Chris Saad
Mentor Catalyst
I build Strategies, Products, Messages, Brands, Ecosystems, Standards and Startups.
I am interested in both the form and the function. I prefer streams over pages, liberal over conservative, open over closed. I am interested in helping others succeed so that we can all work and play in shared personal and professional success.
I have been a leader in the following fields…
– Startups
I have started, built and run a series of great startups. Most as CEO, all as co-founder.
– Product Management and Design
Designing Minimum Viable Products (MVP), User Experience, User Interface, Baking in social etc.
– Developer Platforms
APIs, SDKs, Ecosystems & more. Built a platform from 0 to 85 Billion API calls a month (Echo). Ran Product for Uber Developer Platform.
– On-Demand/Sharing Economy
Building two-sided marketplaces, managing reputation & trust, marketplace management etc
– Future of Media
Worked with all major media including ABC, Reuters, CNN, AMC, TechCrunch etc to help them design and build next-generation media experiences and monetization models.
– Enterprise BD, Sales, Strategy & Support
Building, selling and supporting products into large brands and media companies. I worked with central product and IT groups at CNN, Univision, NASDQ, Disney, UMG, NBCU, Coke, Fanta, AT&T and more.
– Data Portability
Developing, participating in and inventing open standards and protocols for interoperability between independent services and tools.
– Unbundling
The breaking down of companies, apps, services into more discrete component parts for hyper-personalization and disruption at runtime.
– Silicon Valley
Fundraising, key players, politics, relationships, logistical and cultural insights, etc).
– Social Media Strategy
Techniques for participating in, influencing and leveraging social media to grow new markets, influence thought leaders and drive industry conversations.
Expertise
Skills: Platforms, Developer Community, Product, Strategy, Team Development, Business Model Development
Industry: On-demand/Gig Economy, Transportation, Media, Technology Platforms
Stage: Series A, B, C Preferred
Do you want more startup expertise on your team?
Whether you are outside one of the startup epicenters or right in the heart of one, we invite you to consider working with Mentor Bureau to complement your existing team and accelerate your startup’s growth.
Since we are more of an accelerant instead of an Accelerator, we don’t have a standard schedule or calendar to follow. Instead, we offer the right advice for right where you are and right where you want to go. As a new startup ourselves, we follow our own advice, and will only be taking on eight (8) startups to join our first Startup Circle.
To get started, we offer a free assessment to qualifying startups. Should we both determine that Mentor Bureau has the right experience and the right talents for your specific needs, we will determine our planned areas of focus and begin working together.
AFFORDABLE, TRUSTED MENTORS
- Objective advisors help identify options and seize opportunity
- Experienced coaches optimize individual and team performance
- Mentors that appreciate you, not just your business
- Support for the design efficient processes and systems
- Wise counsel to help you (gain investment, etc.)
- Approaches that help you scale without giving away the farm
- A community of seasoned peers and mentors who understand