Bachelor's Thesis

Marketing Communication of a Digital Platform of a Selected Company

Final Thesis 1.09 MB

Author of thesis: Tobias Sikora

Acad. year: 2025/2026

Supervisor: doc. Ing. Vít Chlebovský, Ph.D.

Reviewer: doc. Ing. Pavla Marciánová, Ph.D.

Abstract:

This bachelor’s thesis proposes a comprehensive marketing communication strategy for
the market launch of RiseHigh, a two-sided digital crowdsourcing platform connecting
capital-starved startups with ambitious university students in the Czech Republic. The
primary objective is to overcome the theoretical "cold start" barrier, a critical illiquidity
challenge inherent to new networked marketplaces, by strategically acquiring both the
demand side (startups) and the supply side (students). The methodological approach
employs a qualitative, deductive design that synthesizes secondary market data,
competitive digital benchmarking, and internal platform metrics. PESTLE and SWOT
analyses reveal a significant market gap: strict labor legislation and high hiring costs
drive startups and small businesses toward agile, project-based talent. At the same time,
Generation Z increasingly prioritizes verifiable portfolio-building and financial
independence over traditional corporate structures.
To capitalize on these conditions, the thesis proposes a 12-week, financially optimized
"Continuous Seeding and Amplification" campaign structured upon the DAGMAR
framework. The strategy relies on a staggered rollout: first seeding the demand side
through targeted B2B outbound cold emailing and LinkedIn advertising, and
subsequently activating the supply side through hyper-localized physical guerrilla
marketing at university campuses and short-form video content on TikTok and
Instagram Reels. Ultimately, this thesis provides RiseHigh with a data-driven,
theoretically grounded framework to achieve sustainable initial market liquidity.

Keywords:

Two-sided markets, digital platform, cold start problem, marketing communication
strategy, Generation Z, B2B acquisition, guerrilla marketing

Date of defence

22.06.2026

Result of the defence

Defended (thesis was successfully defended)

znamkaEznamka

Grading

E

Process of defence

In his presentation, the student informed the committee about the objectives, solutions and results he had reached in his thesis. The committee then read the opinions and evaluation of the thesis supervisor and the opponent. Questions from committee members: 1. Ing. Ulč: What type of marketing did you use? - answered 2. Ing. Bumberová: Could you please answere the research question "What marketing communication tools are most effective for acquiring the initial demand side (startups) in a B2B context to overcome the platform "cold start" barrier?" - partly answered 3. Ing. Bumberová: Which communication channel generate the biggest engagement? - partly answered 4. Ing. Bumberová: Do you have an evidence on your statements? - answered 5. Ing. Havíř: What is the reaction to the cold-emailing? - On the basis of the presentation and the answers to the questions asked in the discussion, the committee decided that the student defended the thesis.

Language of thesis

English

Faculty

Department

Study programme

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (BAK-ESBD)

Composition of Committee

doc. Ing. Robert Zich, Ph.D. (předseda)
Ing. David Havíř, Ph.D. (člen)
Ing. Jakub Ulč (člen)
Ing. Veronika Bumberová, Ph.D. (člen)
doc. Ing. Vít Chlebovský, Ph.D. (místopředseda)

Supervisor’s report
doc. Ing. Vít Chlebovský, Ph.D.

Fulfilment of thesis objectives (60 %)

The main objective – to propose a marketing communication strategy for the RiseHigh platform – is formally fulfilled . The thesis follows the required structure and includes theoretical, analytical, and proposal sections. However, the actual level of fulfilment is limited, as a substantial part of the output remains on a descriptive level and lacks sufficient analytical depth.

Methodology and approach (55 %)

The thesis applies standard strategic tools (PESTLE, SWOT, benchmarking) , which is appropriate in principle. Nevertheless, the methodological rigor is low. The work relies almost exclusively on secondary data and internal platform information, without conducting any primary research or systematic validation of key assumptions. This significantly weakens the credibility of the results.

Ability to analyse and interpret results (52 %)

The interpretation of findings is one of the weakest aspects of the thesis. While the author presents results in a structured way, the interpretation is largely uncritical and often directly follows initial assumptions. Key conclusions (e.g., effectiveness of communication channels or market attractiveness) are not sufficiently supported by empirical evidence and lack discussion of limitations .

Practical applicability (62 %)

The thesis contains a relatively detailed proposal (campaign design, budget, timeline) , which gives it a certain practical dimension. However, the applicability is significantly limited by the unrealistic and insufficiently justified assumptions, particularly regarding expected performance metrics, user acquisition, and conversion efficiency.

Structure and language quality (75 %)

The thesis is well structured and follows a logical progression . The language is formally correct and stylistically strong. However, the text often resembles a marketing presentation rather than an academic analysis, with emphasis on persuasive formulation rather than critical evaluation.

Use of sources (58 %)

Relevant literature is used and appropriately cited . However, the thesis relies heavily on internal data and secondary sources without sufficient critical reflection. The absence of independent empirical validation significantly limits the robustness of the conclusions.

Overall evaluation: 58 % (E)

The thesis meets the basic formal requirements and is therefore still defendable. However, its academic quality is limited by insufficient methodological rigor, lack of primary research, and weak critical interpretation of findings. The work demonstrates effort in structure and presentation but does not fully meet the expected analytical depth of a bachelor’s thesis.

Main weaknesses

absence of primary research and validation of key assumptions predominantly descriptive rather than analytical approach lack of critical reflection on results strong dependence on internal data without verification unrealistic and weakly justified assumptions in the proposal part marketing-oriented style prevailing over academic analysis 

Questions for the defence:

 Which parts of your proposal do you consider the least reliable from today’s perspective?

What are the biggest risks when implementing your proposed strategy in real conditions? 
Evaluation criteria Grade
Splnění stanovených cílů D
Zvolený postup řešení, adekvátnost použitých metod E
Schopnost interpretovat dosažené výsledky a vyvozovat z nich závěry E
Praktická využitelnost výsledků D
Uspořádání práce, formální náležitosti, použitá terminologie a odborná jazyková úroveň C
Práce s informačními zdroji, včetně citací E

Grade proposed by supervisor: E

This bachelor's thesis barely meets the minimum requirements for such a thesis, particularly in terms of academic rigor.
Evaluation criteria Verbal classification Grade
Splnění stanovených cílů The goal of the bachelor's thesis is to propose a comprehensive marketing communication strategy for the market launch of the digital platform, RiseHigh, in the Czech Republic.The author has broken down this objective into several research questions, which, however, diverge from one another and do not support the achievement of the thesis’s main objective.  C
Zvolený postup řešení, adekvátnost použitých metod In his work, the author presents a wide range of methods, which he describes in theoretical terms. However, their selection, classification, and structure lack logical coherence. The chapters do not build on one another; rather, they are a compilation of information found in the specialized literature. The methods used are more descriptive than analytical, which had a negative impact on the findings. D
Schopnost interpretovat dosažené výsledky a vyvozovat z nich závěry The results obtained are compromised by an analysis of the business environment that was not conducted with sufficient rigor, and some of the interpretations are misleading. Although the author attempted to map the ecosystem of the company under study, the extent of its influence, for example, is not specified. Similarly, the SWOT analysis remains unevaluated.   D
Praktická využitelnost výsledků While the proposals outlined above are practical, they lack a clear connection to the analyses conducted and thus come across as highly subjective, which negatively affects the quality of the work. The rationale for the proposed solutions is relatively weak.  D
Struktura práce, použitá terminologie a odborná jazyková úroveň The structure of the work is illogical, and the chapters do not flow well into one another. Because the analyses are not very well done, their inclusion seems rather opportunistic. C
Práce s informačními zdroji The use of sources is very limited. The author draws on only a very small number of scholarly sources. Scholarly books are mentioned only broadly, and the author relies almost exclusively on unreviewed online articles. F

Grade proposed by reviewer: E

Responsibility: Mgr. et Mgr. Hana Odstrčilová