JZ

John Zeratsky

Author & Creator at Make Time

United States

Overview

Work Experience

  • Co-Founder & General Partner

    2021 - Current

    We provide high-integrity seed capital to startups, then help them find and expand product-market fit with the Sprint method we developed at GV.

  • Author & Creator

    2012

    Together with Jake Knapp and the team at GV, I developed the Design Sprint process and have led nearly 200 sprints with startups including Uber, Slack, Flatiron Health, Gusto, Blue Bottle Coffee, One Medical Group, and Nest. In 2016, we published Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days, the authoritative guide to the Design Sprint process. Today, I run Character, a venture capital firm built around our Sprint method.

  • Author & Creator

    2015

    In 2015, I began writing about my experiments in making time for what matters in a world that's distracting, busy, and a little bit crazy. Jake Knapp and I launched Time Dorks, which attracted a huge following of people who wanted help with the same thing. Our 2018 book Make Time was a rallying cry for a new class of professionals who are rethinking the defaults of constant busyness and distraction. In 2020, we partnered with facilitator and coach Connor Swenson to help us bring Make Time into organizations around the world.

  • Operating Partner

    2011 - 2017

    Early partner on portfolio support team, focused on product design and GTM. Helped create the Design Sprint and GV's model for supporting startups at scale. Worked hand-in-hand with nearly 200 portfolio companies. Investments included Flatiron Health, Gusto, Uber, HubSpot, Blue Bottle Coffee, One Medical Group, and Slack. I was also GV's in-house copywriter, editor, and content strategist. I created and edited the GV Library, which has attracted million of views since 2012. Helped rebrand Google Ventures to GV in 2015.

  • Senior Product Designer

    2010 - 2011

    Led product design for v1 of the YouTube Channels Platform, which launched in early 2012.

  • Product Designer

    2007 - 2009

    Led product design for DoubleClick Search and AdWords Editor. Worked on a variety of 0-to-1 projects related to ads, web publishing, help forums, and more. Hired after FeedBurner acquisition by Google in June 2007.

  • Design, Engineering, Copywriting

    2005 - 2007

    Early employee focused on product and marketing. Acquired by Google in June 2007.

  • Founder & Designer

    2003 - 2005

    Started a web agency in college. Built websites for small businesses and nonprofits.

  • Designer & Webmaster

    2004 - 2005

    Designed and managed websites and a custom CMS for College of Agricultural & Life Sciences.

  • Chairman, Board of Directors

    2004 - 2005

    Aided long-term planning, led management, and oversaw finances. I accelerated a return to profitability after a yearlong revenue slump, and guided the organization to a record-breaking profit in the 2004-2005 fiscal year.

  • Webmaster

    2004 - 2004

    Hired after delivering a breakthrough web publishing solution and popular website that attracted more than 50,000 visitors per month.

Relevant Websites