David Gaynor

Building complicated products with simple tech.
Learn about my work here.
Learn about me here

Blog + Podcast

github.com/runnedrun

runnedrun@gmail.com

linkedin.com/runnedrun

Resumé

v

David Gaynor

Building complicated products with simple tech.
Learn about my work here.
Read about me there -->

Blog + Podcast

github.com/runnedrun

runnedrun@gmail.com

linkedin.com/runnedrun

Resumé

I've lived in 7 cities on 4 continents. I worked at Twitter through its IPO. I spent a lot of my 20's launching startups, including one which was acquired. I've enjoyed some success and grown a lot through failure — here's a bit about myself.

I like to work with people who care.

I seek teams that fail fast and exchange thoughtful feedback. I tend to find this when interests are aligned by shared passion— maybe IPOing Twitter, maybe training a cohort of students.

I seek progress, but am OK where I am.

Through writing, meditating and moving I try remind myself that am I enough, right now.

I enjoy solving problems and finding the right problem to solve.

I won't fix bugs when a new app is needed. I won't build an app when a new business is needed. I won't build a business when I can support an existing one.

My biggest challenge is finding balance.

Living my life as described above makes me really happy, but sometimes I go too far.

Sometimes seeking continuous feedback leads me to solve shallow problems. Sometimes I try to be fearless and end up thoughtless. Sometimes my bias towards action causes me to give up on good ideas too soon.

I seek moderation, knowing I'll never really get there, but I'll be happier if I try.

Building Businesses

Consulting

2020-Present

Early Stage Startup Advising

I help early stage businesses discover and deliver high value tech products.

Andela

2019 - 2020

Director of Product

Led a team of 4 PMs and 12 engineers building tech to measure and facilitate engineering services.

Classadoo

2017 - 2019

Founder, CEO

Tech powered Web Development classes accross the US, China and Pakistan. Acquired by Andela in 2018.

Launch Camp

2015-2017

Founder, CEO

Entrepreneurship Summer camp and after school program, now run as Launch Studio across the SF bay area.

Building Software

Open

2020-Present

Advisor/Principal Engineer

Helped unlock $7M in funding for online meditation classes.

Dipsea

2018-Present

Technical Advisor

Helped Dipsea launch their first iOS app. $0 to $12M in funding in 3 years.

Twitter

2012 - 2015

Software Engineer

Built front end, back end and data pipeline software at Twitter scale. #DMTeamForever

Pivotal Labs

2011

Software Engineer Intern

3 client projects, accidentally put a period in the corner of the homepage.

Olin College of Engineering

Student, Teacher, Participant. Designed and taught 7 courses including Olin's first credited, student taught course.

Graduated in 2013 with a degree in Engineering and Robotics, GPA of 3.74.

Research in Applied Physiology

2012-2013

Designed and built an experiment measuring the effect of ambient temperature on sleep (software here and here, papers here and here).

Research in Drones

2012-2013

Designed and built an autonomous drone for AGCO, to detect crop health. Paper here.

Research in Robotic Sailing

2013

Designed and built a Sailbot starter kit for high and middle school aged children. (software here)