JF

John Fein

Guest Lecturer at Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri

Overview

Work Experience

  • Founder and Managing Partner

    2016 - Current

    Firebrand Ventures invests in trusted relationships with exceptional founders. We combine a vast network, deep operational experience and startup hustle to invest in and support seed stage startups. Portfolio companies include: Dwolla, Automox, Replica, Super Dispatch, Skipper, Zohr, PathSpot, Local Crate, Sheets & Giggles, Fluent Forever, Crafty, PreFix and The Minte.

  • Guest Lecturer

    2016

    Guest lecturer on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and startup ecosystems.

  • Guest Lecturer

    2016

    Guest lecturer on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and startup ecosystems.

  • Advisor

    2016 - 2019

    The KCSF mission to strengthen Kansas City’s startup and entrepreneur ecosystem is done through the lens of “The Three C’s.” Initiatives we steward and support are those which result in collisions, co-learning, and community.

  • Executive Advisor

    2015 - 2018

    Techweek is a week long technology festival for entrepreneurs, tech visionaries and thought leaders to meet and enable the innovation ecosystem across the globe.

  • Advisor

    2016 - 2018

    Blue Valley Schools’ Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) is a nationally recognized, innovative high school program. Students fast forward into their future and are fully immersed in a professional culture, solving real world problems, using industry standard tools and are mentored by actual employers, all while receiving high school and college credit. CAPS is an example of how business, community and public education can partner to produce personalized learning experiences that educate the workforce of tomorrow, especially in high skill, high demand jobs.

  • Managing Director, Techstars

    2013 - 2016

    The Sprint Accelerator powered by Techstars is a three-month, immersive, mentor-driven startup accelerator program for ten selected companies. Based in Kansas City, the program accelerates startup companies that have a strong mobile component. We look for amazing startups in all areas of mobile including commerce, gaming, advertising, enterprise, health, and connected devices.

  • Sr. Project Manager (Director level)

    2005 - 2013

    Manage multi-billion dollar large-scale programs for the $15B pharmacy benefit manager division of UnitedHealth Group.

  • Senior Project Manager (contract)

    2004 - 2005

    Managed mission-critical IT infrastructure projects for leading irrigation systems manuafcturer.

  • Director of Product Management

    2000 - 2004

    Responsible for end-to-end management of server-based video surveillance products

Relevant Websites