Top 5 Impact
Here are the five projects I'm proudest of.
Pivotal Aeronautics — Community Flight Demos
- Problem: Consumer awareness of eVTOL was near zero.
- Approach: Built grassroots demos in vineyards, polo fields, and airshows.
- Outcome: 25% of pipeline sourced via events; thousands experienced flights firsthand.
Led zero-to-one nationwide field strategy introducing the Helix—the first personal electric aircraft. Developed immersive experiences including flight simulators, factory tours, and regional community events. Generated quality leads at demonstrably lower CPC than traditional event lead generation.
FoodBytes! by Rabobank
- Problem: Corporates needed startup deal flow in food + ag.
- Approach: Built global startup pitch + investor platform.
- Outcome: 450 startups supported; $3.4B+ raised by alumni; platform acquired.
Co-founded and executive produced a global platform connecting food and agriculture startups with corporate investors and strategic partners. The platform was later acquired and expanded by Rabobank, becoming the leading innovation ecosystem in the sector.
SF New Tech
- Problem: Startups lacked stage visibility in early Web 2.0.
- Approach: Built SF's largest, longest-running tech showcase community (2006-2020).
- Outcome: 196 events, 962 companies, 18 unicorns ($150B+ value), 15 IPOs, $44B+ acquisitions.
Founded and led San Francisco's premier tech showcase community from 2006-2020, featured in WSJ, Forbes, and ABC News. Over 15 years, showcased 962 companies including 18 that became unicorns with $150B+ combined value, 15 IPOs, and $44B+ in acquisitions. Invited to The White House and recognized by the US CTO under Obama for civic tech leadership. Created the definitive launchpad for startups to gain visibility and traction in the Web 2.0 era.
RocketSpace
- Problem: Enterprises needed startup collaboration channels.
- Approach: Designed corporate innovation programs and GTM pilots.
- Outcome: Delivered open innovation across fintech, health, mobility.
Ran global innovation programming for RocketSpace's networks in San Francisco, London, and China. Delivered corporate innovation summits and facilitated strategic startup-enterprise collaborations across multiple verticals including financial technology, healthcare, and mobility.
Smart Hikes
- Problem: Execs lacked meaningful, serendipitous spaces.
- Approach: Created outdoor hike + dialogue format.
- Outcome: Built "applied serendipity" community; sparked deals + partnerships.
Developed an AI-powered hiking community using intelligent matching to create meaningful connections on the trail. Participants reported significantly more valuable conversations than traditional group hikes. The framework continues as a model for intentionally engineering unexpected, high-value human connections.
