In an industry where one wrong word can lead to million-dollar fines, Complily CEO, Joe Campanella, has seen this up close and learned compliance the hard way. Few can say their company was forged in the fire of a federal investigation – but Complily can.
When their previous digital publishing firm endured an 18-month Federal Trade Commission (FTC) review, it became a defining moment. “It was one of the hardest experiences of our careers,” he recalls. “Every piece of marketing – from ads to webinars – had to go through legal review. It protected us, but it was painfully slow and costly.”
That frustration became the seed of innovation. “We realised there had to be a faster, smarter way,” says Joe. The answer was Complily, an AI-powered platform that reviews marketing and sales content for FTC compliance in minutes instead of weeks. “What once required full legal teams can now be done instantly, accurately, and at scale.”
From Setback to Solution
The idea behind Complily was simple: make compliance proactive rather than reactive. “We built the tool we desperately wished had existed,” Joe says. “Our mission is to help businesses grow confidently by preventing regulatory mistakes before they happen.”
By automating compliance checks for calls, ads, pages, and emails, Complily removes one of the biggest bottlenecks in marketing. Its system even includes Affiliate Compliance Management, which scans how third-party affiliates promote a brand – flagging violations before they create legal risk. The result is a faster, safer, and more transparent growth process for companies operating in regulated industries.
Innovation Born of Experience
“Complily was born from lived experience,” he explains. “We turned an exhausting investigation into a platform that saves others from going through the same pain.
”This authenticity – solving a real problem the team once endured – became the company’s advantage. By combining regulatory expertise with machine learning, Complily transformed a manual legal review process into a scalable AI engine that continuously learns and adapts.
“What used to take weeks and thousands of dollars now happens in minutes at a fraction of the cost,” says Joe. “That shift from reactive to real-time compliance became our inflection point.”
Building Trust Through Technology
In an era when digital marketing moves at lightning speed, trust and accountability have never been more critical. Joe believes that compliance, far from being a barrier, is the foundation of sustainable growth. “When businesses know their content is compliant, they can market boldly and scale without fear,” he explains. “Our technology doesn’t slow creativity – it safeguards it.”
That philosophy resonates deeply across industries that rely on fast-moving, digital-first sales strategies. Complily’s AI doesn’t just detect red flags – it teaches teams how to avoid them in the future. “We want compliance to be empowering, not intimidating,” he says. “By giving people clear guidance and actionable insights, we’re building a culture of responsibility that helps companies earn and keep trust with their audiences.”
AI That Works for People
Joe believes Complily represents a broader evolution in how AI is being applied. “AI is finally moving beyond hype into everyday usefulness,” he says. “Our platform is proof that artificial intelligence can make life easier for real teams, not just data scientists.”
By integrating compliance into daily workflows, Complily allows marketers and sales teams to focus on creativity rather than legal fear. Its technology highlights potential risks and even suggests compliant alternatives – making regulation a collaboration, not a barrier.
Making Compliance Accessible
“Complily exists so what happened to us doesn’t happen to others,” Joe says simply. The company’s approach has democratized compliance, giving startups and mid-sized businesses access to protection once reserved for large corporations with in-house legal departments.
“Our goal was to make compliance faster, smarter, and accessible to everyone,” he explains. “AI can be a trusted partner in responsible, scalable growth.”
Looking Ahead
Joe’s outlook is optimistic and pragmatic. “Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive,” he insists. “With innovation and persistence, it can be empowering. We believe compliance will evolve from a check-box task into a living part of business culture – guided by AI but owned by People.”
For him, innovation means progress born from adversity – the determination to find opportunity in obstacles. “We lived through the confusion and cost of doing compliance the old way. Now, we’re building the future we wish we’d had.”
Complily’s journey embodies that ethos: transforming pain into purpose, and regulation into resilience. What began as a grueling investigation has become a mission to help others grow with confidence – and a Maryland-made reminder that the toughest challenges often spark the most meaningful breakthroughs.
“Our innovation was born from pain – and built to make sure no one else goes through the same.”
