KOLAB AI · Est. 2026

Don’t hire
an agency.
Hire a CMO.

Senior human CMOs, augmented by a proprietary AI agent stack. The accountability of a leader, the output of a 40-person agency.

$1.9M+Ad Spend Managed
175M+Impressions Delivered

Proprietary
AI Agent Stack

Eight agents. One operating system. Every client.

Neural Optimization

Explore the stack →
50+Global Brands
20+Years Combined
Trusted By
Coca-ColaNestlé WatersBlueTritonDeer ParkNOS EnergyFuze
Launch Sprint →
§ 01 · The Thesis

Marketing is a leadership problem. AI is the leverage. The seat still belongs to a human.

Most brands don't need another agency, another tool, or another deck. They need a CMO who can decide. KOLAB AI is built around that seat — staffed by senior operators, multiplied by AI agents, and held accountable to the P&L.
We've sat in the room when budgets were cut, raises were closed, and exits were signed. The stack is new. The standard isn't.
§ R · Results on the record
Real campaigns. Real spend. Real performance.

Across automotive, beverage, healthcare, and veteran services.

$0+
Ad spend managed
0+
Impressions delivered
0+
Clicks generated
0+
People reached
0
Brands scaled
§ What we run
Services

Full-funnel growth, run by the seat that owns the number.

Unbranded ecommerce shipping boxes and a phone lit by warm light
01 · Ecommerce & DTC

Scale paid without torching margin

Paid Acquisition

Meta, TikTok, YouTube, programmatic — creative-first testing at agent speed.

Creative Studio

Concept to motion. Human-led, machine-assisted, brand-safe.

Lifecycle & CRM

Email and SMS flows segmented to behavior, not vibes.

Amazon & Marketplace

Listings, storefront, PPC, and full-funnel growth management.

Row of unbranded beverage cans on a dimly lit retail shelf
02 · Retail & CPG

Win the shelf and the feed

Distribution Strategy

On-premise, off-premise, and broker-ready GTM plans.

Shopper & Field

Activation calendars, POS, sampling, and velocity tracking.

Brand Architecture

Positioning, naming, and price-tier that survive a buyer meeting.

Retail Media

Amazon, Instacart, and retailer networks run as one funnel.

Camera on a tripod facing a ring light in a dark content studio
03 · Founder & Creator Brands

Turn a personality into a P&L

Offer & Funnel

VSLs, webinars, lead magnets, and the math behind them.

Content Engine

Always-on capture, edit, and distribution across every surface.

Sales Enablement

Decks, outreach, and rep playbooks tied to pipeline.

Analytics

Board-grade dashboards. Attribution that survives diligence.

§ P · Performance case studies
Paid media programs — managed spend, measured outcomes.

The work, with numbers attached.

/ Flagship engagements
FlagshipAutomotive · Performance exhaust

CORSA Performance

Three years of always-on demand generation at national scale.

Managed
$728,215
Impressions
107.0M
Reach
11.3M
Clicks
2.03M
CTR
1.90%
CPM
$6.81

Built a multi-year always-on Meta program for a top performance-exhaust brand — 107M impressions to 11.3M people at a category-beating $6.81 CPM, driving 2M+ clicks.

May 2023 – Jun 2026
FlagshipVeteran services · Mission-driven

VetComm

Seven-figure acquisition engine for the veteran community.

Managed
$1,120,020
Impressions
65.3M
Reach
10.3M
Clicks
1.63M
CTR
2.50%
CPM
$17.16

Scaled a seven-figure mission-driven program reaching 10M+ veterans at a sustained 2.50% CTR.

Jan 2024 – Jun 2026
/ Growth programs
GrowthDTC Health

Best 365 Labs

Profitable DTC scaling.

Managed
$29,825
Impressions
2.18M
Reach
988K
Clicks
67,348
CTR
3.09%
ROAS
1.20x
Jun 2025 – Jun 2026
GrowthBeverage

Coco Love Water

Positive-ROAS beverage launch.

Managed
$6,789
Impressions
386K
Reach
215K
CTR
1.27%
ROAS
1.66x
Oct 2023 – Jun 2026
GrowthHealthcare SaaS

Heno BackOffice

Efficient B2B reach at an $8.56 CPM.

Managed
$4,977
Impressions
581K
Reach
387K
Clicks
8,030
CTR
1.38%
CPM
$8.56
Sep 2025 – Jun 2026
GrowthDTC

Dr. Chummy

Creative that beats benchmark.

Managed
$3,858
Impressions
139K
Clicks
3,592
CTR
2.58%
Aug 2025 – Jun 2026
/ Emerging tests
Emerging · Launch

VetLink

Early launch traction.

Managed
$1,681
Impressions
83.6K
Clicks
2,967
CTR
3.55%
Emerging · Local healthcare

LV Dental

Local growth pilot.

Managed
$2,852
Impressions
96.3K
CTR
2.01%
Emerging · Automotive

99 Performance

Lead-gen pilot.

Managed
$546
Leads
153
CTR
2.91%
Emerging · Creative test

Capturing Couture

High-CTR creative test.

Managed
$35
CTR
7.40%

Partnered with the platforms that move the number.

Meta logo
Google Ads logo
TikTok logo
Amazon logo
Shopify logo
Klaviyo logo
YouTube logo
Snapchat logo
Triple Whale
HubSpot logo
§ 02 · The Collective
Many CMOs. One mind-share.

We don't place a CMO. We surround one.

Every engagement gets a lead CMO accountable to your founder/CEO. Behind them sits the collective — other sitting CMOs, our proprietary playbook, and an AI agent stack trained on twenty years of consumer brand work. When we hire the next CMO into a client seat, we bring them into KOLAB first. That's the whole point.

CMO-001
Ernie Manansala
Founder · Lead CMO
20+ yrs · Coca-Cola, BlueTriton, Garrett Motion, K1 Speed, Giant. Exited KOLABAGENCY to Amass Capital.
CMO-002
Beverage Seat
Senior CMO · Beverage & CPG
Active bench — placed into hydration, energy, and spirits engagements.
CMO-003
Performance Seat
Senior CMO · Automotive & Sport
Active bench — motorsport, performance aftermarket, lifestyle.
CMO-004
DTC / Retail Seat
Senior CMO · DTC & Lifestyle
Active bench — paid acquisition, retention, and retail expansion.
§ 03 · The Stack
Proprietary AI agents — the leverage behind the seat

Eight agents. One operating system. Every client.

Abstract network of connected amber nodes representing the KOLAB AI agent stack
AG-01active
Research & Intel
Category, competitor, audience, retail. Always-on briefings into the CMO seat.
AG-02active
Positioning & Narrative
Message architecture, naming, ladders. Tested against real consumer language.
AG-03active
Creative Studio
Concept, copy, art direction, motion. Human-led, machine-assisted, brand-safe.
AG-04active
Paid Acquisition
Meta, TikTok, YouTube, programmatic. Continuous A/B and creative iteration.
AG-05active
Lifecycle & CRM
Email, SMS, retention flows. Segmented to behavior, not vibes.
AG-06active
Retail & Field
Distribution, on-premise, shopper, activation calendars and POS.
AG-07active
Analytics & Reporting
Dashboards built for the board. Attribution that survives diligence.
AG-08active
Sales Enablement
Decks, one-pagers, buyer outreach. CMO + AE working as one motion.

Agents handle the volume. The CMO handles the verdict. Nothing ships without a human signature — that's how AI work stops looking like AI.

§ 04 · Case Studies
Six engagements, on the record. Pulled directly from operator and client quotes.

Brands we've built, fixed, or scaled.

Garrett Motion campaign work by KOLAB AI
Case · 01
Automotive · Global performance brand

Garrett Motion

Multi-year retained partner · Brand & creative
Challenge

A legacy turbo and performance technology business needed to feel modern and consumer-facing in a category dominated by tuners and influencers.

What we did

Built the modern Garrett creative system from the ground up — brand language, performance positioning, and an always-on campaign engine, now AI-augmented through KOLAB.

Outcome

Multi-year partnership across global performance markets. Trusted as the creative team behind the rise of the brand.

"Equally responsible for the rise of the Garrett brand. Nimble, fresh, and unique."

— Justin T. Ocello — Global Performance Leader, Garrett Motion
K1 Speed campaign work by KOLAB AI
Case · 02
Motorsports · Hospitality · 25+ locations

K1 Speed

National social & digital retainer
Challenge

25+ indoor kart racing centers across North America with no dedicated social specialist. Content inconsistent, engagement flat.

What we did

Took over national social and digital end-to-end. Built a content system that worked at corporate brand level and flexed for individual location personalities, now powered by our AI content + paid stack.

Outcome

Engagement and new-racer acquisition lifts across the network. Scope expanded from local to full national + select global pages.

"EMA stepped into the role and did not disappoint. As a trusted partner, we endorse Ernie and his team."

— Andrew Palos — Marketing Director, K1 Speed
Giant Bicycles campaign work by KOLAB AI
Case · 03
Cycling · Global consumer brand

Giant Bicycles

US + Global social & paid
Challenge

Giant was shifting its mix toward social and paid digital across US and Global accounts, without the in-house capacity to execute.

What we did

Strategic consulting on channel mix plus hands-on tactical execution. Took on US and Global pages, then expanded as performance compounded.

Outcome

Scope and ad budget expanded considerably year-over-year on the back of measurable results.

"Their services were so effective that we expanded responsibility and ad budget considerably."

— Bradley A. Klipping — Sr. Marketing Manager, Giant Bicycles
IHI Turbo · SEMA Launch campaign work by KOLAB AI
Case · 04
Automotive · Performance aftermarket

IHI Turbo · SEMA Launch

Brand + creative + web overhaul · 90 days
Challenge

IHI was signed up for SEMA with no cohesive brand, no performance strategy, and no usable web presence. Other agencies wanted a year just for the site.

What we did

SEMA-ready brand approach, new positioning, market-appropriate creative, and full website overhaul shipped in 90 days.

Outcome

Brand, web, and on-floor presence launched on the SEMA timeline. Became the go-to relationship for creative and strategic counsel.

"We executed and launched a new strategy with market-appropriate branding, and completed an entire website overhaul in just three months."

— IHI Turbo leadership
PANDAN Rum campaign work by KOLAB AI
Case · 05
Beverage · Spirits · Premium build

PANDAN Rum

Fractional CMO · Brand strategy
Challenge

A founder-led premium spirits play needed to translate a strong product into a defensible, distribution-ready brand without the budget of a category incumbent.

What we did

Owned positioning, identity direction, and the GTM operating plan. Wired creative, channel mix, and on/off-premise strategy into a single coherent build.

Outcome

Brand system shipped. Live commercial program with a clear position and price-tier across tasting room, on-premise, and DTC.

AMF · AdzLabz campaign work by KOLAB AI
Case · 06
Financial services · Performance creative

AMF · AdzLabz

Brand approval · Strategic oversight
Challenge

A mortgage funding brand needed AI-augmented performance creative that didn't feel AI-generated, with clear A/B winners to justify spend before launch.

What we did

Reviewed the slate, validated A/B winners, signed off on the launch funnel. Strategic decision-maker between the agency and the brand.

Outcome

Winning ad set approved and pushed live. The creatives that felt least like AI outperformed once bias was stripped from the test data.

"The ads below are the winners from our A/B tests — the only ones that produced meaningful click-throughs."

— AdzLabz creative team
§ 05 · How we engage

Three ways founders bring us in.

/ 01
Most popular

Fractional CMO Collective

Commitment
2–4 days / week
Term
6-month minimum
Start
Within 30 days
  • →Dedicated senior CMO in the seat, backed by the collective
  • →Full KOLAB AI agent stack on day one
  • →Marketing strategy & operating plan
  • →Team build, hiring, and agency oversight
  • →Board / investor reporting support
Start a conversation →
/ 02

GTM Sprint

Commitment
Fixed scope
Term
90 days
Start
Within 2 weeks
  • →Diagnostic of what's working / not
  • →Positioning & messaging architecture
  • →Channel strategy & first-90-day plan
  • →Launch or relaunch coordination
  • →Stable handoff to in-house team
Start a conversation →
/ 03

CMO Placement

Commitment
Search + onboarding
Term
Rolling
Start
Immediate
  • →We recruit your next full-time CMO
  • →Onboard them inside the KOLAB system
  • →Mind-share with our active CMO bench
  • →AI agent stack travels with the seat
  • →Continuity after we hand off the keys
Start a conversation →
§ L · Leadership
The humans in the seat.

Two Co-CMOs. One accountable bench.

Ernie B. Manansala Jr. — Co-Founder & Co-CMO, KOLAB AI
CO-CMO · 01

Ernie B. Manansala Jr.

Co-Founder & Co-CMO

Two decades building and scaling consumer brands — from energy drinks to AI-driven growth.

  • →20+ years scaling consumer brands across automotive, beverage, and CPG.
  • →Founder and former CEO of KOLAB Agency (acquired by AMASS Capital).
  • →Helped launch NOS Energy Drink. Drove marketing for AEM Performance, BorgWarner Turbo Systems, and Pirelli.
  • →Former President & CMO, Outlaw Energy. Former CMO, Nirvana Water Sciences.
  • →2013 Ford Escape design award — featured in Ford's SEMA booth. FreightWaves speaker.
Martin Apadoca — Co-CMO, KOLAB AI
CO-CMO · 02

Martin Apadoca

Co-CMO

20+ years aligning brand strategy with measurable performance.

  • →A CPG category expert with 20+ years in digital marketing and brand development — strategy, analytics, and multi-channel growth across SEO, paid media, social, email, and content.
  • →Partnered with Ernie across the consumer-brand world, including the BreinFuel and Nirvana Water Sciences orbit.
  • →Now serves as Co-CMO of KOLAB AI, bringing brand systems and performance accountability to the collective.
§ 06 · Currently operating
We don't just advise. We build.

Active operator seats inside the KOLAB portfolio.

Founder / CEO · Active

EMA

Full-stack marketing for consumer and lifestyle. Strategy, content, paid, retail.

Co-founder / CMO · Active

SIM IQ

Sim racing performance services. Rig setup, software, tuning.

Brand & GTM Lead · Active

812 Hydration

Electrolyte sticks. 7-pack and 20-pack SKUs. Retail + paid.

Brand Partner · Active

Coco Love

Coconut water. Positioning and growth strategy.

Marketing Partner · Active

RAFA Racing

Sponsorship strategy, content, ambassador roster.

Co-founder · Active

TikTok Trend Vend

Vending venture targeting viral consumer trends.

§ 04b · Selected work
Brand, campaign, and packaging work from two decades in consumer.

The shelf we've built.

NOS Energy brand work
NOS Energy
Outlaw Energy brand work
Outlaw Energy
NEFT Vodka brand work
NEFT Vodka
Deer Park brand work
Deer Park
Fuze Beverages brand work
Fuze Beverages
BlueTriton Brands brand work
BlueTriton Brands
Nirvana Water Sciences brand work
Nirvana Water Sciences
Hidden House Coffee brand work
Hidden House Coffee
Victory Fuel brand work
Victory Fuel
KOLAB · Ethical Hackers brand work
KOLAB · Ethical Hackers
§ 07 · Recognition

Telly winners. Industry-recognized creative across two decades.

Award trophies won for creative campaign workTelly Award statuette
★
Telly Awards
★
Cannes Lions
★
Clio Awards
★
The One Show
★
D&AD Awards
★
Effie Awards
★
ADDY · AAF
★
Webby Awards
★
Shorty Awards
★
Communicator Awards
★
MUSE Creative
★
AVA Digital
§ 08 · Now intake — Q3 2026

Let's put a real CMO in your seat. With the agents to back them up.