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Jake Bjorseth
Let's Talk Gen Z | Founder @ Trndsttrs
Jake Bjorseth is the 24-year-old founder and CEO of Trndsttrs Media, a Gen Z agency based in Kansas City, Missouri.1 He founded the company in May 2019 to help brands understand and reach Generation Z consumers, typically aged 13-25.13
Trndsttrs Media has a team of over 35 Gen Z individuals who work as social media marketing experts, content creators, and influencers.1 The agency has worked with major brands such as McDonald's, Nike, Denny's, North Face, UnitedHealthcare, and Coca-Cola.3
Before founding Trndsttrs, Jake co-founded and served as Chief Growth Officer at Social Apex from July 2018 to April 2019.1 He has also held various marketing internships and advisory roles, including:
- Advisor for SWAG'R Digital Media Inc. (September 2022 - Present)
- Marketing intern at Cerner Corporation (January 2017 - May 2017)
- Intern Marketing Consultant at Signature Funerals (August 2016 - January 2017)
- Intern Marketing Strategist at International Relations Council (January 2016 - May 2016)1
Jake is known for his expertise in Gen Z marketing strategies, particularly in leveraging platforms like TikTok for brand growth and engagement.23 He emphasizes the importance of understanding Gen Z's unique consumption habits and creating innovative experiences for this demographic.3
Highlights
I run a company that employs 40+ Gen Z.
Working across ~30 brands at a time.
Doing the most hour by hour demanding task imaginable:
Having to stay on top of every social media trend and execute against it.
I love my work but it is mentally and emotionally taxing as can be.
You put your soul into a project just to see it got shot down.
Internal creative needs a post out “right f*cking now” that they just told you about.
Your time outside of work is spent around other Gen Z who we constantly obsess over understanding.
Dinner with your friends is really your personal consumer insights session.
And good luck trying to scroll social media like a regular person…
There is no meditation or mindfulness program that can turn my brain off.
What has been a life saver for me is finding a different outlet.
An outlet equally demanding and challenging.
Sometimes it’s working out. Sometimes training for a marathon.
For the past year, music has been my favorite outlet.
My drum kit is my zen palace.
The place where no other thought exists.
I have all four limbs playing at different speed, tempos, and force.
While I constantly count tempo in my head.
While I picture the song layout anticipating an upcoming bridge or transition.
While I try to keep a straight face and not let the crowd see the panic inside.
Throw a few beers in to hinder the brain a bit and I’m at 100% focus and brain capacity quickly.
That upcoming pitch meeting, that internal fire, upcoming payroll — none of it exists to me in that moment.
If you’re an “engine always on” person like me, there is no turning off the engine.
There is only channeling that energy elsewhere.
Our editing team will grill me for the horrible edits I put together for promotion, but I hope you enjoy:
P.S. Go Chiefs!!!
There is not a single brand on social media today utilizing it for its full capacity.
Stop building your social strategy off of other brands.
Model it off of the best performers on social media:
Creators.
Gen Z didn't grow up with a relationship to legacy brands.
We hardly watched TV.
We were looking at our phones, not billboards.
The brands we define as "legacy brands"
Are not legacy brands for Gen Z.
I know more about SEEQ protein than I do Optimum Nutrition.
I know more about poppi than I do Pepsi.
While they might never reach the size of industry titans, the challenger brands winning on social will become this generation's legacy brands.
