Data Garbage In, Garbage Out: Why Your AI Still Isn’t Performing

Kristin Oelke
Aug 27
3 min read

Updated: 2d

By Kristin Oelke, Managing Director, Growth Services, Brightrose Ventures, and author of Trust: Unlocking B2B Growth in Today’s AI World

Let’s cut to the chase: your AI isn’t underperforming because it's flawed- it’s underperforming because your data is. The age-old principle still applies: “garbage in, garbage out.” If you feed garbage data to AI, you get garbage results- faster, smarter outputs of the same old chaos.

The 2025 Reality Check

In 2025, 95% of businesses recognize data quality as critical to digital transformation-but many still wrestle with poor inputs that undermine AI’s promise.
The financial stakes are massive: poor data quality drains the US economy by $3.1 trillion annually, costing enterprises up to 20–30% of their revenue.

These stats confirm a stark truth: AI doesn’t fix your mess- it magnifies it. If your workflows are broken or your CRM is riddled with duplicates, AI won’t repair the foundation- it’ll just build on the instability.

The Myth: “More Tools = Better AI”

The myth we keep hearing? “Just add AI tools - automation will fix itself.” But that’s like adding horsepower to a car with flat tires - it’s not going anywhere.

The reality:

AI must be tailored to your business logic.
It must be connected to clean, trusted data.
It must be aligned to how your teams actually work.

Only then does AI stop being noise-and start being a growth driver.

Brightrose’s Approach: Smarter Customization Through AI Agent Development

At Brightrose, we don’t deploy tools; we design solutions:

We build purpose-built AI agents, customized to your workflows.
We integrate them with your stack-HubSpot, CRMs, RevOps systems-for flawless orchestration.
We focus on ROI from day one, not “sometime down the line.”

Because the real power isn’t in the AI - it’s in the data and design behind it.

Why it matters in 2025: With AI increasingly embedded into business operations, data quality is no longer a “nice-to-have”: it's the linchpin of performance. From digital transformation to marketing execution, clean, governed data is what separates market leaders from AI flops.

About Kristin Oelke

Kristin Oelke brings 20 years of experience modernizing and scaling marketing functions across Big Tech, high-growth startups, and global partner ecosystems. She partners with investors, founders, and C-Suite leaders to design and execute strategies that drive measurable revenue impact.

She is also a frequent speaker and the author of TRUST: Unlocking B2B Growth Strategies in Today’s AI World, where she explores how companies build credibility, reduce buyer friction, and scale predictably through transparent execution, public proof points, and trust-driven content.

FAQs

What are the top reasons SMB and mid-market tech companies work with advisory firms?

Companies partner with advisory firms to tap into battle-tested expertise, access fractional support without long-term overhead, and gain faster connections to trusted resources proven to work with early-stage and scaling businesses. Advisory partners also bring fresh perspective, speed to execution, and the ability to build trust with investors through transparent reporting and measurable outcomes.

How are Brightrose Growth Services different from other tech advisory offerings?

Brightrose Growth Services combine proven operator experience with fast, execution-first support built for today’s AI-driven B2B environment. We help companies break through digital noise with content that educates and resonates, build scalable tech foundations, and deliver the proof points and reporting that earn trust with both buyers and investors.

What makes the Brightrose Growth Services fractional model more effective than hiring in-house?

Rather than relying on a single marketing leader, Brightrose Growth Services provide a senior-led team across demand gen, CRM, lifecycle, content, and analytics. We accelerate growth with integrated execution, a more efficient demand engine, transparent reporting, and trust-building content—all at a predictable monthly cost.

How can startups begin leveraging Brightrose Growth Services on a small budget?

Most begin with a Brightrose Assessment to get a clear, prioritized plan and identify immediate quick wins. From there, startups activate a fractional team that scales with the business—gaining early proof points, trusted content, a scalable tech stack, and investor-ready reporting without overinvesting.