#209: Daniel Anstandig (Futuri Media) - AI, Future of Media, Music, and Investing

Daniel Anstandig is the CEO of Futuri Media, a leading AI-driven platform he founded in Cleveland in 2009 to help companies build and monetize engaged audiences. Today, Futuri’s sales, content, and audience technology serves over 7,000 media brands across 22 countries, powered by a bold and passionate team recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies for nine years. Daniel has advised The Wall Street Journal, CBS News, Clear Channel R&D, the White House Commission on Remembrance, Glencoe-McGraw Hill, and various broadcasting companies in the U.S., Canada, and Europe on digital audience and revenue growth strategies. His research and editorials on radio and interactive media have been published in The Wall Street Journal, Billboard, and numerous trade publications. A proud two-time recipient of Edison Research’s 30 Under 30 Award, Daniel has also been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine for his work as a young entrepreneur. Outside of Futuri, Dan has developed more than 20 patents in audio, podcasting, AI, and broadcast technology. He also co-founded SparkTrade.io, a platform that democratizes AI-powered investment insights by offering real-time buy/sell signals to over 8,500 investors daily. He serves on the board of directors for Teaching Cleveland, part of Teaching Place—a nonprofit focused on social and civic engagement and education—and for Boxcast, a global leader in live streaming and remote mix technology. We previously heard more about Boxcast’s story from its founder and CEO, Gordon Daily, in episode 26 of Lay of The Land. As you’ll hear, Dan is thoughtful and articulate, offering clear insights into the evolution of media, curation in an age of information overload, the future of content creation, and life lessons learned from music that apply to entrepreneurship. He also shares reflections on building entrepreneurial teams, moving from Cleveland to Austin (and back again), the importance of community and trust, and much more. Please enjoy this insightful conversation with Daniel Anstandig! 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background   00:04:36 - The Evolution of Media Consumption   00:06:51 - Daniel Anstandig's Entrepreneurial Journey   00:10:55 - Cleveland vs. Austin: A Tale of Two Cities   00:16:04 - The Importance of Community and Talent Retention   00:18:55 - The Role of Media in Society   00:23:01 - Futuri's Founding Vision and Evolution   00:27:03 - Cultural Influence on Business   00:30:53 - Lessons from Mentorship   00:32:55 - Navigating Legacy Media Challenges   00:37:00 - Curation of Information in the Digital Age   00:38:39 - Impact of Futuri's Innovations   00:42:54 - Transforming Intelligence in Trading   00:46:47 - The Future of Media and Content Creation   00:50:46 - Building Trust in New Media   00:52:56 - Futuri's Role in the Evolving Media Landscape   00:55:27 - Harnessing Machine Learning in Investments   01:00:34 - Democratizing Investment Strategies   01:09:36 - Lessons from Music for Entrepreneurship   01:12:20 - Hidden Gem ----- LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anstandig/ https://www.daniel-anstandig.com/ https://futurimedia.com/ ----- SPONSOR: Roundstone Insurance Roundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership. Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings. Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs. Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland. ----- Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here. Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs. Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/ Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayoftheland https://www.jeffreys.page/