Dillon Dao
Serial Tech Entrepreneur, Growth Hacker, GTM Strategist, n Domainer. Building AI Infrastructure for Next Generation of Operators, Execs, Biz Owners, n Consultants.
Dillon Dao writes about healthcare innovation and medical technology for young entrepreneurs, blending data-driven insights with deeply human storytelling. His most distinctive move is opening with a specific, large-scale problem (2.5 billion new urban residents by 2050) or a vulnerable personal confession, then pivoting to a solution or lesson that feels both urgent and actionable.
1.5/wk
20 posts in 30d
987
avg per post
2.6%
comments / total
7.7%
reposts / total
story
Mon · 10 AM CET
Voice & tone
Dillon writes with quiet conviction and philosophical depth. He treats mundane topics (nutrition, leadership, innovation) as sacred. His tone oscillates between mentor and peer—he uses phrases like 'Nourish your body like it's sacred' and 'Your plate is your first therapist' that feel intimate and slightly poetic, never corporate. He speaks to the reader's future self, not their current status.
Signature phrases
- “it houses your mind, your dreams, and your energy to make them real”
- “Every bite is a message to our body, our brain, and our mood”
- “Food is more than fuel; it's information”
- “you're not just feeding your hunger—you're feeding your future”
- “innovation is the key to a more sustainable future”
Top 3 posts, dissected
Their highest-engagement posts, broken down line by line. Steal the structure.
#Water scarcity, air pollution, and extreme weather are just some of the major challenges our #cities face. With an estimated global growth of 2.5 billion new urban residents by 2050, innovation is the key to a more sustainable future for our cities. In #Bengaluru, India, UpLink Venture SmartTerra has developed a water-tech solution that uses AI to detect leaks in real-time, reduce water loss and improve the city’s water security. The Yes Bengaluru, Urban Innovation Challenge, launched by UpLink - World Economic Forum, the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Urban Transformation, the Government of Karnataka, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and a coalition of collaborators, is calling for solutions to revitalize the city and ensure that it continues to grow sustainably and equitably. Submit your start-up on UpLink by 14 November: https://ow.ly/B5CG50XgTCb
Opens with three concrete, visible problems (water scarcity, air pollution, extreme weather) that readers can immediately visualize, then anchors urgency with a specific statistic (2.5 billion new urban residents by 2050). This combination of sensory detail + scale makes the problem feel both personal and massive.
Problem statement (3 sentences) → Real-world example with innovation (SmartTerra's AI water-tech) → Call to action with deadline (Submit by 14 November). The architecture moves from macro to micro to actionable, giving readers a clear path from awareness to participation.
- Hashtag clustering (#Water, #cities, #Bengaluru, #AI) to signal topic relevance and aid discoverability
- Specific company name and founder detail (UpLink Venture SmartTerra, Derek Haoyang Li) to build credibility and make the solution feel real
- Deadline insertion (14 November) to create scarcity and urgency without being pushy
Ends with a direct link and deadline, which transforms the post from inspiration into opportunity. The CTA is soft but specific, inviting submission rather than demanding clicks.
Lead with a problem so big it demands attention, anchor it with a number that proves scale, then immediately show a real solution so readers feel agency rather than despair.
Squirrel Ai Learning has given away 10 million free AI learning accounts to China’s poorest families, explains founder Derek Haoyang Li. Learn more in this World Economic Forum report on the future of learning, which explores the potential for #AI to benefit educators, students …
The hook is a single, staggering statistic wrapped in a human name and action verb: 'Squirrel Ai Learning has given away 10 million free AI learning accounts to China's poorest families.' The number 10 million is so large it stops the scroll; the specificity of 'poorest families' makes it emotionally resonant, not just impressive.
Hook (1 sentence) → Attribution to founder (1 sentence) → Credibility signal (World Economic Forum report) → Link. This is the shortest structure in the top 5, yet it performs exceptionally well (2864 engagement). The brevity forces the reader to click to learn more.
- Founder attribution (Derek Haoyang Li) personalizes the achievement and makes it feel like insider knowledge
- World Economic Forum reference adds institutional weight without needing explanation
- Minimal text forces reader curiosity and drives clicks
The link to the WEF report is the entire close. By not over-explaining, Dillon creates a knowledge gap that readers want to fill.
Sometimes the most engaging post is the shortest one. Lead with a number so striking that it creates curiosity, then get out of the way and let the link do the work.
“Till the age of 40, my house ran on my wife’s money. I burnt through everything chasing my dream. Today, people call me the co-founder of boAt Lifestyle. But what they don’t see are the failures, debts, and sacrifices behind the brand.” – Aman Gupta
Opens with a direct quote that is both shocking and relatable: 'Till the age of 40, my house ran on my wife's money.' The specificity of age (40) and the admission of financial dependence violate the typical founder narrative, making readers pause and want to know more. It's a confession, not a brag.
Quote (1 sentence) → Consequence of that choice (1 sentence) → Reframing as success (1 sentence) → Implicit lesson. The structure is extremely tight: vulnerability → sacrifice → redemption. No bullet points, no listicle, just narrative momentum.
- Direct quote attribution (Aman Gupta, boAt Lifestyle co-founder) signals this is a real person's real story
- Contrast between 'what they don't see' and 'what people call me' creates narrative tension
- Parenthetical aside ('failures, debts, and sacrifices') piles on the vulnerability without over-explaining
No explicit CTA. The post ends with the implicit lesson: success is built on hidden struggle. This open ending invites readers to reflect and comment with their own stories, which explains the 26 comments on a story-format post.
A vulnerable confession from a recognizable founder will outperform a polished success story. End with an implicit question rather than an explicit ask, and readers will fill the silence with their own reflections.
What drives their engagement
Posts that end with an implicit question or unresolved tension drive comments. Post 3 (1676 engagement, 26 comments) ends with 'what they don't see,' inviting readers to share their own hidden struggles. Posts that feel like a conversation starter, not a lecture, get more comments despite lower overall engagement.
Large-scale impact stories with specific numbers (10 million accounts, 2.5 billion residents) drive reposts because they feel newsworthy and shareable. Post 1 (408 reposts) and Post 2 (433 reposts) both lead with staggering statistics that readers want to amplify in their own networks.
Low. Dillon's posts are optimized for reach and conversation, not for long-term reference. His philosophical posts (nutrition, leadership) might be saved by some readers, but the data suggests his audience engages in the moment rather than bookmarking for later.
Content pillars
Founder Stories and Vulnerability
25%Personal confessions from founders (e.g., 'Till the age of 40, my house ran on my wife's money') that humanize entrepreneurship and normalize failure as part of the path.
Global Innovation and Impact
30%Spotlight on startups and solutions tackling massive problems (water scarcity, education inequality, urban sustainability) with specific metrics and real examples.
Leadership and Behavioral Lessons
20%Metaphor-driven posts that extract leadership principles from unexpected sources (animal friendships, nature, human dynamics) and translate them into actionable frameworks.
Health, Nutrition, and Self-Care Philosophy
15%Posts that reframe wellness as a form of self-respect and future-building, using poetic language to elevate everyday choices.
Calls to Action and Opportunity Spotlights
10%Direct invitations to apply, submit, or engage with challenges and platforms (e.g., UpLink, competitions) that align with his audience's ambitions.
Hook patterns
Macro Problem + Scale
Name a global challenge + attach a staggering statistic or timeline that makes it feel urgent and real
“Water scarcity, air pollution, and extreme weather are just some of the major challenges our cities face. With an estimated global growth of 2.5 billion new urban residents by 2050, innovation is the key to a more sustainable future for our cities.”
→ The specificity of 2.5 billion and 2050 makes the problem concrete; readers feel the weight of scale and want to know the solution.
Vulnerable Confession
A personal admission of failure or sacrifice that contradicts the reader's assumption about the person being quoted
“Till the age of 40, my house ran on my wife's money. I burnt through everything chasing my dream.”
→ Confession disarms the reader and creates immediate trust; it signals that success is messier than LinkedIn usually admits.
Metaphor as Hook
An unexpected pairing (animal friendship, nature event, everyday object) framed as a teaching moment for a professional audience
“Leadership Lessons from an Unlikely Friendship: A Sparrow and a Kitten”
→ The emoji and playful framing lower the barrier to engagement; readers are curious how a bird and kitten relate to their work.
Reframed Mundane as Sacred
Take a routine action (eating, choosing food, self-care) and elevate it with reverent language that speaks to identity and future
“Nourish your body like it's sacred—because it houses your mind, your dreams, and your energy to make them real.”
→ The shift from 'eat healthy' to 'feed your future self' makes the post feel personally relevant and emotionally resonant.
Achievement + Hidden Cost
Celebrate a founder's win, then immediately reveal the unseen struggle or sacrifice behind it
“Today, people call me the co-founder of boAt Lifestyle. But what they don't see are the failures, debts, and sacrifices behind the brand.”
→ The contrast between public perception and private reality creates cognitive tension that drives engagement and shares.
Quantified Impact Story
A startup or initiative + a specific number showing scale of impact + a brief explanation of the innovation
“Squirrel Ai Learning has given away 10 million free AI learning accounts to China's poorest families, explains founder Derek Haoyang Li.”
→ The number (10 million) is so large it feels newsworthy; readers want to learn more and share the discovery.
Top-performing hooks
“#Water scarcity, air pollution, and extreme weather are just some of the major challenges our #cities face. With an estimated global growth of 2.5 billion new urban residents by 2050, innovation is the key to a more sustainable future for our cities.”
“Squirrel Ai Learning has given away 10 million free AI learning accounts to China’s poorest families, explains founder Derek Haoyang Li.”
““Till the age of 40, my house ran on my wife’s money.”
→ The post leverages extreme vulnerability and contrast (financial dependence vs. current success) to humanize a successful founder, making him relatable while simultaneously establishing authority thro
“🌟 Leadership Lessons from an Unlikely Friendship: A Sparrow and a Kitten 🐦🐱”
→ The post uses an emotionally resonant animal story as a metaphor to make abstract leadership concepts tangible and memorable, while the numbered framework provides clear takeaways that leaders can imm
“Nourish your body like it’s sacred—because it houses your mind, your dreams, and your energy to make them real.”
→ The post combines emotional resonance with scientific credibility, using poetic language and the gut-brain connection to elevate nutrition from a surface-level topic to a profound life philosophy, whi
“🚨 The future is here: Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta just put a smartphone inside a pair of glasses”
→ The post combines timely tech news with accessible explanation of complex innovation, uses urgency signals (🚨), and ends with a direct engagement question that invites conversation while strategicall
“🕊️🌧️ A Dove, A Windowsill, and a Lesson in Leadership ❤️”
→ The post uses an emotionally resonant metaphor (dove seeking shelter) to make abstract leadership concepts tangible and relatable, while the structured numbered lessons provide clear takeaways that fe
“👟✨ From Court to Catwalk – Turning Sports Balls into Shoes! 🏀🏈⚾️”
→ The post combines an inspiring real-world example with actionable design lessons, establishing authority while appealing to designers' desire for creative inspiration. The structured breakdown with em
“True strength isn’t measured in medals, it’s measured in moments like this.”
→ The post uses a universal emotional truth about strength and vulnerability that resonates across professional audiences, combined with relatable messaging about life's setbacks that encourages comment
“🎨 When Art Disappears into Nature: The Genius of Camouflage Design 🌳”
→ The post combines artistic storytelling with actionable design lessons, positioning the creator as a design educator while leveraging the visual intrigue of camouflage art to spark curiosity and encou
What works
- Specific statistics create urgency: Post 1 opens with '2.5 billion new urban residents by 2050' and achieves 3671 engagement. The precision of the number (not just 'billions' or 'many') makes the problem feel real and measurable.
- Founder vulnerability outperforms founder wins: Post 3 ('Till the age of 40, my house ran on my wife's money') generates 1676 engagement by admitting failure, while typical success stories underperform. Readers engage more with struggle than achievement.
- Metaphor-driven leadership posts create curiosity: Post 4 (1458 engagement) uses a sparrow-kitten friendship to teach leadership. The unexpected pairing makes readers want to understand the connection, driving clicks and comments.
- Reframing mundane as sacred elevates engagement: Post 5 (1338 engagement) treats nutrition as a form of self-love and future-building, not just health. The poetic language ('Your plate is your first therapist') makes readers feel seen and inspired.
- Brevity with a link drives clicks: Post 2 (2864 engagement) is only 2 sentences long with a link to a WEF report. The knowledge gap created by minimal explanation forces readers to click, amplifying reach.
- Deadline insertion creates scarcity without aggression: Post 1 ends with 'Submit by 14 November,' which creates urgency without a hard sell. Readers feel they're missing an opportunity if they don't act.
Steal this for your own LinkedIn
- Start your next post with a specific, large-scale statistic that makes your topic feel urgent. Instead of 'climate change is a problem,' write 'With 2.5 billion new urban residents by 2050, cities face unprecedented water scarcity.' The number does the work.
- End a story post with an implicit question or unresolved tension rather than a lesson. Let readers fill the silence with their own reflections. This drives comments because it feels like a conversation, not a lecture.
- Reframe a routine action in your industry as sacred or identity-defining. If you write about sales, don't say 'close more deals'—say 'Every conversation is a chance to build trust that compounds over your career.' This makes readers feel the emotional weight of their work.
- Use a founder's name and a specific age or number when sharing a vulnerability. 'Till the age of 40, my house ran on my wife's money' is more powerful than 'I struggled early in my career.' The specificity makes it credible and relatable.
- Post on Monday mornings at 9 AM UTC if your audience is global professionals. This timing aligns with when readers are most receptive to inspiration and opportunity spotlights.
- Aim for 100-200 words per post. This length is long enough to tell a complete story or make a full argument, but short enough to read in one scroll without friction. Longer posts (180-350 words) still perform well, but medium is the sweet spot for consistency.
Compare Dillon with…
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Posting patterns
Dillon posts 1.5 times per week with perfect consistency (20 posts in 20 days across 30 and 90-day windows), signaling a disciplined, sustainable cadence that doesn't burn out his audience.
Monday mornings at 9 AM UTC perform best. This timing catches professionals at the start of their work week when they're most receptive to inspiration and opportunity spotlights.
Medium-length posts (80-180 words) perform best with 1323 average engagement, followed by long-form (180-350 words) at 1235 engagement. Short posts (30-80 words) average 958 engagement. The sweet spot is 100-200 words: long enough to tell a complete story or make a full argument, short enough to read in one scroll without feeling like a commitment.
Engagement by day
Content mix
avg 1.0K engagements per post
Dillon's mix of 20% story posts, 35% short posts, and 30% long-form posts works because it prevents audience fatigue while maintaining momentum. Story posts (founder confessions, metaphor-driven lessons) create emotional connection and drive comments. Short posts with statistics and links drive reposts and clicks. Long-form posts allow him to develop arguments about innovation and health with nuance. This rotation keeps his feed feeling fresh and gives different audience segments a reason to engage: some readers want inspiration, others want news, others want depth.
