Merge Ahead
Merge Ahead
Technology as Platform.

Hi there! I’m Kevin.

I led the first evolution of digital fitness and sold my consumer tech startup for $150M. I was then a founding part of a team that built a $7M+ DTC CPG brand that disrupted the traditional chocolate industry. Next I spent a tour deployed in PE advisory and operations work, and now i’m back with my first ❤️ — inventing the future of the Outdoor Industry as the VP of Product @ Outside Inc.

hill-country.jpeg

I'm a product innovator with over 20 years of experience, driven by a belief in the power of technology to enhance our lives. Early in my career, I committed to using my skills for positive impact. In 2005, I founded MapMyRun to motivate people to do what they love through technology. By 2007, it evolved into MapMyFitness, co-founded with Robin Thurston and Jeff Kalikstein, eventually becoming the largest digital fitness community and setting the standard for mobile fitness tracking. It remains a leading app today and was acquired by Under Armour in 2013.

Recently, I've returned to my roots, joining the product leadership team at Outside Inc. I'm building a team of product and tech superstars to develop incredible products across our portfolio of 35+ outdoor industry brands. Reuniting with former MapMyFitness co-founder Robin Thurston (CEO) to create a community focused on getting people outside and active is a dream come true.

As a leader, I believe in giving people the space to grow, take on challenges, and even make mistakes. It's okay not to have all the answers, but it's crucial to work tirelessly to find them quickly. I'm drawn to self-starters and entrepreneurial-minded individuals. I believe that small changes in product and technology can have a massive impact.

I'm also an active member of the tech and entrepreneur community, connecting with and mentoring other founders and startups to help them navigate challenges I've faced (and continue to face). As a super mentor and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Capital Factory, I help nurture the ATX startup community. Capital Factory, the most active investor in Texas since 2010 according to Pitchbook, aims to be the center of gravity for entrepreneurs in Texas.

I spent a large portion of my life living and traveling around the world, witnessing firsthand that technology must serve the global community to create real change. This global perspective has always informed my work.

I've been an investor and partner in IdealSpot, which was acquired by Plotr. At Plotr, we started with a vision to simplify and optimize site selection and market evaluation in commercial real estate, recognizing the need for clarity and insight in this complex industry. Acquiring IdealSpot, a pioneering location intelligence platform, was a significant milestone, bringing in seasoned executives Mike Feller and Marc Smookler, with extensive experience in early-stage companies and data-driven solutions.

I'm also an advisor and investor in several startups here in Central Texas and beyond. How can I help you?

 

EXPERIENCE

Outside, Inc

VP, Product

At Outside, we believe in the transformative power of nature. Our mission is to get everyone outside. In a world where 4-7 minutes is the average time kids under 18 spend outside per day, it is more critical than ever. As VP of Product, I am working with an amazing team and building the daily destination for outdoor inspiration, activation, and reward. I am stoked to be on this adventure.

Thinktiv

CXO, Buy-Side PE Advisor

I joined Thinktiv in 2019 first as an EIR then I eventually lead the Product & Technology practice as CXO. I knew that I wanted to use everything I have learned thus far to advise and help investors, companies, and founders through challenges, acquisitions, and more. Thinktiv gave me the opportunity to work in a wide variety of different industries through working hand-in-hand with tier-1 private equity clients and their portfolio companies. I got to work on some amazing deals with Marlin Equity Partners, TAA, and Hg.

MapMyFitness, Inc.

Cofounder, Director of Product & Innovation

MapMyFitness was a digital health and fitness technology company that powered the internet's largest social network of fitness enthusiasts. It was the SAAS platform that other large national brands built their connected health businesses with.

Acquired $150M by Under Armour

Maggie Louise Confections

COO, CTO & eComm/Digital Marketing Director

Luxury chocolate brand. Selected as Oprah's Favorite Things (2014), Austin Women Business of Year (2016), and INC500 (2018).

Featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, INC Magazine, Food & Wine, People, In-Style, and more. Best year $4M/annual.

Acquired by Tiff’s Treats

 

EDUCATION

BSc Mech Eng / Econ
Johns Hopkins University
90’s

MIT Media Lab Cryptocurrency
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cloud Architecture with Google Cloud Specialization
Google

Rocket Science School

NASA Leadership Academy ‘90s

 
color-3.png

Contact

color-3.png

RESOURCES

Fundraise


Grow

  • Long-Term Stock Exchange’s Software Tools for Founders

    • Captable.io is a free, fully-featured equity management and planning tool that helps companies structure and record company ownership accurately, collaborate and share with stakeholders, and model and plan future investment rounds.

    • StartupRunway.io is an easy, visual way to plan and manage your startup's most precious resource, explore scenarios and track planned versus actual spending.

    • HiringPlan.io is a headcount planning tool for startups with built-in market data. It helps founders adopt a structured compensation plan, pay people fairly and preserve cash and equity runway.