model leader
Which celebrity would you hire as the voice of your personal AI assistant, and what’s the first thing you’d make them say?
David Tennant, definitely. I’d love Nibble to have a cheeky Scottish voice—especially when someone makes a ridiculous counter-offer and needs to be gently shamed into being reasonable. (Sadly, it’ll never happen—our US clients wouldn’t understand a word but picture the scene when the chatbot says “Let’s no’ fall oot o’er this, but that’s a bit rich…”)
If your AI could throw a marketing party, what would the theme be and who’s on the VIP list?
The Muppets, obviously—Nibble loves them. But we’d invite Michael Caine too because The Muppet Christmas Carol is arguably the best film of all time. Hopefully he’d get on with David Tennant. Do you think he would?
Entries close 18th of July!
Latest News
-
How Temu Helped This UK Manufacturer Increase Sales and Create Jobs
26 Aug 2025 TemuFacing rising costs and shrinking sales channels, Nova Tissue turned to Temu. The platform rapidly boosted sales, safeguarded margins, and created UK jobs—transforming e-commerce into a major growth d ... -
Michelle Hurney on Personalised & Powerful: Driving Retention Through Smart CRM
20 Aug 2025 Phoebe Dunsmore, Marketing ExecutiveMichelle Hurney, Head of CRM at Wonderskin, explores career lessons, customer engagement, and how data, empathy, and AI shape the future of retention-focused marketing. -
The Rise of Influencer Accountability: Misrepresentation, Fines, and Evolving With The Industry
20 Aug 2025 RightlanderIn today’s digital economy, high-profile social media influencers wield significant power over consumer behaviour. However, with great influence comes great responsibility. From Italy to the UK and be ... -
Top 100 Marketing Influencers — 2025 Shortlist
15 Aug 2025Meet the Top 100 Marketing Influencers Shortlist of 2025. The innovators, disruptors, and rising stars leading the way in marketing. This year’s ranking is still under wraps, and the countdown begins ... -
Safeguarding Brand Reputation with Automated Compliance Tools: Why AI Alone Doesn’t Cut It
30 Jul 2025 RightlanderAutomated compliance tools are essential for brand protection. This article explores their strengths, the risks of relying solely on AI, and why a hybrid approach ensures compliance and consistency. -
Saptak Bose, a global leader in adtech, shares insights from his adtech journey, lessons from Google, and advice for navigating the fast-paced world of marketing tech.
-
Inside the AI Startup Contest: A Conversation with Rosie Bailey, CEO of Nibble
08 Jul 2025 Alyssia SmithWe sat down with Rosie Bailey, the CEO of Nibble and out 2024 AI Startup Contest winner, to talk about her experience from 2024's contest at Technology for Marketing! -
Luiza Grinberg on Crafting Paid Content That Converts and Lessons from a Global eCommerce Career
18 Jun 2025Luiza Grinberg has worked at multiple prominent organisations, and today she shares her learnings from across her career, as well as how to create paid eCommerce content that converts. -
Your eCommerce and Marketing recap of April
30 Apr 2025 Alyssia Smith, Senior Content Manager at CloserStill MediaThis month's eCommerce and marketing roundup explores UK tax shake-ups, AI's impact on SEO, voice commerce breakthroughs, and how platforms like TikTok and Threads are transforming the path to purchas ... -
Ekwy Chukwuji on AI-Powered Branding, Scaling Equi Botanics, and the Next Era of Digital Marketing
27 Mar 2025Ekwy Chukwuji, founder of Equi Botanics, shares how she built an award-winning beauty brand, leveraged AI to scale her business, and became a thought leader in AI-driven marketing and automation. -
Your Month in Marketing and eCommerce: Consumer Confidence Trends, eCommerce Growth in Romania, and the Future of AI and Retail
27 Mar 2025 Alyssia Smith, Senior Content Manager at CloserStill MediaBite-size updates on what happened in marketing and eCommerce this month, to keep you ahead of the curve and inform your campaigns.