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2010s — Storytelling, AI, and Reinvention

Byliner (2011–2013)

Served as COO of Byliner.com, a digital publishing platform founded by John Tayman. Published kindle singles ($1.99) from authors like Jon Krakauer, Amy Tan, and Christopher Hitchens. Built a subscription service ("follow the writer" concept). Acquired by Vook. Another "too early" venture — people's reading behavior hadn't shifted yet.

Time Off (~2011)

A break between ventures.

Art.com (April 2013–April 2014)

VP Product and User Experience at Art.com, one of the largest online art retailers, based in Emeryville. 12 million+ customers in 120 countries.

Time Off (~2014–2015)

Another break. Kids heading to college (Northwestern, NYU) around 2015.

Melanie (~2013)

Relationship with Melanie began around 2013.

TimeWalk and Boswell (~2014–2016)

Started TimeWalk in April 2014 (Executive Director). Boswell started around 2016. This was a pivotal period: - TimeWalk — concept existed as early as 2015 Unity pilot ("a 3D Wikipedia"), Mill Valley 1915 and SF 1906 as first locations. Later moved to Unreal Engine 5 for NYC (2024) - Boswell — AI-powered interviews to make personal documentaries, using AI and voice - Moved back to San Francisco

SmartDeco (March 2016–March 2023)

Founded SmartDeco.ai — three best-selling electronic holiday decor products (Jabberin Jack, Mr. Chill, Fawny), distributed by Mindscope. IoT/projection product, not pure software. Based in Hanover, NH.

Personal

  • Kids in teen years (~2010)
  • HBS 25-year reunion (2013)
  • Kids in college (~2015) — Northwestern, NYU
  • Returned to San Francisco (~2016)
  • VR industry boom (~2016)
  • AI industry emergence (~2018)
  • HBS 30-year reunion (2019)
  • Traveling with Melanie (~2019)
  • COVID (~2020)
  • Moved to Hanover, NH (~2020)

Travel & Adventures

  • Burning Man — Attended 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 (Black Rock City, NV)
  • PA to DC Bike Trip (May 2016) — Multi-day cycling trip from Pennsylvania to Washington, DC
  • Iceland & Sweden (June 2016) — Northern Europe trip
  • Spain with the Schwartz's (Oct 2018) — Malaga and Madrid
  • Antarctica (Dec 2018) — Visited Port Lockroy, the southernmost post office
  • Esalen: Breathwork retreat (May 2019) — Big Sur, CA
  • Mykonos with Felser et al (July 2019) — Greek islands trip
  • HBS 30th Reunion (Sept 2019, Cambridge, MA)
  • Singapore → Thailand → Sydney → Tasmania → Melbourne (Jan–Feb 2020) — Extended Asia-Pacific circuit
  • Reason Weekends — Annual tradition with the Reason Foundation crowd, rotating cities: Phoenix, Santa Barbara, Nashville, Austin, Pasadena
  • Freedom Fest — Attended 2018, 2020, 2022 (Las Vegas)
  • Hanover/Vermont visits — Multiple trips for daffodil season, farm parties, and visits to the Hanover area
  • Esalen retreat with Ryan (March 2023) — Big Sur, CA

See Also