• Wordmark_HubSpot for Startups_OneLine_Orange-2
  • MATG_logo_Horizontal_Color_2237x363

On Demand

The 2026 Paid Media Playbook: by HubSpot's Former Head of Paid Media

Most paid media strategies fail because they optimize for clicks, not pipeline, and that gap is only widening as the landscape shifts. Rising costs, signal loss, and constant platform changes mean what worked last year won’t hold up in 2026.

 

🎁 FREE for viewers: Free paid media strategy session with summit chase + unlock ad credits from Google, Linkedin, TikTok and more worth over $10k+. 

"By registering, you will be subscribed to MATG emails. You may unsubscribe from these  MATG at any time. For more information, check out our Privacy Policy. Additionally, HubSpot may share your information with Summit Chase. Summit Chase will use this information to contact you about relevant content, products, and services. To unsubscribe from communications, please review Summit Chase's privacy policy.

What You'll Walk Away With

Marketing Against the Grain, HubSpot's marketing podcast and newsletter, teamed up with HubSpot for Startups to break down exactly what it takes to build paid media that drives real revenue in 2026.

In 20 minutes, you'll get the exact approach used to structure campaigns from scratch, make smarter launch decisions, and scale spend without losing sight of pipeline. You'll walk away with a framework you can implement immediately, not someday.

Operations_Illustration_Color_LightBG

  • Rex Gelb

    Former Head of Paid Media

    HubSpot

    Rex Gelb is a performance marketing leader with over a decade of experience building and scaling paid media programs in high-growth B2B environments. He spent 10 years at HubSpot, where he led paid media and helped shape one of the most sophisticated demand generation engines in SaaS.


    Today, Rex leads performance marketing at Cursor, where he focuses on driving efficient, scalable growth through disciplined experimentation, strong attribution, and tight alignment between sales and marketing.


    In parallel, he is the founder of Summit Chase, a paid media agency specializing in B2B, SaaS, and professional services companies. Through Summit Chase, Rex works closely with teams to improve tracking, optimize channel strategy, and build repeatable systems that turn paid acquisition into a durable growth lever.


    His approach is grounded in clarity, operational rigor, and a focus on what actually drives revenue.

  • Lauren Mendoza-Routt

    Social Lead

    Marketing Against the Grain
    Lauren Mendoza-Routt is a Senior Marketer at HubSpot's Marketing Against the Grain, where she leads social and community strategy. Before HubSpot, she spent three years as Director of Social Media at 1440, growing the brand to 1 million followers across platforms in 12 months. Her work has been recognized by the Shorty Awards and she was named a 2024 Top Woman in Media and Ad Tech.

The 2026 Paid Media Playbook gives you a clear, proven framework for building campaigns that drive real pipeline—not just clicks. Learn how to structure, launch, and scale paid media with confidence, guided by HubSpot's former Head of Paid.

Register for the Session

Common Questions About This Session

This session is designed for:

Seed to Series A founders building their paid media engine, GTM leaders responsible for pipeline generation (not just traffic), and marketing teams looking to scale ad spend without losing efficiency. If you're tired of campaigns that drive clicks but not revenue, this tactical session will give you a clear framework to connect paid media directly to pipeline growth.

A focused, tactical learning experience

The session includes a 20-minute tactical presentation led by HubSpot's former Head of Paid, followed by a live Q&A where you can ask specific questions about your paid media challenges. You'll walk away with actionable frameworks you can implement immediately. No fluff, just proven strategies that drive real revenue.

Connect with fellow marketers, GTM leaders, and founders building smarter paid strategies. Share insights, ask questions, and learn from practitioners who've grown their GTM with HubSpot for Startups.

Join HubSpot for Startups