Startup grind interviews

Interviews

Since 2012, I have interviewed 200+ CEO’s worth billions, Venture Capitalists managing billions, Angel Investors betting on billions and Thought Leaders talking about billions. See each person individually or on LinkedIn LIVE!

The Interviewees

Jason Stoffer

Partner Maveron

Jason Stoffer

Partner Maveron

Jason joined Maveron in 2007. He specializes in investing in great early stage consumer entrepreneurs.

Dan Levitan

CEO Maveron

Dan Levitan

CEO Maveron

Dan launched Maveron, in 1998, with Howard Schultz, former CEO and Executive Chairman of Starbucks Coffee Company.

Dan Lewis

CEO Convoy

Dan Lewis

CEO Convoy

Dan Lewis runs Convoy, an on-demand commercial trucking company that offers the industry’s top service levels.

Dave Parker

CEO CodeFellows

Dave Parker

CEO CodeFellows

Dave Parker is a five-time entrepreneur and CEO of Code Fellows. He’s been part of a number of great teams as both a team member and executive.

Bill Bryant

Partner DFJ Ventures

Bill Bryant

Partner DFJ Ventures

Bill is currently a GP w/ Threshold Ventures (fka DFJ), serving on the BODs of Chef, Remitly, Yellowbrick, Xealth and Pro.com.

Stacia Pache

Founder ITBandz

Stacia Pache

Founder ITBandz

Most recently as the Founder and CEO of It Bandz, Stacia designed and developed the It Bandz patellar bands to provide a solution for people who suffer from knee pain.

Chad Fisher

Co-founder Content Runner

Chad Fisher

Co-founder Content Runner

Chad Fisher co-founded Content Runner, deisnged to come up with topics, assign tasks to writers, edit and publish content, pay writers, collect W-9’s, use Copyscape and do status tracking.

Ed Windgate

CEO MosaicTrack

Ed Windgate

CEO MosaicTrack

Ed Windgate is the CEO of MosaicTrack, a software product that find great candidates with artificial intelligence

Nikki Piplani

Founder ThinkFiend Inc.

Nikki Piplani

Founder ThinkFiend Inc.

Nikki Piplani founded ThinkFiend, which is focused on delivering trustworthy, thought provoking news and content to consumers.

Glenn Kelman

CEO Redfin

Glenn Kelman

CEO Redfin

Glenn Kelman is the CEO of Redfin. He’s spent his entire life at start-ups, in every role except sales.

Howard Behar

Former President Starbucks

Howard Behar

Former President Starbucks

For 21 years Behar led Starbucks, a domestic business as President of North America and he became the founding President of Starbucks International.

Enrique Godreau III

Partner 9Mile Labs

Enrique Godreau III

Partner 9Mile Labs

Enrique Godreau III co-founded 9Mile Labs, which provides capital, stage-appropriate guidance and resource

Joe Heitzeberg

CEO Crowd Cow

Joe Heitzeberg

CEO Crowd Cow

Joe Heitzeberg is an entrepreneur, computer scientist, MBA and co-founder and CEO of Crowd Cow. 2019 recipient of the Allen School Alumni Impact Award (UW Department of Computer Science).

Joe Wallin

Partner Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Joe Wallin

Partner Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Joe Wallin is a Partner of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, which is composed of Startups, Angel & Venture Financings, and M&A.

John Cook

Co-founder GeekWire

John Cook

Co-founder GeekWire

John Cook is the co-founder of GeekWire, a technology news site based in Seattle. He covers startups, entrepreneurs and venture capital.

Jonathan Sposato

Chairman GeekWire

Jonathan Sposato

Chairman GeekWire

Dave Parker is a five-time entrepreneur and CEO of Code Fellows. He’s been part of a number of great teams as both a team member and executive.

Julie Sandler

Partner Madrona Venture Group

Julie Sandler

Partner Madrona Venture Group

Julie Sandler is the Partner of the Madrona Venture Group.

Liz Pearce

CEO LiquidPlanner

Liz Pearce

CEO LiquidPlanner

As CEO of LiquidPlanner, it is Liz Pearce’s overall responsibility for accelerating the company’s growth and position in the enterprise software market.

Marc Barros

Co-founder Moment

Marc Barros

Co-founder Moment

Marc Barros co-founded Moment to make gear, develop apps, and guide trips that help people discover, shoot, and share epic moments.

Martina Welkhoff

CEO Zealyst

Martina Welkhoff

CEO Zealyst

Martina Welkhoff is the CEO of Zealyst, which utilizes data and games to build strong employee relationships.

Britta Jacobs

COO Zealyst

Britta Jacobs

COO Zealyst

Britta Jacobs is the COO of Zealyst.

Tim Porter

MD Madrona Venture Group

Tim Porter

MD Madrona Venture Group

Tim Porter is the Managing Director of Madrona Venture Group.

Dan Price

CEO Gravity Payments

Dan Price

CEO Gravity Payments

Dan Price is the CEO of Gravity Payments, a payment processing company that changes the way business is done by putting purpose and people above profit.

Aaron Bird

CEO/Founder Bizible

Aaron Bird

CEO/Founder Bizible

Aaron Bird is the CEO & Founder of Bizible, changing the way B2B marketers define success one company at a time.

David Israel

Founder BFY Food Group

David Israel

Founder BFY Food Group

David Israel is the Founder of BFY Food Group.

Tim Porter

Journalist/Storyteller

Tim Porter

Journalist/Storyteller

Hanson Hosein is a Journalist/Storyteller & Alumni from the University of Washington.

Joe Roets

CEO Dragonchain

Joe Roets

CEO Dragonchain

Joe is the Founder and CEO of Dragonchain. He has over 20 years of experience in software architecture focusing on security and scalability

Leslie Feinzaig

CEO Venture Kits LLC

Leslie Feinzaig

CEO Venture Kits LLC

Leslie Feinzaig is the CEO of Venture Kits LLC, introducing kids to entrepreneurship through play.

Mark Mader

CEO Smartsheet

Mark Mader

CEO Smartsheet

Mark Mader serves as President and CEO of Smartsheet, a high-growth software company transforming the way organizations work at scale.

Scott Berkun

Bestselling Author/Speaker

Scott Berkun

Bestselling Author/Speaker

Scott Berkun is an author of seven Best Sellers.

Kirby Winfield

Angel Investor

Kirby Winfield

Angel Investor

Kirby Winfield is a seasoned startup operator and angel investor, and is currently the Founding General Partner at Ascend Venture Capital.

Nick Huzar

CEO OfferUp

Nick Huzar

CEO OfferUp

Nick Huzar is the CEO of OfferUp, the largest mobile marketplace in the U.S.

Nick Soman

Founder/CEO Decent

Nick Soman

Founder/CEO Decent

Nick Soman is the Founder/CEO of Decent, offering affordable healthcare for all.

Rahul Sood

CEO Unikrn

Rahul Sood

CEO Unikrn

Rahul Sood is the CEO/Founder of Unikrn, a gaming and esports company based in Seattle.

Rudy Gadre

Angel Investor

Rudy Gadre

Angel Investor

Rudy Gadre is the Former general counsel of Facebook and VP Legal at Amazon. Active angel investor focusing on Seattle-area startups.

Sally Bergesen

CEO Oiselle

Sally Bergesen

CEO Oiselle

Sally Bergesen is the CEO of Oiselle, a women’s athletic apparel company that designs and produces gear for athletes.

Sanjay Parthasarathy

CEO Avalara

Sanjay Parthasarathy

CEO Avalara

Sanjay Parthasarathy is the CEO of Avalara.

Scott Berkun

Bestselling Author/Speaker

Scott Berkun

Bestselling Author/Speaker

Sarah Bird serves as the CEO of Moz, a software company helping online marketers measure and improve search, social, and content marketing.

Scott Oki

Founder Oki Developments

Scott Oki

Founder Oki Developments

Scott Oki is the Founder of Oki Developments.

Rian Buckley

Founder Fitcode

Rian Buckley

Founder Fitcode

Rian Buckley is the Founder of Fitcode, a fashion data company that enhances the shopping experience.

Adrian Hanauer

Owner Seattle Sounders FC

Adrian Hanauer

Owner Seattle Sounders FC

Adrian Hanauer is the Owner of Seattle Sounders FC, an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington.

Eric Breon

CEO Vacasa

Eric Breon

CEO Vacasa

Eric Breon is the CEO of Vacasa, North America’s largest vacation rental company with 11,000 homes.

Neil Patel

Co-founder Neil Patel Digital

Neil Patel

Co-founder Neil Patel Digital

Neil Patel is the co-founder of Neil Patel Digital, growing companies through innovative digital strategies.

Rand Fishkin

CEO SparkToro

Rand Fishkin

CEO SparkToro

Rand Fishkin is the CEO/Founder of SparkToro, a software and data company focused on helping people understand their target audiences.

Robbie Bach

Former President Xbox

Robbie Bach

Former President Xbox

Adrian Hanauer is the Owner of Seattle Sounders FC, an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington.

Spencer Rascoff

Former CEO Zillow

Spencer Rascoff

Former CEO Zillow

Spencer co-founded Zillow in 2005, and served in various roles until his appointment to CEO in 2010.

Peter Hamilton

CEO TUNE

Peter Hamilton

CEO TUNE

A digital marketer by background, Peter is CEO of TUNE, the enterprise platform for partner marketing.

Chris DeVore

Managing Partner Founders Co-op

Chris DeVore

Managing Partner Founders Co-op

Chris DeVore is the Managing Partner of Founders Co-op, built by founders, funded by founders, and designed to put founders first.

Oren Etzioni

CEO Ai2

Oren Etzioni

CEO Ai2

Oren Etzioni is the CEO of Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Ai2), contributing to humanity through high-impact AI research and engineering