monetization
Designed, tested, and launched the first pricing strategy for an events marketplace.
Dimitriy V. Masterov
Fractional Tech Economist
San Francisco, CA, USA
20 years experience
I am an economist who develops tactics that drive rapid and abiding growth in your marketplace using models and data.
I am an economist who develops tactics that drive rapid and abiding growth in your marketplace using models and data.
Science empowers companies to make better business decisions. Enlisting a fractional chief economist imparts that competitive advantage.
Science empowers companies to make better business decisions. Enlisting a fractional chief economist imparts that competitive advantage.
service industry
Designed an auction-based compensation platform for a short-term medical staffing platform.
crowdfunding
Implemented a novel approach to crowdfunding for a public safety product.
My Services
My approach is hands-on or embedded when you need it. This flexibility allows us to make rapid progress on your goals together.
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I can map out and measure the network effects in your marketplace and translate them into appropriate pricing, acquisition strategies, balancing and matching demand and supply, and building a moat.
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Experimentation is the gold standard in tech and many other domains. Unfortunately, traditional A/B testing methods and tools do not work well for most of the key platform questions because marketplaces have complex interference patterns. I can help you set up your initial product, marketing, and operations experiments so you can validate ideas quickly and reliably. I can also advise you on the buy vs. build experimentation platform decision so you can speed up the feedback cycle.
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Economists have developed a slew of econometric and causal ML tools for situations when experiments are infeasible, or the data is nonexistent or small. Of the three pillars of data analysis, my focus has been on reduced-form causal inferences from observational data and experiments, and also descriptive analyses, rather than predictive modeling.
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Cost-benefit analysis for digital and offline marketing so your CAC doesn’t eclipse your LTV. I have worked on campaigns for OTT (ad-supported streaming), regular and smart TV, SEM, SEO, Facebook, partner sites, podcasts, and offline (direct mail, billboards, etc.). Spending the marketing budget more efficiently has added millions of dollars for my stakeholders.
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Improving reputation, reviews, and other data sources to create trust and safety.
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I also have expertise in metric development for quantifying the things you care about (including directionality, sensitivity, validation/backtesting, and short-run surrogates for long-term outcomes).
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I can help you source and hire economists, analysts, data scientists, and statisticians that can hit the ground running and make an impact on your business. I can also advise on setting up successful collaborations with academics and other experts.
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Sometimes, you don't have any user data because you are still in the ideation stage of your business. At a later stage, you may have some data on users, but conducting experiments, focus groups, or administering surveys is infeasible or very expensive. For example, a seller on your marketplace will never say you can raise your fees without consequences. Using simulated AI agents can circumvent these obstacles and give you reliable and rapid feedback on your ideas.
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You probably don't want to hire me to forecast interest rates, conduct user research, perform structural estimation, or to consult on antitrust and intellectual property litigation, acquisitions, and exclusive deals. However, I can refer you to an expert who is skilled in those areas.
Fractional Tech Economist
Fractional Tech Economist
I was one of the first economists to go into tech and have spent 13 years understanding, designing, and improving the efficiency of marketplaces. I am now applying the skills I’ve developed to help startups reach their potential. These techniques aren’t just for the big companies: they can unlock value at every stage.
Outside the office, I enjoy camping among the redwoods, paddling my kayak around the SF Bay, and telling people at parties that I was into data before it was big.
Outside the office, I enjoy camping among the redwoods, paddling my kayak around the SF Bay, and telling people at parties that I was into data before it was big.
Diversified professional experience
Past companies and roles where I’ve gained experience.
