AppSumo vs Cleverbridge

Newsletter Hits 100,000 Subscribers

The author of the Marketing Ideas newsletter announces reaching 100,000 subscribers and outlines the long-term, systems-driven process behind writing and sustaining a high-performing Substack. Key practices include collecting marketing ideas in Obsidian over years, running multiple article notes in parallel, using human curation plus AI for research (but not AI for primary writing), paying a $150/month intern to surface campaigns, and commissioning 4–5 pixel-art designers (single images take 2–3 weeks). The newsletter has over 2,000 paid subscribers, began in August 2023 with a ~700-person waitlist, and the author emphasizes pragmatic, example-led playbooks and heavy iteration on subject lines and edits to drive engagement and conversions to paid subscriptions.

• Marketing Ideas newsletter reached 100,000 subscribers.
• The first issue was sent in August 2023 to a waitlist of about 700 people.
• The newsletter has 2,000+ paid subscribers.

Cleverbridge Completes First Live AI Agent-Initiated Payment in France with Visa and Revolut

Cleverbridge announces completion of first live AI agent-initiated payment in France with Visa and Revolut, along with new research on B2B software buying and a partnership with DigitalRoute for usage-based monetization.

New Cleverbridge Research Reveals Execution Gap as B2B Software Buying Moves Digital

New research: What does it really cost to sell software? Read the benchmark report. Cleverbridge research reveals execution gap as B2B software buying moves digital.

AI Speeds Software Discovery but Self-Service Checkout Lags

B2B software buyers are leveraging AI chatbots to accelerate discovery and shortlisting, yet the post-decision purchase process remains bogged down by slow sales-led journeys, internal approvals, and lengthy vendor negotiations. According to G2's 2026 Buyer Behavior Report, over 80% of buyers used AI for software recommendations, with 80% of AI users purchasing from their initial shortlist. However, Cleverbridge's research reveals that nearly 75% of purchases face significant delays or abandonment due to internal approvals and vendor back-and-forth. While 84% of buyers prefer a self-service digital path, only 17% of sellers have implemented one. Delays stem from waiting for quotes, security reviews, and budget approvals. Buyers express willingness to handle routine transactions, including those over $25,000, through self-service, indicating a clear gap between buyer expectations and seller capabilities.

• Over 80% of B2B software buyers used AI chatbots for software recommendations in the past two years (G2).
• 80% of AI users bought from their initial shortlist in at least three of five purchases, versus 65% of non-AI users (G2).
• Nearly three-quarters of software purchases are delayed or abandoned due to internal approvals or vendor back-and-forth (Cleverbridge).