Josh Swan
Founder of HeyHome
Josh Swan
Founder of HeyHome
Santa Monica, California
Overview
Work Experience
Founder & Managing Partner
2018 - Current
Disruptive Labs is a Venture Studio focused on building and scaling technology companies. We provide research, talent, infrastructure and skills to help founders and companies minimize risk and time-to-market. Too many founders and innovators find their ideas fall apart due to sub-par digital products. So we created a system that offers them world-class design, development and content with no surprises and total flexibility.
Investor & CTO
2022
The Way Out (TWO) is breaking the cycle of incarceration through technology and living wage jobs. TWO is a comprehensive fair-chance employment platform, that aligns employers with qualified Justice Involved Job Seekers (JIJS). TWO also provides the JIJS with supportive services providers to help them integrate into their new roles successfully. After approaching us with their MVP platform, the Disruptive Labs team and I transformed TWO into a complete portal for JIJS (and veterans too!) to find jobs and receive support services from support-service providers. Through a well-tested, robust architecture, the TWO platform enables employers to post jobs and review applicants; support-service providers to onboard, communicate with, and support their enrollees; and job seekers to craft resumes, find and apply for applicable jobs, and work with support providers that match their needs. Key technologies: React, Node.js, PostgreSQL, Redis, AWS, Docker, integration testing, E2E testing, CI/CD.
Co-Founder & CTO
2022
Zella Life is a Google funded, minority/woman-led coaching and development company. As catalysts for growth and inclusivity, Zella Life is committed to uplifting middle managers and diverse talent within large corporations. We provide a robust support system, offering resources and tools that foster career advancement and personal development. Simultaneously, we work closely with organizations to cultivate an inclusive, productive culture that benefits all employees and drives corporate success. Currently under development, we've been building a robust platform to support employees, corporations, and coaches using Zella Life to change how they work. The system enables employees to schedule sessions, particpate in meetings with coaches, get constant feedback and information, and report anonymous statistics to corporate stakeholders. Key technologies: Node.js, Next.js, AWS, TypeScript, OpenAI, Redis, PostgreSQL, containers, IaC, E2E testing.
Co-Founder & CTO
2023
HeyHome is your one-stop solution for all home-related needs. From ongoing maintenance to one-off improvements, from minor repairs to major renovations, we cover it all. We act as both a service provider and a knowledge resource, making sure you have the support and the information you need to make your home the best it can be. From zero to MVP, the team and I put together a scalable platform to handle orders for a huge variety of local home services in a matter of weeks. Key technologies: Stripe, React, Next.js, AWS, Docker, Twilio, Node.js.
Investor & CTO
2021
Tilly empowers homeowners to unlock the full potential of their outdoor spaces. From quick curb appeal updates to transformative backyard renovations, our team of designers, horticulturalists, product specialists and construction coaches are by your side every step of the way. Think of Tilly as your trusted resource for all things outdoor living. The Disruptive Labs team and I took Tilly's original MVP to the next level, migrating from WordPress with various fragile external integrations/plugins to a custom web app that handles the entire flow from purchase to a final yard design. Customers and designers can collaborate on each project and stay up to date on progress. Key technologies: AWS, Docker, Next.js, React, PostgreSQL, Redis, TypeScript, Node.js, integration & end-to-end (E2E) testing.
Investor & CTO
2021
Nuooly is an exclusive community enabling business-focused Independent Professionals (lawyers, accountants, etc.) to thrive and grow by providing new business opportunities, peer collaboration/support, and relevant learning content. After investing in Nuooly and taking over its tech, we rearchitected the platform, taking it from a problematic WordPress site to a fully-featured, secure platform for independent professionals to sign up, craft their profiles, and find and connect with each other. Key technologies: AWS, TypeScript, Node.js, React, Next.js, Docker.
Investor & Tech Advisor
2020 - 2021
Me Tyme offers a behavioral health solution for SMBs. Me Tyme empowers users to self-manage life challenges at any given moment. By being able to access short videos or interactive lessons within seconds, users can stop emotional stressors as they happen in real time. In my role as a tech advisor, our Disruptive Labs engineering team also participated in the rebuild of Me Tyme's frontend platform, replacing an early-stage demo with a fully-fledged dynamic portal customized to each user's preferences. Key technologies: Next.js, React, AWS.
Founder & CTO
2018 - 2020
Athent helps athletes and creatives easily understand and manage their finances, investments, and personal brand. Athent empowers them to develop healthy financial habits in a fun and engaging way while managing their finances, brand, and projects from a centralized, transparent platform.
Founder & CTO
2017 - 2018
Lyvly helps companies improve employee performance and retention by keeping their teams happy & healthy. We help professionals get together to enjoy unique activities and live healthier lives. Our web portal allows employees to find and participate in activities near their home or office, and for employers to receive key metrics on their employees' usage and feedback. Key technologies: React, TypeScript, Node.js, Next.js, PostgreSQL, AWS.
Founder & CTO
2013 - 2017
Sportifik provides university and city recreation departments with a comprehensive CRM to manage all of their league sports. Key clients include UCLA, UC Berkeley, Stanford, the City of Santa Monica, Long Island University and many more. During my time there, we crafted complex iOS, Android, and web platforms for players, students, and administrators to join, pay, and participate in their favorite league sports, scaling the system to support hundreds of thousands of users. Key technologies: Node.js, React, React Native, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, AWS.
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Honors
2009 - 2013